Monday, August 10, 2009

Senate race 2010

Via CapFax, it appears despite his announcement in July, Sen. Burris may still want to run to retain his US Senate seat. From ABC News:
Illinois Sen. Roland Burris announced last month that he would not run to retain his Senate seat next year, but in his first television interview since making that decision, Burris told ABC News he could change his mind.

"You never say never," Burris told ABC News in a "Subway Series" interview for the ABC News program "Top Line." The "Subway Series," which debuts on Monday, features interviews with senators and other political leaders on board the Capitol Hill subway.

"What I'm still hearing," Burris said, is "people from all over the country and they are saying, 'Don't give up that seat.'"
If he does he may have a black opponent in the race in addition to State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis or possible Chris Kennedy courtesy of Crain's:
She's in the race.

Cheryle Jackson, the president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, will e-mail supporters later today announcing that she will indeed run for President Barack Obama's old seat in the U.S. Senate.

A formal announcement with the usual press release and statewide fly-around will follow next month.

The action -- which had been expected but not certain -- puts Ms. Jackson, 44, in a Democratic primary race with Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, with the winner likely to oppose North Shore GOP Congressman Mark Kirk in the November 2010 general election.
OK, it's great to see competition strong for the race to gain the seat formerly held by Barack Obama and Carol Moseley Braun. Sen. Braun was the first black woman elected to the US Senate. It's great to see there is a woman in the running who could follow her as the 2nd Black woman in the race.

Whether or not Burris is in the race, him and Ms. Jackson may have the issue of both having some ties to Ousted governor Rod Blagojevich. Perhaps Burris has stronger ties than Jackson, but Jackson also served as an insider in the Blagojevich administration.

Whatever happens, the race is going to be interesting, especially if there is a strong black candidate who can actually be elected to Obama/Braun's old seat.

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