Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Back at Mayo Clinic, Dad Says

Reps. Bobby Rush, Danny Davis spent 90 minutes with Jackson at his DuPont Circle home

The Rev. Jesse Jackson says his congressman son has checked back into the Mayo Clinic for an evaluation with just two weeks to go in a re-election bid for the ailing congressman.

The elder Jackson told The Associated Press that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was back at the Minnesota facility Tuesday. He was released from there last month following treatment for bipolar disorder and gastrointestinal issues.
 
A Mayo spokesman and Jackson's office didn't immediately have an update.
 
The congressman's father says the evaluation may lead to a longer stay. Congressional colleagues who visited the younger Jackson Monday say he was preparing for a longer visit.

"He knows he is experiencing some extreme difficulties," Rep. Danny Davis said Monday after visiting Jackson.

Rep. Bobby Rush insisted that Jackson’s "actions had been misread." He said his colleague, who had previously been known for his stellar voting record, had only missed 32 actual days of work since taking a leave of absence in June.

"Nothing occurred in those 32 days where his constituents suffered," Rush said.

Jackson's staff has released few details about his condition and hasn't said when he'll return to work. Jackson is on the Nov. 6 ballot, although he hasn't campaigned beyond a robocall to voters.

"He should be given the opportunity to serve, based on the entirety of his record," Rush said, noting that Jackson is the Democratic party nominee. He pointedly noted that in the heavily Democratic district, "once you win the Democratic nomination, your chance of not being elected is pretty slim."

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