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CHICAGO (CBS) ― Roland Burris, Gov. Blagojevich's choice for Illinois' vacant Senate seat, left for Washington Monday, saying he is going there to be seated as the junior senator from Illinois, despite the controversy surrounding his appointment.

"I am hoping and praying that I will be seated," Burris said before leaving on a flight to the nation's capitol. "I am going to there to be seated. I am the junior senator from Illinois. That's all I can say."

Burris also disclosed that his aides have tried unsuccessfully to reach members of President-elect Obama's team to discuss the issue surrounding his appointment.

"My people tried to reach out to them; I don't think we heard anything,'' Burris said.

Burris believes he can negotiate a deal that will convince Senate Democrats to seat him despite their opposition.

"I will be in touch with our Senator Dick Durbin and hopefully he will have things outlined for me and set up there," Burris said. "I understand that he's supposed to have meetings with Harry Reid, the majority leader, and we'll see what takes place then."

Burris said these behind-the-scenes meetings are set for Wednesday. But the Illinois House impeachment committee has subpoenaed Burris to appear before them on Wednesday. He hinted that he will not honor that subpoena.

State Rep. Jim Durkin, the committee's ranking Republican, said, "Roland Burris owes this committee an explanation and owes the people of this state an explanation of the circumstances on how he was appointed."

As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, Burris could end up being held in contempt.

How can Burris be in Washington and in the state Capitol at the same time?

"I am the magic man," he told CBS 2's Mike Parker.

Burris said he is traveling to Springfield on Thursday.

"I'm a United States Senator. They cannot stop me from doing my senatorial duties," Burris said.

"We have the right to hold Mr. Burris in contempt and I don't believe Mr. Burris would like that," Durkin said.

Burris said he has sent an affidavit to the committee telling them the circumstances of his appointment. It was unclear Monday if he intends to appear under oath before the committee on Wednesday, Thursday or some other date, or if he intends to appear at all.

Despite Durkin's irritation about this matter, he told CBS 2 Monday that he does believe, absent any evidence of wrongdoing, that Burris is legally entitled to the Senate seat.

Another member of the impeachment committee, Skokie Democrat Lou Lang told CBS 2 he agrees. The appointment, he says, is perfectly legal.

A growing number of political experts say Burris is losing whatever chance he might have had to win next year's election for Obama's old senate seat. But a similarly growing number say that, in the short term at least, the law is on his side.

"The Supreme Court precedents are sufficiently clear that I would think that any lower court would rule in Burris' favor. That would put the onus on the Senate to take it higher and I could imagine the Supreme Court saying, 'No, we're not going to review this,'" Northwestern Law Constitutional law school Prof. Robert Bennett said.

While he speaks for many, Harvard Law's Laurence Tribe told Fortune Magazine the Senate ca block Burris.

"The arguments saying the Senate must seat Burris miss the mark," Tribe said. "Under [the Constitution's] Article 1, Section 5 [the Senate shall] serve as the sole 'Judge of the Elections' -- and... the temporary appointments of would-be members." 

Congressman Bobby Rush, who famously endorsed a white candidate against Obama in the 2004 U.S. Senate election, continues to raise the racial temperature of the argument.

Rush called the Senate the "last bastion of plantation politics" adding that blacks have been "excluded systematically for too long."

Taking heart from all this, another group excluded from statewide office in Illinois: Republicans. They have a real chance next year for the first time in a long time.

On Sunday, members of the local clergy held a big rally for Burris. They blessed him and his wife as they prepared for their trip to Washington. The prayer vigil was designed to change the minds of those are opposed to the appointment of Burris to Obama's vacated seat.

Supporters say the appointment was divine intervention.

"Obama didn't do it and Harry Reid didn't do it," said Rep. Rush. "You might think he did, but he didn't do it. Dick Durbin, Mike Madigan – none of them did it. Only God has made this possible."

Burris took the podium also crediting divine intervention for Blagojevich to have selected him, and vowing to fight for the seat.

"I am not hesitating. I am now the junior senator from the state of Illinois. Some people may want to doubt that, some people may want to question that -- that is their prerogative and that is their business," Burris said. "I spent 20 years in Illinois government. There is nobody in the state who knows Illinois the way I know it."

Burris said he will not create any theater when he gets to Washington. He plans to enter the Senate through the assigned door. If he is turned away, then he will take legal action.

Burris says he plans to enter the Senate as a dignified professional.

"Roland Burris isn't coming with any chip on his shoulders, not coming bearing any grudges against anybody," Burris said. "But he is coming from the duly appointed power of the governor of this state to represent the great state of Illinois in the United State Senate."

On Sunday, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said that he believes the governor is corrupt and that Blagojevich appointed Burris to divert attention away from his own problems. However, Reid also said that as for Burris, there is some room for negotiation.

CBS 2's Mike Flannery, Mike Parker, Pamela Jones and Joanie Lum contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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