Tony Snow Dies at Age 53

Heartbreaking news in the wake of the death of Tim Russert.

Former White House press secretary Tony Snow -- who once told reporters "I'm a very lucky guy" -- died at the age of 53 early Saturday after a second battle with cancer.

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President Bush said Saturday that he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Snow's death.

"The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," the president said in a statement.

"It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day."

I had the great opportunity to see Tony Snow on the stump at a fundraiser here in Cincinnati. He was absolutely fantastic, authentic, and with charisma. He also had local roots here and the crowd loved him. His service as a press secretary was a huge asset to the Bush administration.

He was also a favorite stand in for Rush Limbaugh and an excellent commentator on Fox News. To say he will be missed would be an enormous understatement.