Press release (via email):
President-elect Obama Resigning From The Senate: Effective Sunday
Below is a statement from President-elect Barack Obama
“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. In a state that represents the crossroads of a nation, I have met so many men and women who’ve taken different journeys, but hold common hopes for their children’s future. It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President,” said President-elect Barack Obama.
The Senate will be poorer for it. No word yet on his replacement. Here’s Bloomberg’s coverage.
Update [2008-11-13 17:45:54 by Steven D]: Some possible replacements for Obama’s seat:
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr (D-IL)
Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth
Illinois State Sen. President Emil Jones
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Attorney General Lisa Madigan
Lieutenant Gov. Pat Quinn
Chris Cillizza of WaPo weighs in with his pundtry thoughts and a few different names.
Personal opinion: I’d be very happy with Tammy Duckworth. She’s a wounded war hero, a former candidate, a woman and a minority. I think her appeal is broad based and I believe she would easily keep the seat when it comes up for re-election in 2010. Jesse Jackson Jr. strikes me as someone who has both positives and negatives associated with his family connection, though I wouldn’t be disappointed if he is selected. I know nothing about the rest of the candidates.
interesting timing for this, via reuters:
it also eliminates his need to participate in the caucus vote regarding LIEberman. l wonder what biden’s plans are?
npr reports that there’s pressure to appoint a minority, and jesse jackson jr has expressed an interest.
l wouldn’t rule out tammy duckworth as a serious contender for this seat. she also gave a very good speech at the dnc in aug
from veteran’s day
.
ther appointment would send a very positive message, especially to the vets.
bet she’s on the short list.
See my update. She’s being talked about in the media at least.
I vote for Duckworth or Emil Jones. Emil Jones walked hand in hand with Obama…directed his rise up the ladder. All two a fitting replacement
Sounds like Jones would just be a caretaker, though considering his age. Unless he wants to start a national political career in his seventies, that is.
I guess it depends on whether they want a big primary fight in 2 years or not. And also whatever Gov. Blagojevich’s agenda might be re: the pick.
I thought Duckworth was being considered for VA Secy? Jackson and Schakowsky I can clearly see as Senators, but would Jackson be effective enough to win in his own right when the term expires? I dunno.
Jones? That just really strikes me as a caretaker candidate, when the idea is to give someone a running start.
But can I say that it seems weird to read that Obama is resigning his seat? I know he has to because he’s President-elect. It just looks odd in print. I know, weird. Perhaps the reality of his presidency is still sinking in; not just that he won a contest over McCain.
I dunno. It’s time for bed. :<)
Duckworth has no accomplishments, no policy leadership, and a record as a poor campaigner. I’d hate to see a senatorial seat award on the basis of sex and race. That applies to Jackson, too, as far as the race angle. Jackson does have a solid reputation for getting things done in Congress, including “reaching across the aisle” to Henry Hyde. Hard to think of two men more opposite than Jackson and Hyde. Jackson has demonstrated that he can win elections,too.
Madigan has shown that she can win a statewide race. Duckworth has never been elected anything. Likewise Quinn, who has good populist credentials. Should he be held back for being a white male? The Treasury with the impossible to spell Greek name has also won statewide election.
Gutierrez and Schakowsky have won elections in their own districts.
All of these people are preferable to Duckworth, who only has identity and fealty to Rahm Emanuel going for her. That last will probably be the trump card, however. Look for this seat to go Republican in 2010, unless they nominate Oberweis, Keyes, or some other wingnut. Judy Baar Topinka could take this seat from Duckworth like candy from a baby.
I’m inclined to agree on Duckworth. She will be the sentimental favorite, though. I don’t mind that she doesn’t have much of a record, but her inclination to stick to the “center” at all costs bothers me when there are a bunch of real liberals who could be outstanding and long-serving senators.
I find Duckworth’s policy positions completely uninspiring and unsuited to the kind of Senators we need.
After reviewing the Wikipedia article on Blagojevich, I see that he has fueded with everyone on the list except Duckworth and Jones.
I’d rather see Jones as a caretaker and a good multi-candidate primary for the full term.
I’m pulling for Schakowsky. OK, she’s my congressperson. She’s also a solid liberal pretty much across the board. I’m proud to be in her district.
I don’t hear much buzz for her, though. Jesse Jr. seems like the easy pick, though he might have reelection problems with the downstate vote. I’d much rather have him than Emil Jones, who is part of the Dem triumvirate that’s turned IL state government into a nightmare. He has been a too-close ally of Blagojevich, though, so he could have a chance.
Quinn is a strong reformer and would probably make a good liberal senator, but his poor relations with Blagojevich make him an extremely unlikely pick. He would have good reelection chances, though. I’d be very unhappy to see Madigan get it, simply because her daddy, the House speaker is another member of the gang that’s wrecking Illinois. His dynasty dreams need to be squashed.
I’m a big thumbs down to Lisa Madigan. Her father is obstinate just to be obstinate, and she never should have gotten the Atty. General position in the first place.
“BREAKING NEWS” by Reuters. Don’t understand why, since they’ve picked up the day old chatter — Wapo’s AL Kamen first reported:
Sen. Hillary Clinton under consideration to be Secretary of State in Obama administration: report
I sure hope not for the same reasons I opposed her for the VP slot.
I hope it’s Jesse Jackson, Jr. Not only is he qualified, but I’d give him the 2 years to sell himself to downstate Illinois. He’s a very solid Progressive, and he’d work his heart out. If he loses in a primary challenge in 2010, then so be it. But, he’d be a damn good candidate.
And, this is an oddity, but I love Jesse Jr.’s, wife Sandi. She’s quite a charmer. Nobody would work harder in the next 2 years. I just don’t know if that’s long enough to win over downstate Illinois.
What I think blows is that he’ll be in limbo until Inauguration Day. We have two more months of Dubya to go. Ugh.