Roland Burris reportedly will not stand for election in 2010.

Sneed has learned U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has decided NOT to seek election to the seat he fought the government to keep.

Sen. Burris is planning to announce his decision Friday by issuing a statement to the press. But he’s reportedly not planning to field any questions from the press.

The decision by Burris was based on his inability to raise campaign funds; campaign disclosures with the Federal Election Commission are expected to be filed next week…and he has reportedly only raised approximately $20,000

A source tells Sneed that Burris, who was appointed to Barack Obama’s senate seat by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has been very concerned about his legacy.

“After 20 years in government service, Burris didn’t want the last four months in office to be that legacy,” said a source.

So, after all of that Blagojevich mess, Roland Burris is out anyway.

Looks like the Illinois GOP might be able to make a competitive race next year for Obama’s former Senate seat.

Stay tuned, because Burris has not formally announced his intentions.

Looks like GOP Rep Mark Kirk is making the run for an illinois U.S. Senate seat occupied by Roland Burris who was appointed by impeached Governor Blago to replace President Barack Obama.

Just hours after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan took herself out of the running for the seat held by Sen. Roland Burris (D), Rep. Mark Kirk (R) has begun telling influential folks in Washington that he will make the race.

Kirk is widely regarded as the strongest candidate Republicans can field given his proven ability to win votes in a Democratic leaning district and his fundraising prowess.

Kirk has held the 10th district, which went for President Barack Obama with 61 percent in 2008, since 2000 and has beaten back several serious challenges during that time.

He had been expected to make the race for months but backed off when Madigan made it clear she would consider the race.

Kirk starts the race in impressive financial shape after raising $580,000 between April 1 and June 30. He began July with $1.1 million in the bank.

But, conservatives in Illinois are not happy with Kirk and there may be yet another candidate to challenge him in the Republican Primary, Illinois Republican Party Chairman, Andy McKenna.

At least it looks like the GOP will be able to make a credible race of it against the hapless Senator Roland Burris – if indeed he is not forced out for another more electable Democrat such as Tammy Duckworth.

Stay tuned…..

According to Fox News, Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democrat Senate Caucus have agreed to seat Roland Burris as Barack Obama’s replacement in the United States Senate.

Apparently, the Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White who previously refused to sign the certification of Burris’ appointment has indeed signed a second piece of paper essentially doing the same thing. Harry Reid, et. al. have agreed to accept this along with a letter from Governor Hot Rod Blagojevich appointing Burris.

Roland Burris who is currently in Cihicago will soon leave for Washington to assume his duties as a United States Senator from Illinois.

Did Harry Reid REALLY have any other option?

Chalk up a victory for Hot Rod as Harry Reid licks his political wounds.

Now, the Illinois GOP should begin immediately to recruit an excellent candidate to run against Burris in 2010.

Update:

Ambinder has the joint Reid-Durbin statement regarding Roland Burris with hysterical annotations.

Previous:

When Will Harry Reid Capitulate and Seat Roland Burris In Obama’s Senate Seat? How About Tomorrow?

Answer: Sooner than later and tomorrow works.

Does Democrat Senate Majority Leader really want a lawsuit and a confrontation in the United States Supreme Court over this matter?

Roland Burris may return to Washington next week to demand that he be accepted as the legitimate Senate appointee to replace President-elect Barack Obama and be sworn into office, according to a Burris adviser.

If Burris’ appointment is not accepted, he will file a lawsuit challenging Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership’s refusal to seat him, the adviser said.

“Unlike last time, there’s now a sense that we’ve been forced into a corner and must be more direct with Senate leaders,” the adviser said. “They’re breaking the law and act as if they have the upper-hand and can dictate terms for an entire state. There is nothing left to negotiate, they must seat the legally appointed senator.”

Reid and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have refused to seat Burris, arguing that his appointment by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was not certified by the Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White.

But on Friday night, White submitted a document to the Senate certifying Burris’ appointment. White’s action followed an earlier decision by the Illinois Supreme Court, which ruled that Blagojevich’s approval alone was all that was needed for Burris to take the seat.

Reid’s office said that the Democratic leadership was consulting with its own legal team and made no decision yet on its response to this latest development.

Harry Reid and his second in command Illinois Senator Dick Durbin have until Sunday PM to cut a deal with Burris.

Otherwise, why would Burris wait?

Stay tuned……

The Senate Democrats and Harry Reid in particular now are in a quandry with today’s ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court.

The Illinois Supreme Court says Secretary of State Jesse White doesn’t need to sign Roland Burris’ appointment to the U.S. Senate to make it valid.

The ruling says no Illinois official has to do anything further to validate the appointment made by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Burris was refused President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat this week in part because Senate

Democratic leaders said his paperwork was incomplete without White’s signature.

The state Supreme Court says nothing in state law requires White to sign the appointment.

White has said he wouldn’t certify any Blagojevich appointment in the wake of the governor’s federal corruption arrest unless the court forced him to.

Roland Burris should force Harry Reid’s hand and immediately file suit in the United States Supreme Court demanding that he be seated.

Roland Burris will win and so will Illinois Governor Hot Rod Blagojevich who was impeached today.

Previous:

The Day By Day Archive