R.I. Democrats Endorse Rep. Kennedy

Party Chairman Says He Deserves Support In Addiction Battle

(CBS/AP)  Democrats endorsed an absent Patrick Kennedy, who is being treated for addiction to prescription pain drugs, for re-election to U.S. Congress at their state convention.

Kennedy checked into the Mayo Clinic on Friday for his second stay in less than five months after a middle-of-the-night car crash near the Capitol on Thursday that he said he could not remember. It was his second car crash in three weeks.

Republicans have said Kennedy should step aside because he cannot fulfill his duties. But Democratic leaders said Monday night that he has done a good job and deserves support in his battle with addiction.

"We do not walk away from our friends," Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch said.

The Kennedy family has a long history battling alcohol abuse and Patrick is no different, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger. Kennedy has talked openly about battling addiction and mental health problems for years. He was treated for a cocaine addiction as a teenager and has since said he was in recovery for alcoholism. He has been diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder.

Many Democrats praised Kennedy for his openness and said the current controversy surrounding him would not exist if he suffered from another disease.

"We treat physical illness and mental health very different in this country," U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin said.

Kennedy has been elected to six terms in Congress. He is the son of Sen. Edward Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and senator and attorney general Robert Kennedy.

His supporters describe him as a hardworking legislator skilled at bringing money back to Rhode Island.