Senator Edward Kennedy is known as a staunch liberal
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US Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy has been taken to hospital suffering stroke-like symptoms.
Senator Kennedy, 76, was taken by ambulance to hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and then by helicopter to Boston, the Cape Cod Times reported.
His condition was not immediately clear - he is said to be under evaluation.
Mr Kennedy, brother of ex-US President John F Kennedy, is one of the most prominent members of the Democratic Party and a leading reform campaigner.
He has been an active supporter of Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for US president.
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EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY
1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings
1962 Becomes country's youngest senator
1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated
1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young passenger dies
1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter
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Mr Kennedy had preventative surgery in October to unclog a partially blocked carotid artery in his neck - a condition that can lead to a stroke.
His latest illness came as the Kennedy family prepared to host a major charity event at their estate in Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
It includes a music concert, scheduled for Saturday night.
Mr Kennedy is the second longest-serving member of the Senate.
He was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960.
Since then he has been re-elected seven times.
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