So Long, Roland Burris?
Looks like the Roland Burris show isn't going to be picked up for a second season. Washington strategists have taken a good look at the Illinois senator's fundraising numbers (such as they are) and deduced that a 2010 re-election bid is unlikely.
Looks like the Roland Burris show isn’t going to be picked up for a second season. Washington strategists have taken a good look at the Illinois senator’s fundraising numbers (such as they are) and deduced that a 2010 re-election bid is unlikely.
That’s good news for Democrats, who grudgingly tolerated the appointment of Burris by disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the circus that came with it.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...Washington Post / Chris Cillizza:
Burris was unable to put the Blagojevich connection behind him, as new revelations about his relationship with the disgraced former governor kept coming out.
The senator had declined to make any commitment about his future plans, but his nonexistent fundraising during the first three months of the year led savvy strategists to conclude that he would not run.
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Congressional fundraising numbers are in, and the Political Wire has teased out some interesting performances. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut managed to raise just 0.7 percent of his funds from contributors in his own state -- all five of them. Roland Burris, the man appointed by Rod Blagojevich to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, pulled in a whopping $845. He's $111,032 in debt.
It's now eminently clear that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's media blitz to gain sympathy after he was ousted from office in January hasn't helped his case, as he was charged with a whopping 16 felony counts on Thursday. However, Blagojevich wasn't in Chicago to receive the bad news in person -- he was vacationing near Disney World with his family.
Surprise! Roland Burris has no credibility. The man who condemned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for allegedly trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat -- until he was appointed to it -- has revealed that, contrary to what he told the United States Congress in sworn testimony, he tried to raise money, as requested, for the governor-turned-auctioneer.
Although a majority of his state's voters are opposed to his appointment (according to a recent poll), Roland Burris will be seated as the junior senator from Illinois. Senate Democrats had promised not to seat Burris but, true to tradition, promptly caved.
Last time he came knocking at the Capitol, the Senate sent Roland Burris away empty-handed. But now that the Illinois secretary of state has ended his protest and signed the relevant paperwork, Burris is hoping his next visit has a happier ending.
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