SIOUX FALLS - Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., endured some dark days after his life-threatening brain hemorrhage, but he says he never considered resigning.

All political eyes were focused on the second-term Democrat from South Dakota after he became ill Dec. 13, mainly because of his party's slim margin of Senate control.

"I went through some ups and downs; more ups than downs. But I concede there were downs," Johnson said.

Some people in online postings have said Johnson, who is up for re-election next year, should resign.

"I ignore the calls to step down," he said. "I felt that I would be fulfilling my obligations sooner or later and that I would proceed with voting on the floor sooner or later.

"In the meantime, I was fully engaged with judgment calls about bill sponsorships; I made phone calls about South Dakota projects, and I was never discouraged."

He plans to return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after almost nine months of recuperation and therapy. Johnson said he hopes to be speaking better and walking as his recovery continues.

"It's a huge frustration for me to be hobbling around and not be able to use my right arm and (have) speech limitations. But I am getting better and better at that, and the doctors say I'll improve and get better."

Asked how he thinks he'll be doing in a year, he said his goal is to be walking and that he will have discarded the wheelchair and electric scooter he'll be using when he returns.

His wife, Barb, joked that his staff will have to wear sneakers to keep up when her husband is motoring around in the scooter.

When the senator spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since he was stricken, his speech was somewhat slurred and slower-paced.

He said Thursday that his speech will be better as weakness on his right side improves and that he looks forward to better use of his right arm and right leg.

"I can BlackBerry, and I can use a computer - obviously hunt-and-peck style," Johnson said. He also said he makes phone calls and can use his scooter by himself.

He said he will be "more and more" accessible to people as he resumes his work in his office.

Johnson said he will serve full days when he returns. "Getting around means I will be a bit slower, but I expect to vote full time," he said.

In the interview, Johnson said it's premature to make any official re-election announcement just yet, although he intends to run.

"Time will tell," he said.

"I assume that I'll get better and better, moving around and my speech, but it's premature to talk about that. But I intend to run, and as far as I know, I am running."

Asked whether adding the rigors of a re-election campaign to the resumption of Senate duties might be overwhelming, he said, "I have to make accommodations for the campaign, but nothing serious. I'll be moving around a lot slower than before, but I'll be intending to get everywhere I need to be."

Johnson said he realizes many people care for him. "Despite their party differences, they're all coming together, including (Sen.) John Thune and (Gov.) Mike Rounds, in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie."

Barb Johnson said she never truly appreciated how determined her husband was - and is.

"I just don't know how he did it," she said. "Not only did he exceed all of the expectations that were set for him, but he did it with such an even temperament."