DENVER—Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer’s wife has been diagnosed with a benign tumor on her auditory nerve but is expected to make a full recovery after surgery next week.
Maureen Schaffer will have surgery Aug. 28 in Arizona. Bob Schaffer said Thursday he will join her there and remain with her during the recovery, which is expected to take up to two weeks.
The tumor was diagnosed in June.
Campaign spokesman Dick Wadhams said Schaffer is canceling his trip to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., next month and the campaign will continue in his absence. He said no major political events were scheduled during the time he will be in Arizona.
“It’s been weighing on his mind, as you can imagine,” Wadhams said.
Wadhams said the campaign had been planning to take a breather during the Democratic National Convention next week.
“The fact is, for the next two weeks the national conventions will be sucking the air out of politics,” Wadhams said.
Schaffer’s Democratic opponent, Mark Udall, released a statement offering his and his wife’s concern.
“Maggie and I will keep Bob, Maureen and their family very close in our thoughts today. Our prayers will be with Maureen for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery,” the statement said.
In a statement released by his campaign, Schaffer said, “Our family appreciates the support and prayers of our many friends across Colorado, and we both look forward to returning to the campaign trail in September.”
Public polls show Schaffer and Udall in a dead heat in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Wayne Allard.
Schaffer has been dogged by accusations he was tied to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, but he has gained traction recently by attacking Udall for opposing more oil drilling at a time of rising gas prices.
