At a press conference today, Governor Rod Blagojevich introduced Roland Burris as his selection to replace President-Elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, asking, "Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man." Burris seemed just fine with the selection, saying, "Faced with these challenges and challenged with these crises, it is incomprehensible that the people of the great state of Illinois will enter the 111th Congress short handed. We need leadership in Washington." Also appearing at the press conference was U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, who gave Burris his full support. Check out video of the press conference below or listen to it. more ›

It appears Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s lobbying efforts are beginning to pay off. Already considered a leading candidate to be appointed by Gov. Blagojevich to take over Obama's now-vacant U.S. Senate seat, Jackson got a boost today by way of an endorsement from the Sun-Times. In the endorsement, the S-T compares Jackson to the man he would be replacing.

We believe Jackson, 43, has the drive, the passion and the experience. In his 13 years in Congress, he has distinguished himself as a thoughtful, committed legislator who fights for what he thinks is right... more ›

Illinois Senator and U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama has announced he will resign from his Senate Seat this Sunday. In a statement, Obama said, “It has been one of the highest honors and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate." The responsibility for replacing him now falls on Gov. Rod Blagojevich who has said he is not interested in naming himself to the seat. While there's no deadline for making the appointment, aides to the Governor say that the replacement should be named within 60 days of Obama's resignation. We can hear Jesse Jackson, Jr. licking his lips from here. more ›

Earlier today, we speculated over who would fill President-Elect Obama's now to be vacated U.S. Senate seat. And while we still think Jesse Jackson, Jr. is at the head of that list, Gov. Blagojevich wants to make it clear he's having none of the speculation he would replace Obama himself. Instead, Blago announced today at a news conference the creation of a team aimed to vet potential replacements. "The process begins today. The thinking begins today. The search begins today," said the embattled Governor. Overall, Blago seemed subdued, but maybe he's just smarting from being excluded from Obamapalooza last night. more ›