SPRINGFIELD - A stroke suffered more than two weeks ago by a top Illinois Republican was apparently more serious than his staff initially reported.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson's speech and movement were affected by the stroke, which occurred while he was campaigning in southern Illinois last month, said state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld.

"It wasn't just a slight stroke," said Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, who visited the Greenville lawmaker at a St. Louis-area rehabilitation facility Sunday.

Along with affecting Watson's speech, Luechtefeld said Watson's face, leg and arm were weakened by the incident, which his spokeswoman had previously described as a "very minor stroke."

The spokeswoman did not return a message seeking clarification. Watson has not spoken with the media since he entered the hospital Oct. 17. His staff has not identified where he is undergoing rehabilitation.

Luechtefeld said the 63-year-old pharmacist has needed assistance to walk, but could be released sometime this week in order to continue treatment closer to his Bond County home.

"I was really relieved to see him," Luechtefeld said. "I felt good about how he was doing. I had thought the worst."

Watson, a member of the General Assembly since 1979, ran unopposed for re-election Tuesday. He has been the top Republican in the Senate for five years.