Nov 21, 2008 5:38 pm US/Central
Push For Black Successor To Obama's Senate Seat
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A group of African-American ministers is calling on Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint an African American to Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.
CBS
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is feeling increasing political pressure as he considers a replacement for President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports a coalition of black ministers in Chicago believes the best candidate will be an African American.
"Who would be proud of zero African Americans in the United States Senate?" the Rev. Marshall Hatch of New Mt. Pilgrim Church said.
And that would be the result, the ministers warn, if Gov. Blagojevich doesn't appoint an African American to succeed Obama in the senate.
What's more, they implied, Blagojevich owed a debt to black voters who overwhelmingly supported him at the polls.
"Gov. Blagojevich can honor the request of his most reliable constituency, and make the right choice," said the Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church.
Torn between South Side Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., and West Side Congressman Danny Davis, the ministers won't specify just who the right choice is. But they don't want a short-term fill-in, which Emil Jones, the retiring 71-year-old state senate president, would likely be.
"Whoever he appoints," said political analyst Paul Green, "that person had a tremendous leg up in the Feb. 10 primary. It's not that far away. And he can raise lots more cash as the incumbent senator than as a challenger."
That's part of the reason why the appointment would be a huge political prize.
Sen. Dick Durbin has reportedly been backing state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth, something he denied Friday. But Durbin is clearly annoyed that he hasn't talked with Blagojevich about the appointment of his future senate colleague.
"I reached out the governor last week, asked for a meeting or a telephone conversation, but I have not heard back," Durbin said.
Durbin is also anxious for Blagojevich to act quickly. If Obama's replacement is sworn in before January 6, he'll have seniority over ahead of at least seven newly elected senators. That will produce somewhat better committee assignments, and more clout for Illinois.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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