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* UPDATED x1 * Rumor: Durbin to the Cabinet?

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*** UPDATE *** From Durbin spokesman Max Gleischman…

“If I had to chase down every blind rumor about Senator Durbin’s future plans, I’d be able to beat Paul Ryan in a marathon.”

He adds…

Senator Durbin said last week at the DNC that he’s planning to run for reelection - Durbin: “I’m planning to run for re-election but I’ll make my final decision next year. I love this business and I love this state and I’ll match my schedule with any elected official in our state. I cover it from one end to the other every time I get home. I draw energy from it.”

So, there you go.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* This was apparently the big rumor being passed around by Democratic National Convention attendees…

A top Dem source tells Sneed that U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who has held his post for almost two decades, may be eyeing a Cabinet post as U.S. transportation or labor secretary if President Barack Obama is re-elected.

* I’ve asked the Durbin folks for a comment. But the last time Sneed wrote that Durbin might not run again, back in June, Durbin’s office sent me this…

Rich – Senator Durbin has answered this question a number of times in the last few months and his answer hasn’t changed:

Press Conference – 1.3.12: “My political future? I am exactly halfway through my term. So I have three years before I would be standing for reelection. I have not made any decision on this. If you ask me today, I’d say I’m announcing for reelection. But, at some point I will sit down with my highest counsel of advisors in my life, which would be my wife, and we will make a decision. But I enjoy the job and hope to continue doing it for a long, long time.”

Chicago Tonight – 10.10.11:
Q: Got to talk a little politics here. So, Senator Durbin, I’ve been hearing that in 2014, you’re not going to run again.

Durbin: Well, that’s just plain wrong.

Q: Is it?

Durbin: Where have you been hearing that Carol?

Q: You know, I’ll go back to those people and tell them that.

We’re two-and-half years away from the 2014 election and have five months left in the current campaign. One election at a time.

I’ll let you know if a new comment arrives.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:13 am

Comments

Durbin never struck me as a cabinet kind of guy.

Even within the cabinet, there’s a big dropoff in power and prestige after state and treasury.

If Dems lose the Senate, perhaps he’d give it some consideration. But, then again, if that happens, there will be former Senate Dems looking for jobs, too.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:21 am
God help us if it’s transportation.

Comment by Tollway M8 Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:37 am
Quit getting my hopes up.

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:39 am
Sounds more like someone else may be interested in running for Durbin’s seat. Dick has never struck me as someone interested in administrative duties.

Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:42 am
I’d like to see Robert Reich back in the cabinet. Not sure where we would get the most out of Durbin. I prefer having him in the Senate.

If we want to go further with the speculation (and give heart flutters to many in state politics)…who would Quinn appoint to the seat?

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:44 am
–..who would Quinn appoint to the seat?–

Burris is out. No room on the memorial.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 11:47 am
After the 2008 elections, there was talk among Black pols West Side and Proviso Township that Danny Davis was going to get appointed by Obama.

My reaction was, Obama’s only going to be POTUS four or eight years. I think he’s going to appoint people who are going to work hard.

Durbin has the stature to be in the cabinet. But which agency is a great fit for Durbin? DOD? State? Treasury? Agriculture? Commerce? HHS?

I guess Transportation might be a good fit, sorta, at least better than the others.

My guess is that in the second term Obama will appoint more people from within the federal bureaucracy. They’ve got more expertise in many cases. They have an executive branch perspective (aka as success is accomplishing things, not blocking legislation). And Obama has been dealing with these people for four years now.

If Durbin wants to finish his career as an ambassador, I’m sure that could be made to happen.

Kerry is going to be Sec of State is the rumor. And if that’s the price of getting him out of the Senate, so be it. Department of State has been reduced to damage control for DOD and being an errand boy for the intelligence guys.

Scott Brown should be ready to run for the Mass seat.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:04 pm
He’d make a great Attorney General, but I think that’s the only cabinet spot that could get him out of the Senate.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:04 pm
Max Gleischman wins quote of the week. That was pretty damn good.

Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:05 pm
===who would Quinn appoint to the seat?===

Nobody. We’d have a special election, thanks to effing Blagojevich. I suppose I’ll be glad we changed the law if and when the ILGOPs ever retake the mansion, but until then it kind of stinks. If Kirk decides he can no longer serve, the Illinois special election could decide the balance of power in the Senate and we’d see close to $100 million spent on ads in an off-cycle race.

Good for TV stations, bad for the rest of us.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:08 pm
Durbin is 67. Another campaign is an 8 year commitment; in 2 years he is approaching 70. He’s been in government his whole life does he want to spend the rest of his life in the Senate? He will be in office until he’s 75 if he runs and wins again.

Comment by Votecounter Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:18 pm
Did something change on special elections? My understanding is that if Durbin were to resign, Quinn would appoint a replacement until such time as a special election would take place. The timing of that election of course would be an open issue. And in fact, under Illinois law I don’t believe he can call for an election outside of the normal schedule. So we’d be in the same situation we were in for 2010. a full term election and a “special” for a single month or so.

Or the Dems could actually pass something to deal with it.

Comment by CU Voter Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:25 pm
Since Obama is going to turn us into a socialist, Muslim nation with its capital in corrupt Chicago, Durbin will probably be Director of the Great Leap Forward.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:38 pm
I am with Dee Lay. That is about as good as it gets in terms of a response.

Comment by Montrose Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 12:40 pm
Are we talking about Paul Ryan’s real marathon time, or the one he made up?

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 1:00 pm
Good points- it depends on the margin in the Senate, so there is no way Durbin can answer this question yet. No way he leaves if that threatens to flip Senate control to the GOP.

Comment by ZC Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 1:02 pm
The idea of going from caucus leadership in the Senate to Labor or Transportation doesn’t strike me as plausible. Maybe more plausible than Bill Daley running for governor or Chris Kennedy running for Senate, but not plausible.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 1:30 pm
“I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years.” — U.S. Senator Barack Obama

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 1:36 pm
Louis Howe hit the nail on the head. All the Dem Senate wannabe’s need to take a deep breath. Durbin is the guy & he ain’t going nowhere….. Wannabe crowd: please set your sights at Mark Kirk in 2016. If you just can’t wait that long…pick up a hobby.

Comment by bardo Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 2:03 pm
Hmmm, Senate ties, Obama loses- Quinn appoints Barak to replace Durbin and the whole mess will be Bush’s fault.

Comment by Liberty First Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 3:09 pm
=== Sounds more like someone else may be interested in running for Durbin’s seat. ===

The most likely explanation for how these rumors get started.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 3:37 pm
Illinois politics looks more and more like fantasy football.

Comment by Left of Central IL Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 3:50 pm
Paul Ryan has nothing on me. I ran the 100 meter sprint in 2.1 seconds and the Marathon in 54 minutes flat. Slow poke.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 13, 12 @ 6:27 pm