A behind-the-scenes scramble has already begun to fill the Senate seats that will be left vacant by Barack Obama and Joe Biden when they are installed as president and vice-president.
By law, the replacements are decided by the governors of Obama’s and Biden’s home states - Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois, and Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware, both Democrats. “I’ve never had more friends than I do today,” Blagojevich joked at a news conference yesterday, pleading to be left alone at home, especially during the fourth quarter of Bears’ football games.
But as a practical matter, Obama’s and Biden’s preferences are expected to weigh heavily in the governors’ decisions.
In Illinois, several potential picks already have expressed interest, among them, Democratic Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr., Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez.
Jackson, national co-chair of Obama’s campaign, has called any discussion of the vacancy premature. Nonetheless, his office distributed a recent editorial from the Chicago Defender, endorsing him as Obama’s replacement, to members of the media.
Jackson is not as close to the governor as Schakowsky and Gutierrez, who helped him win election in 2002. On the other hand, Blagojevich is said to be concerned about his eroding black support, and would likely face pressure to appoint an African-American successor to Obama.
Other names bandied about Chicago include those of Valerie Jarrett, a longtime friend and top adviser to Obama, who was just named a co-chairman of the Obama-Biden transition team, and retiring Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a top legislative ally of the governor’s and also an Obama mentor. At 73, however, Jones is considered less likely because he might not seek election in two years, putting a Democratic seat at risk.
In Delaware, the leading candidate is said to be Attorney General Beau Biden, the son of the vice president-elect - a situation complicated by the fact that the younger Biden left for a tour of duty in Iraq in September.
If he becomes the pick, the governor would likely name a place-holder who would not run for re-election.
A completely unexpected name floated yesterday by Politico’s Ben Smith is that of David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager.
Plouffe, 41, grew up in Wilmington, and was a political science major at the University of Delaware before embarking on a career in politics. He has been widely praised for how he ran Obama’s campaign.
Others possibilities are Lt. Gov. John C. Carney Jr. and Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor, a friend and supporter of the governor.
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