by Mark Silva
Barack Obama, in Hawaii to see his gravely ill grandmother, said he worried that she will not survive to see Election Day.
Obama left the campaign trail for a day and a half to visit Madelyn Dunham, 85, who helped raise him. His wife, Michelle, is campaigning for the Democratic presidential nominee today. Obama plans to return to the trail in Nevada on Saturday.
"Without going through the details too much, she's gravely ill. We weren't sure and I'm still not sure whether she makes it to Election Day," Obama told ABC's Good Morning America for an interview broadcast this morning.
""We're all praying and we hope she does, but one of the things I want to make sure of is I had a chance to sit down with her and to talk to her,'' Obama said. "She's still alert and she's still got all her faculties. And I want to make sure that I don't miss that opportunit.''
Obama has said he missed a chance to visit his mother just before she died of ovarian cancer at 53 in 1995 -- and didn't want to repeat that mistake. Dunham, whose birthday is Sunday, was resting at her own apartment in Honolulu.
At a rally Thursday in Indianapolis, a minister asked the crowd to pray for Dunham as a "source of comfort, healing and courage." Obama said his grandmother has been inundated with phone calls, e-mails and flowers from strangers.
"And so maybe she is getting a sense of, of long-deserved recognition at -- towards the end of her life," Obama told ABC.
Obama was born in Hawaii. His Kansas-born mother and Kenyan father met as college students there, but Dunham and her husband, Stanley, raised Obama for extended periods when his mother lived overseas.
In his memoir, Dreams from My Father, Obama described his grandfather as something of a dreamer. It was his grandmother who was practical enough to support the family by working her way up in the ranks at a local bank.
Obama has often mentioned "Toot" -- his version of the Hawaiian word "tutu," or grandparent -- as an example of a strong woman succeeding through intelligence and determination. Many of his speeches describe her working on a bomber assembly line during World War II.
"She's really been one of the cornerstones of my life,'' he said. "She's a remarkable woman.''
The Associated Press provided this report.
Comments
I just wanted to wish the Obama Family, courage and strength in their hour of need. If it be God's will, we wish Ms Dunham, Godspeed and may she have an easy passage. May her family 's grief be dutiful and rewarding and may her contributions to Senator Obama's life, shine forth and help him through this most trying of times !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | October 24, 2008 9:07 AM
Prayers for her. May they find peace.
Posted by: Joe | October 24, 2008 9:42 AM
My prayer is that Ms. Madelyn hangs in there and makes it at least until all the votes have been cast and counted.
If she has to go in the near, may Grace allow her to pass easy and with the knowledge that her "Barry" will be the next president of the United States.
Posted by: Pat | October 24, 2008 9:54 AM
I got teary-eyed after reading that Obam'sn"Toot" may not make it through Election Day. I too am praying that it be God's will that she is around to learn that her precious "Barry" will be the next POTUS before he calls her home. People in the Virgin Islands are routing for the entire family.
Posted by: Eunice Bedminster | October 24, 2008 11:53 AM
Best wishes and strength to Obama and his family. Sounds like they're losing someone pretty wonderful.
Posted by: Op109 | October 24, 2008 12:00 PM
Eunice: Thank you.
Posted by: MDawson | October 24, 2008 12:24 PM
I wonder if Barry is going to return from Hawaii with a legitimate birth certificate. Something is brewing over his "natural born" citizen status.
Does the DNC have another candidate waiting in the wings if indeed Obama is disqualified from taking office?
Posted by: Chris | October 24, 2008 1:04 PM
Chris:
And your proof that his certificate is false is.......?
Posted by: Bob "Hussein" inATL | October 24, 2008 1:17 PM
Chris you are disgusting.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Durham.
Posted by: malexander | October 24, 2008 1:47 PM
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/citizen.asp
1. he's got his birth cert online posted so everyone can see it
2. he was born in hawaii in 1961 according to it
3. hawaii was a state as of 1959
if you want to root against obama ... fine... can we stick to policy?
Posted by: nick | October 24, 2008 1:54 PM
Hello fellow Obama supporters! Will you please join me at some point today to send good thoughts and prayers as our candidate, Barack Obama goes on his journey to be at the side of the woman who taught him about the American Dream. He learned from her anyone who works hards can achieve the American Dream. This trip only proves what we already know, Barack Obama has values, very high values. His family comes first. When family comes first, even knowing we are only days away from election day, the most important election in our lifetime, that is to be commended. This tells me we, the American people, will be the most important concern of his presidency. As we pray for his Grandmother we MUST continue his mission, to get him elected. His absence in no way means the campaign is suspended, we MUST continue to listen to Michele and Joe and Jill Biden in his absence and do EVERYTHING in our power to get him elected. Look at it as "ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER" and wish him a safe trip and and when he returns he will know the trust he placed in us while gone was not in vain.
Posted by: Marilyn Rosberg | October 24, 2008 2:45 PM
My sincere condolences to the Obamas. As one raised in an extended family, I can empathize with the deep love he feels for his Toot. I am sure she will strive to remain with him until after election day. We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to her for having helped raise such a fine person. In fact, quite likely the world will recognize her contributions. It is most inappropriate for some to raise political obfuscations at such a sad time.
Posted by: mwknitter | October 24, 2008 3:38 PM
really good story about obama's grandma:
http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/The-Run-Up/October-2008/The-Teachings-of-Toot/
Posted by: ilovetoot | October 24, 2008 4:20 PM
This is the final test for Barack Obama before he is elected President.
I'm sure he will overcome this as he has all other ordeals to date.
Posted by: ornery | October 24, 2008 4:33 PM
My prayers are with the entire family. Hopefully, Obama will do the right thing and not try to make a cheap political show out of a very sad time for their family
Posted by: Den C | October 24, 2008 5:52 PM
Funny how he's been campaigning for days since he announced this on Monday and by Thursday he was still campaigning in Indiana.
She might not see election day but evidently she can hold out while her grandson stops to campaign at every state in between Ohio and Hawaii.
Any questions from our unbiased media on this? Nope, they are too busy with the real story, how much Sarah Palin spent on her wardrobe.
Posted by: Dalmatian847 | October 24, 2008 6:38 PM
Chris,
This is as pathetic as the attempt by Ashley Todd!
Posted by: Edwina | October 24, 2008 7:03 PM
May God grant this strong woman the power to live on to see her Grandson be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States...in no small part because of the sacrifices SHE made as he was growing up...
SHE and her example are the reasons Barack has grown into the CHAMPION of the people.
God grant her rest, healing, and comfort.
Posted by: FlangeSqueal | October 24, 2008 7:16 PM
it's the measure of the man that he can stop working in the most important two weeks of his life and get back to the basics.
His grandmom should be proud of him. Actions speak louder than words.
Posted by: sharon | October 24, 2008 8:13 PM
Everyone needs to STOP. I am not an Obama supporter, but those of you who are trying to use this forum to bring into question his qualifications need to find another forum. This is his grandmother who helped raise him, and she is ill. Use this forum to wish her well. There are plenty of other places you can post your political messages.
With that said, I wish her and her family all the best. May she be in peace at this time. I know how devastating it can be to loose someone that important in your life.
Posted by: Jackie | October 24, 2008 8:17 PM
God bless the Obama family.
Posted by: Maximillion | October 24, 2008 8:17 PM
First off, I wish his grandmother the best - with peace and comfort in what might be her last days.
However, no, he just can't be with her. He has to make a statement how he fears she won't see an election. Turn what should be a private family affair into positive traction for a campaign that is slipping (though he will still win). These guys will stop at nothing. Pathetic.
Hate mail begin!!!!!
Posted by: Trey | October 24, 2008 8:23 PM
Ok the media has milked this for as much voter sympathy possible, now let's get back to the real world, enough of the theatrics.
Hussein, I posted this earlier in the day, but for some odd reason it didn't make print. Your proof as to Obama not being a natural born citizen. Look up Berg, former States Attorney from PA. He has all the proof you need, included an active lawsuit against Obama.
Posted by: Ruth | October 24, 2008 9:05 PM
If he was so concerned why not get there earlier? More free publicitiy as he strings it out?
Posted by: Larry | October 24, 2008 9:11 PM
I ask once again and maybe this time it will get posted.
If Obama's grandmother is so gravely ill why are her great grandchildren - Obama's offspring joining him in visiting her. I know I would want to see my grandchildren for the last time. I guess I am just a better kind of grandmother. Or maybe she really isn't as ill as they are making her out to be. Wont you all feel stupid if this is true.
Posted by: Yes we will | October 24, 2008 9:29 PM
Thoughts and prayers to the Obama family. For those of you who want to politicize the illness of a grandmother your simply show how shallow and to what depths you will stoop.
Posted by: Jason Neagu | October 24, 2008 9:36 PM
I wish her speedy recovery and also feel confident that, she has lived so long and will live to see, when a new chapter in American history will be written by Obama in next few days and also his swearing-in ceremony Jan next year.
Posted by: Ashok Singh | October 24, 2008 11:27 PM
Regardless of who you vote for, and I am a McCain supporter, I pray for Obama's grandmother. He is an honorable man and I hope she is well and in the hands of the lord. May god bless his family and his grandmother...nobody should ever question a childs love for their grandparents.
Posted by: KB | October 24, 2008 11:34 PM
well, as much as i dont like the guy - i DO wish him and his grandmother the best in this time when she is ill.
hopefully she makes it until after election day and beyond. :)
Posted by: graficgod | October 24, 2008 11:38 PM
my prayers and thoughts are with senator obama and his family. i pray his toot health will improved so she will be able to watch the election.
Posted by: ek smith | October 25, 2008 12:11 AM
Grandma could have voted last week using an absentee ballot. Why all the fuss over one more vote, anyway ?
Posted by: Tucano Fulano | October 25, 2008 12:56 AM
Those of you who have decided to use this blog as an outlet for your dislike for Sen. Obama should be ashamed of yourselves. Go back to the caves you crawled out of and wiat for the rapture. Ignorant buffoons!
Posted by: Jim B | October 25, 2008 1:09 AM
She deserves to see him win. Let's hope she makes it!
Posted by: Chris | October 25, 2008 1:12 AM
Give me a break on the "not a citizen" myth:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/citizen.asp
Posted by: SteveO | October 25, 2008 2:34 AM
We should move up the election. He got his way with everything else.
Posted by: jerbear | October 25, 2008 7:29 AM
Obama is so determined to see Grandma - he just had to also sit down for an interview about it first. This is kind of funny for a couple reasons, though. So deeply is he worried ... he even managed to work it into an attack on McCain. What a noble guy, this Obama.
Posted by: Leland Milton Goldblatt, PhD | October 25, 2008 9:55 AM
This is the grandmother Obama called "a typical white woman" and the state that can't seem to produce Obama's valid birth certificate. Obama's paternal grandmother in Kenya, though alive, is completely ignored. Perhaps it's because she has sworn she was in the delivery room when Obama was born...in Kenya.
Posted by: Margaret | October 25, 2008 11:53 PM
The birth certificate is a fake. If Senator Obama has a real one he should show it to at least one of people involved in the 8 lawsuits concerning his being a natural born citizen. I am afraid the courts will not take Snope's word on it.
Posted by: Dennis Slater | October 29, 2008 6:33 PM