Dukakis Cancels Debate; Wife to Have Surgery

Democratic presidential front-runner Michael S. Dukakis canceled today’s debate with Jesse Jackson and is returning home to Boston to be with his wife, who is to undergo surgery, a spokesman said.

Dukakis, who flew to California late Wednesday for campaign appearances and then the debate in Los Angeles, hoped to resume his schedule by Saturday, campaign spokesman Mark Gearan said.

Gearan said Kitty Dukakis will be operated on Friday for two herniated cervical disks in her neck.

He said there are no other problems beyond the disks. He said that Kitty Dukakis underwent tests recently while in California and that her doctors in Boston decided an operation was required after reviewing the results.

Numbness of Hands, Fingers

Kitty Dukakis, 53, was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Wednesday night. She told told reporters at Logan International Airport as she arrived in town that she had begun to experience numbness in her hands and fingers about a month ago and called a family doctor.

“He and I felt at that time it was just stress,” she said, adding that her symptoms worsened in recent weeks.

Her husband had resumed his California campaign earlier today, five days before the state’s big primary.

The Massachusetts governor is far ahead of Jackson in the nationwide delegate tally, and is heavily favored to win the primary here.

In recent days, Dukakis has been engaged in a delicate minuet with Jackson over his rival’s role in the fall campaign.