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Hillary Clinton Dropping Out? Report Claims DNC Holding Emergency Meeting About Replacements Amid Concerns About Hillary’s Health

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 02:48 PST, Sep 12, 2016

Hillary Clinton could be dropping out of the race for president, with a report that the Democratic National Committee is planning an emergency meeting to discuss concerns about the candidate’s health and the possibility of replacing her on the ticket.

Clinton had been fending off growing rumors that she is in failing health, but instead propelled those concerns further on Sunday when she collapsed during a 9/11 memorial event in New York City. Video of Clinton’s collapse caused a stir on social media as rumors of her health impairment spread.

But within hours, the Clinton campaign moved to dispel these rumors and issued a statement that the Democratic candidate was suffering from a bout of pneumonia, which had been diagnosed on Friday.

As the BBC noted, Clinton took some time off the campaign trail to recuperate.

“She was taken to her daughter’s flat in New York’s Flatiron building and re-emerged later on Sunday, telling reporters: ‘I’m feeling great. It’s a beautiful day in New York.’

“Mrs Clinton had been due to leave for California on Monday morning for a two-day trip that included fundraisers, a speech on the economy, and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“Her personal physician, Dr Lisa Bardack, said Mrs Clinton had ‘been experiencing a cough related to allergies. On Friday, during follow-up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule’.”

But there is a chance that Hillary Clinton could be off the campaign trail for much longer — possibly permanently.

Journalist David Shuster reported that the Democratic National Committee is meeting this week to consider the idea of a replacement if Hillary’s health were to impair her ability to run.

“Clarification from dem operatives @HillaryClinton pneumonia: Expect emergency DNC meeting to CONSIDER replacement. #HillarysHealth,” he wrote.

Shuster later added that a Democratic insider said they are in “uncharted political territory” after Clinton hid her pneumonia diagnosis for three days and then added fuel to theories about her health with the fainting episode.

While the rumors continue to swirl about Hillary Clinton’s health and the possibility that she could drop out of the race, there is some skepticism on the report from David Shuster. He and Clinton have bad blood that traces back nearly a decade, with Clinton calling for his ousting from MSNBC in 2008 after Shuster made remarks that daughter Chelsea Clinton was being “pimped out” by her campaign.

Clinton even wrote a letter to NBC president Steve Capus, who had personally called Clinton to apologize, Politico reported.

“Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient,” Clinton wrote.

Shuster was also at the center of some inaccurate reports about Hillary Clinton’s FBI investigation earlier in this campaign, suggesting several times that the FBI was close to recommending indictment over her unauthorized use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State.

Shuster also suggested back in March that the final report would be ready in days, Mediaite noted.

“Because there is now every sign the Clinton email investigation is quickly headed towards a conclusion, whether it’s her exoneration or indictment. In terms of timing, sources expect the conclusion to come in weeks, not months,” Shuster said in late March, three months before the final report was issued. “And they add that Hillary Clinton’s interview with the FBI, which could come in days, could be crucial.”

While there could be truth to the rumor that Hillary Clinton’s health problems are prompting the DNC to seek replacements and that Clinton could drop out of the race, as of now Shuster appears to be the only journalist reporting on this rumor.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

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