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Kennedy Speaks For 1st Time Since Diagnosis

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May 22, 2008 2:30 pm US/Eastern

Kennedy Speaks For 1st Time Since Diagnosis

Massachusetts Dem. Asked Barack Obama To Fill In For Him This Weekend At Wesleyan University Commencement

BOSTON (CBS) ― Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy spoke to reporters Thursday, for the first time since his cancer diagnosis. The 76-year-old Senator thanked his doctors and said he was not yet sure if he would be sailing in a race this weekend.

Kennedy won't be able to deliver a commencement address to Wesleyan University graduates after being diagnosed with brain cancer, but Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has offered to stand in for him.

Kennedy, 76, had hoped to speak at the Sunday ceremony in Middletown, Conn., where his stepdaughter will be among the graduates. The commencement exercises also coincide with 25th reunion festivities for his son Edward Kennedy Jr.

Obama said he and Kennedy had talked earlier in the week about Obama doing the speech.

"Considering what he's done for me and for our country, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him," Obama said in a statement. "So I'm looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday even though I know I won't be able to fill his shoes."

Kennedy was diagnosed this week with a malignant brain tumor, which was discovered after he had a seizure at his home last Saturday. He was released Wednesday from Massachusetts General Hospital and has been recovering from his biopsy at the Kennedy family compound on Cape Cod.

Kennedy's spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, said Kennedy accepted Obama's offer to help "knowing it would be an historic opportunity for the school and all those attending," including his stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin, and his son.

"He's enormously grateful to Senator Obama and the support he's received from all of his colleagues this last week," Cutter said.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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