Sen. Warner hospitalized, said to be 'fine'

by David Lerman

Virginia Sen. John Warner was hospitalized Tuesday night for an irregular heartbeat and will undergo what his office described as a ``routine procedure" today.

Warner, 80, visited with the Capitol physician Tuesday morning after feeling ill and left later in the day for Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was treated for atrial fibrilation.

A statement issued by Warner's office Tuesday night said his doctors ``fully anticipate that Senator Warner will be home this weekend and back to work next week."

``He is absolutely fine," said Carter Cornick, the senator's chief of staff. ``He's doing very, very well. He's alert and doing well."

Cornick said he did not know what procedure Warner will undergo today, but described it as routine.

Warner, a Republican and one of Virginia's most respected political leaders, announced last month he will retire when his term ends next year. In recent years, he has shown no signs of ill health, though he appears to tire more easily than in the past.