The party released a statement this afternoon saying Mink "will not make promises to voters that she may not be able to keep. She will remain on the ballot, but her family wants voters to know that she will not assume office in the 108th Congress if she is not able to represent the 2nd district with her customary vigor."

Andy Winer, a spokesman for the Democratic Party's coordinated campaign, said he was called at about 11:30 a.m. by a "representative of the family" and told that she had "taken a turn for the worse" and that the chances she will recover are slim.

The party said if Mink is re-elected and cannot join the 108th Congress, a special election would be called to fill her vacancy.

Mink, who has been hospitalized for nearly a month, is on the ballot as a candidate for Hawai'i's 2nd District (Rural O'ahu, Neighbor Islands) congressional seat. Her name was not withdrawn by yesterday's deadline.

Winer said that under state law, any withdrawal from the ballot for reason of ill health has to be initiated by the candidate herself. He said he did not know whether anyone had been given power of attorney for Mink or whether that person could have intervened in the election process on her behalf.

But he did say that the campaign will continue to work toward her re-election.

"We're going to continue to campaign on her behalf and we intend to get her elected," even if the likelihood that she will serve is not great, Winer said.

"If she's not re-elected, a Republican who stands for everything she's opposed to will be elected," he added. "So the mission of her family and the campaign are the same.

"This is somebody who served the state and Congress for 24 years," Winer said. "I don't think anybody can come back and show what's wrong with what she's done."

The 74-year-old Mink has been in the intensive unit at Straub Clinic & Hospital since Aug. 30 with viral pneumonia stemming from a case of chickenpox. Her office and family has said in prior statements that she was in serious condition, but on the road to recovery.

Yesterday was the deadline for the state Democratic Party to name a replacement for a candidate who withdraws for medical reasons. A candidate could withdraw for medical reasons before Oct. 16, but if that withdrawal occurred after yesterday, that would leave the party without a qualified candidate in the general election.

Despite the questions about her health, Mink, handily won the Democratic nomination in the primary election.

She was to face state Rep. Bob McDermott in the general election Nov. 5.

More details to come.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink was hospitalized Aug. 30. An earlier version of this story included a wrong date.