Another Sen. Cracked Claire McCaskill's Rib In Heimlich Maneuver

MISSOURI — It's not everyday one U.S. Senator injures another, but that happened Thursday at a luncheon for Senate Democrats in Washington when West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin cracked the rib of Missouri's own Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Save your speeches on the decline of civility, though. He was saving her from choking.

The Associated Press reports Manchin used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge a piece of food that had become stuck in McCaskill's throat, cracking her rib in the process.

McCaskill said she's "grateful" and that "a little bit of a sore rib for a couple weeks is no big deal." She spoke at the party's Truman Dinner in St. Louis Saturday.

It's lucky the injury won't keep her off the campaign trail. McCaskill is expected to have a tough reelection ahead of her in 2018, and hanging on to her seat will be key to Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate this year.

My thanks to @Sen_JoeManchin. And a sore rib for a few weeks is no big deal. I play hurt. The work goes on. https://t.co/rBb0gBq32F
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) June 25, 2018

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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