Johnson May Return Soon

Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), who nearly died of a brain hemorrhage in December may return to the Senate floor in September, if not earlier, maybe as early as next month.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) says Johnson has recovered 90% of his speech and has been in therapy five days a week.

Upon returning to the Senate, Johnson will make his final decision on whether or not he will run for reelection next year. Originally considered a top GOP target, Johnson's illness has kept the race off the map. Potential opponents, such as Governor Mike Rounds and Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard are keeping quiet about the possibility of running against Johnson.

Johnson won reelection by an extremely narrow margin of 524 votes in 2002 against John Thune, who later beat Tom Daschle in 2004. If Johnson does not run, the likely Democratic candidate would be the state's lone member of the House of Representatives, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

Still, Tom Daschle believes Johnson will run again...and win.