Cindy Sheehan Leaves Crawford

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- The grieving mother who started an anti-war demonstration near President Bush's ranch nearly two weeks ago said Thursday she was leaving because her mother had a stroke.

Cindy Sheehan told reporters she had just received the phone call and would rush to her 74-year-old mother's side. Her mother lives in the Los Angeles area.

"I'll be back as soon as possible if it's possible," Sheehan said. After hugging some of her supporters, she got in a van and left.

Sheehan, of Vacaville, Calif., said the makeshift campsite off the road leading to Bush's ranch would continue. The camp has grown to more than 100 people, including many relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq.

Does this mean the circus will be packing up and moving on?

Although the protest camp will remain in place, as Cindy wishes, will the media be as interested if they don't have her to eagerly go before the cameras and have an angry outburst or weep on cue?

The media are staked out in Crawford anyway as long as the President is there; but I suppose some of this wall to wall Sheehan coverage will subside now that the star has had to leave the show.

I wish Sheehan's mother and the family all the best. Hopefully, it was a mild stroke and she will recover.