Former Gore Aide Coelho’s Health Problems Mount

Tony Coelho, former campaign chairman for Democratic presidential contender Al Gore, has a brain cyst that does not appear to be life-threatening, Gore aides said.

Campaign manager Donna Brazile, who has kept in close touch with Coelho since he stepped down a week ago citing an inflamed colon, said earlier this week that his health problems turned out to be worse than first thought. A cyst was discovered at the base of his brain, Brazile said.

Elaborating on Thursday, Brazile said Coelho, 58, suffered from other non-life-threatening ailments, including an irregular heartbeat.

Coelho sent word through the campaign that he did not want to talk further about his health. He was replaced by Commerce Secretary Bill Daley.

The former California lawmaker was hired by Gore a year ago to streamline a campaign that was considered to be undisciplined and spending too much money.