 is that the Democratic opponent, Wilson, offered to suspend his campaign as long as Teddy was in the hospital. He declined. He said the fight should go on. And then, what's really relevant for today, the dramatic attack kindled the nation's empathy, and one Democratic official articulated the worst fears of the Democrats, that the bullet that rests in Roosevelt's chest has killed Wilson for the presidency. But in the end, the fundamentals of the election prevailed.