Howard Schultz Says Back Pain Has Him on the Sidelines

Howard Schultz, who announced a possible independent campaign for president in January, has explained his recent low profile—and the reason sounds painful. After being struck by back pain, the former CEO of Starbucks said, he underwent three back surgeries in a period of two months. "I am feeling much better, and my doctors foresee a full recovery so long as I rest and rehabilitate," he wrote in a letter Wednesday, The Week reports. He said he made the decision to follow that advice reluctantly. Schultz did not say whether he's decided whether to run.

But it doesn't sound promising; Schultz is shrinking his team, per CBS. For the next couple of months, aides said, he'll monitor how the Democratic field shapes up. No decision on a campaign will be made over the summer, an aide said. In an email to supporters, Schultz said he'll be "back in touch after Labor Day." (More Howard Schultz 2020 stories.)