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Saturday update: No slating in the 5th and Durbin signals another cave-in

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Illinois

* Bad news for Ald. Pat O’Connor…

None of the five candidates seeking to succeed former Congressman Rahm Emanuel could muster a majority of support at a Democratic slating meeting today. That meas the March 3 primary will be an open one with no party endorsed candidate.

O’Connor, his allies and many others thought he had the slating wrapped up. Oops. I’ll bet he doesn’t even run now.

* On to the Senate vacancy, where Dick Durbin appears to have signaled yet another Senate Democratic cave-in…

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says a subtle maneuver late yesterday by Roland Burris and his attorneys may be enough to get the former Illinois Attorney General seated in the U.S. Senate.

When the U.S. Senate prevented Burris from entering, they cited the fact that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White hadn’t signed the appointment papers. He still hasn’t and says he won’t.

And yesterday, the Illinois Supreme Court decided White doesn’t need to because Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate is valid. In light of that ruling, attorneys for Burris went to the secretary of state’s office and obtained a copy of Blagojevich’s original appointment. They also got a second piece of paper from White, a certificate saying simply that the copy is a true and accurate copy.

That certificate is signed by White. Burris’ attorneys are touting that signature even though it’s not on the right piece of paper. Senator Durbin is the assistant majority leader in the Senate. He says the move by Burris may be enough to satisfy the Senate, though he stresses Senate lawyers will have to review it.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Jan 10, 09 @ 5:49 pm

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