* With President-Elect Barack Obama’s resignation from the US Senate yesterday, the elbowing to be chosen as his replacement has kicked up a few notches. Our guy Bill may not be the frontrunner to replace Obama in the US Senate, but he has no skeletons in his closet, unlike some of the other hopefuls…

Congressman Danny Davis says he wants to replace Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois. The Democrat’s declaration came at a news conference in Chicago on Sunday. That’s the same day President-elect Obama stepped down from the position with two years left in his term. A coalition of black Illinois politicians endorsed the 67-year-old Davis at the event. Davis is also black.

Danny Davis, eh? You mean the guy who donned white gloves and helped crown Rev. Moon in a federal building? OK…

In 2004, Davis was met with national controversy when he crowned the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in a religious ceremony at the Dirksen Senate Office Building honoring the controversial spiritual leader. Moon declared himself the Messiah at the crowning ceremony, in which Davis appeared on the invitation as a sponsoring co-chair. Davis wore white gloves and carried the crown on a pillow to crown Moon and his wife “the King and Queen of Peace.”

Bill has never helped crown anyone King.

* The interesting thing about a governor with horrificly bad poll numbers is that people have begun asking why he has so much power. Roeper…

Giving the governor of Illinois the absolute authority to select the next U.S. senator from our state is only slightly more logical than granting the mayor of Chicago the power to make the first-round draft selection for the Bears.

In both scenarios, it’s a case of “Why does THAT guy get to make THAT pick?”

* Carol Marin makes a point that I’ve made time and time again…

Whoever gets this job will only serve two years before the next election. Who, in their right mind, thinks bearing the label of Blagojevich’s designated hitter will help them win then?

Marin, with tongue planted in cheek, encourages the choice of retiring Senate President Emil Jones…

So governor, pick your pal Jones.

In order to bring real change to Illinois, the public needs to get a lot angrier than it is. This will really help.

That could be true. But Bill would still be a better choice.

* The NPR interview I told you about the other day is now online with a transcript…

The decision will be solely up to Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat—which, at first, might sound pretty simple.

MILLER: This governor isn’t simple. He’s impossible to predict on pretty much every level.

Ignore all predictions.

Bill may be a long shot, but he has as much of a chance as a lot of those other “contenders.” Join the movement today!

* Related…

* Blagojevich’s Senate choice: That’s entertainment!

* Rep. Danny Davis interested in Obama’s Senate seat

* Ill. politicians reaching for Senate seat

* Obama resigns Senate seat

* Campaigning for Senate Vacancy Stepped-Up

* Obama’s time as senator ends

* Eye on Chicago: Duckworth

* Short list for Sen. Obama’s office

* Choose senator to fill Illinois’ needs, not personal agenda

* Obama, Daley: Chicago powers aligning

* Washington Wins…Everyone Else (except maybe Chicago) Loses

* The Valerie Jarrett Story. Named senior Obama White House advisor

* Washington Wins…Everyone Else (except maybe Chicago) Loses

* Obama and Daley political allies now, but they’re hardly cronies