Sen. Edward Kennedy, who was diagnosed in May with a cancerous brain tumor, has arrived in Denver and plans to attend the Democratic National Convention tonight, which will feature an 8-minute video tribute to the elder statesman.
Kennedy aides and family members had waffled in the weeks leading up to the convention about whether he would be healthy enough to attend the Denver festivities.
A spokeswoman for Kennedy’s office, Melissa Wagoner, confirmed that Kennedy has arrived in Denver and will be in attendance at the Pepsi Center tonight, though he has no other public events on his schedule.
The Massachusetts senior senator reportedly arrived in Denver Sunday night, and is staying at an undisclosed location.
“Senator Kennedy is in Denver and plans to attend tonight’s tribute to him. He’s truly humbled by the outpouring of support, and wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world,” read a statement from his office.
A senior staffer for one Massachusetts delegate told the Denver Post that Kennedy would not give a speech in the hall tonight.
Kennedy, 76, was diagnosed on May 20 by doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital with a malignant glioma in his left parietal lobe after suffering a seizure at his family’s home on Cape Cod.
He has been undergoing treatment for the tumor and resting at the Kennedy home in Hyannis, making just one appearance on the floor of U.S. Senate since his diagnosis for an important vote on health care.
