Senator Mark Warner's daughter passed away..........

[DFW]

6. "a decades-long battle"

I had first heard about Sen. Warner having serious health issues with "his children (I didn't hear any specifics at the time)" in December of 2007, which was the reason he stayed clear of the 2008 presidential primaries. He very much wanted to try for the nomination, but wouldn't consider it as long as his family needed him more. ironically enough, I was told about this by Norm Ornstein, who was to have tragedy strike one of his children soon enough afterward.

To his great credit, Warner abandoned his presidential ambitions in favor of his family. Although he lost his daughter in the end, I am sure he is grateful for his good judgment in choosing his time with her over the distractions of a presidential run, not to mention the time with her he would have had to sacrifice if he had won. I have nothing but admiration for him and the choice he made.