The top Obama strategist tells the NY Times that there was "never any debate or discussion or anything" about his candidate traveling to Hawaii to spend time with his ill grandma.
"Barack's grandmother is one of the formidable people in his life. He wants to go see her on the advice of her doctors. He had to do it now. So we'll just make do."
He is not scheduled to have any public appearances in Hawaii, but aides say he'll still be in touch with advisers in Chicago.
