A Republican Senate?

Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota is recovering "without complication" from surgery for bleeding in his brain, caused by a condition called congenital arteriovenous malformation, the attending physician of the United States Capitol said this morning.

Johnson, who will turn 60 later this month, is up for re-election in 2008. Democrats now control the Senate, 51-49. But South Dakota’s Republican Gov. Mike Rounds would appoint a replacement for Johnson if he left office, which could tip power back to the GOP because Vice President Dick Cheney could vote to break a 50-50 tie.

Reaction from local senators and White House press secretary Tony Snow, a Cincinnati native:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim and Barbara and their entire family during this very difficult time. My wife, Fran, and I wish Tim a full recovery," said Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.

"Janet and I have been praying, and urge all Ohioans to pray for Senator Johnson's speedy recovery. Tim has been my co-chairman on the Ethics Committee for the last two years - he is a good man and a good friend," said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.

"I hope he gets better and it sounds like he is," said Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who saw Johnson and spoke with him at an event in Washington earlier this week. Brown has been assigned to the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, of which Johnson is a senior member. Additionally, Johnson's wife, Barbara, has been assigned to mentor Brown's wife, Connie, he said.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Johnson and his family during this very difficult time. I consider him to be one of my better friends here in the Senate and I wish him a full and immediate recovery. Mary and I are praying for him," said Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.

"Our prayers are with Senator Johnson," said Snow. "Look, he's a great guy and it's one of these things where everybody is concerned. And our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, his staff, his colleagues."

Gannett News Service reporters Chuck Raasch and Mike Madden contributed to this blog post.