WI: Ted Kennedy Cancerfree

As the title says, what if Ted Kennedy, Senator from Massachusetts, was cancer free? Would it have an impact on health care, and would he have ran for a 9th consecutive term in 2012?
 
Well for one thing, the Democrats would have a Super Majority longer than they did, he'd have some influence on healthcare, I question how much though and how much different healthcare would be. As for 2012, that to me is a toss up. If he does run and win, it'll be his last term, if he survives it.
 
Making him cancer free after treatment is basically ASB, Kennedy had a glioblastoma which is diffusely invasive throughout the brain at time of diagnosis. You could have him be a better responder to treatment so that he has more time where he is able to perform his Senate duties. Median survival is 13 months, so he actually did a bit better than that (15 months) but living 3+ years post diagnosis is not unheard of.

If he was functional enough to be the 60th vote in the Senate, then perhaps the public option survives in the ACA? That would be a major butterfly!
 
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