WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota, was hospitalized Wednesday after he suffered stroke-like symptoms in his Washington office, his staff said.

Johnson, who turns 60 on December 28, was taken to George Washington University Hospital by ambulance about 11:30 a.m., sources in his office said.

A statement issued by Johnson’s office said he was suffering from a “possible stroke.” But a spokeswoman later said that tests showed Johnson had suffered neither a stroke nor a heart attack, although it was not clear what had happened…

…Johnson was in the Capitol Wednesday morning conducting a conference call with South Dakota reporters when “his speech pattern slipped off.”

She said the senator was able to walk back to his office in the Hart Senate Office Building, then began having problems with his right arm. He thought he was all right, she said, and went to his desk, but came out a few minutes later and “it was apparent he needed help.”

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At the news of a Democratic congressman in the Senate having a stroke, many Americans damn near had one themselves. With the balance of power being so delicate, the loss of one Democrat would give the Senate back to the Republicans. However, it seems unlikely now that Senator Johnson will need to resign. Doctors now say that he did not suffer a stroke, but are unsure about what caused the congressman to lose his ability to move and speak. Perhaps the Republicans have given up on taking back Congress with fear-mongering and have opted to use voodoo dolls instead.