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Burris in a bubble and Cobb spins out

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Illinois
Polls
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Burris

* US Sen. Roland Burris apparently resides in a bubble…

The latest poll numbers do not look good for Roland Burris. A new poll just came out, showing a 19 percent approval [sic*] rating for Burris.

The senator was speechless in response to the news about the poll, but then he went on, like many politicians do, to say that polls don’t matter.

What’s next? Will he follow every political loser in the last 60 years and invoke Harry Truman’s grand comeback?

With less than ten months before the primary, a mere four months before petitions hit the streets, $850 in the bank and only 50 people showing up for his first major fundraiser, Burris’ media adviser thinks she still has enough time to rehabilitate his image? Please…

Delmarie Cobb, Burris’ media adviser and strategist, said one major factor in making a decision on election was the status of “the rehabilitation of his reputation.” […]

“I actually feel very comfortable with where we are,” Cobb said of Burris’ reputation.

She’s “comfortable” with where Burris is now? Let’s jog her memory…

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Illinois voters say Roland Burris, the man the disgraced governor named to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, should resign. Just 24% believe Burris should remain in the Senate, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey of voters in the state.

Fifty-four percent (54%) say they will definitely vote against Burris if he chooses to run for a full six-year term in the Senate in 2010. Only four percent (4%) say they will definitely vote for him. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say it depends upon who he is running against.

Only 19% have a favorable opinion of Burris. Seventy-three percent (73%) view him unfavorably, including 44% whose view is Very Unfavorable.

* And this is a super-brilliant strategy in Obama’s home state…

Cobb, who backed former New York senator and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee over Obama, also appeared to take a shot at the president in describing the job Burris is doing.

“We should be happy as Illinois citizens, because now we actually do have a senator who wants to be there,” she said.

Yeah. OK. Obama had a 67 percent job approval rating in that Rasmussen poll of likely Illinois voters. 90 percent of Illinois African-Americans “strongly approved” of Obama’s job performance. Democrats gave him an overall 89 percent approval rating.

Keep taking swings at Obama in Illinois. I’m so sure that’ll work for a Democrat.

* We’ll close with this…

Aides at U.S. Senator Roland Burris’ first fundraiser since being appointed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich wore new blue buttons that said “Run Roland Run.”

Except, in his case, he should run “from,” not “for.”

[*The Rasmussen poll tested Burris’ favorable rating, not his job approval rating.]

* Related…

* Burris: Fundraiser not geared to possible campaign in 2010

* Roland Burris fundraising: Senator says he will decide on 2010 election soon, but he raises funds now

* Burris has 19% approval rating, but 2010 bid a ‘possibility’

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 2:13 am

Comments

Operating on the assumption Burris won’t run, you have to think there’s someone in the African-American community who will give it a shot, and possibly get some funding from Dems who want an African-American at the top of the ticket.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 6:22 am
What is the point of Cobb taking potshots at Obama? What is her beef?

Comment by Levois Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 7:10 am
Rush

Comment by anon Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 7:22 am
You’ve got to love Roland. He has to be the most clueless candidate from Illinois since Carole Moseley Braun ran for president. And it just goes to show that no matter how doomed your candidacy, there is always a “strategist” that will take your money and tell the world you’ve got a shot.

Comment by Stooges Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 7:38 am
The whole Burris thing is creepy — from the bizarre press conference to the tombstone.

Someone oughta remind Burris that he’s helping no one — especially the citizens of Illinois.

Good news, however: Burris’s ego is in fine shape.

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 7:56 am
Just saw the press conference in the parking garage. He’s not in a bubble, he’s in a bunker. Nothing was done to dress up the setting. He was clearly in an underground, concrete structure.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 8:01 am
I heard Cobb on the radio during the presidential campaign. It is clear that she really, really dislikes Obama. Really. There is nothing that symbolizes Burris’ cluelessness more than his retaining this hater for his effort.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 8:20 am
there isn’t a whole lot more to say than what has already been posted here. clearly the man has no clue and has an ego the size of Alaska. and Ms. Cobb seems intent on taking the money, telling Burris what he wants to hear, and will move on to another loser when Burris is dumped in the 2010 elections. pitiful.

Comment by susie Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 8:41 am
Wow! He actually got a favorable opinion rating of 19%? Amazing! That totally amazes me as I would have guessed at it being around 5% or less. They must have taken their poll on the south side of Chicago.

Comment by Beowulf Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 8:49 am
“We should be happy as Illinois citizens, because now we actually do have a senator who wants to be there,” she said.

Obama wanted to be in the US Senate, so that is a crazy thing to say. He wanted the Senate, so he could become president. So claiming that Obama didn’t want to be there isn’t correct. He didn’t do anything but run for president, as our senator, but he wanted to be there.

Burris’ career benefitted from a lack of exposure. Now that we see him, he’s a goner. Like most politicians, Burris thought voters were rewarding him with elected office due to his brilliance and charisma. He isn’t the first guy to make this mistake, and will not be the last.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 9:03 am
Doesn’t the African American vote play a huge role in selecting the Dem primary candidates for major office. Is it clear that they have abandoned Burris. I suspect there is huge symbolic importance if his defeat means the Senate will have no African American members. Of course, if Obama decides to weigh in and support somebody else that would have an impact. But will he? He could just stay out.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 9:04 am
Have we been watching Roland Burris since January? How many senators have had as many thing thrown at him? And he stayed.

He will stay and run and pull votes in the primary. One thing we learned about Roland, he can’t be talked out of a powerful political seat.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 9:06 am
“I actually feel very comfortable with where we are”

Maybe she doesn’t like the job and wants to move on but is not comfortable resigning.

C’mon people, what do you expect her to say? How about this:

+++Delmarie Cobb, Burris’ media adviser and strategist, said today that the Illinois Senator has little chance of staying in office or advancing his agenda. She said “Sen. Burris’s reputation is in the toilet and it’s hard to get anyone in Congress to return our calls. We have no money in the campaign fund and no hope for getting reelected.” Cobb went on to say that the people of Illinois can expect little from Burris’ office because no one wants to work on his staff, meaning services will be at a minimum and drafting legislation is almost impossible.+++

Yeah, that would help.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 9:29 am
It seems to me that Burris’ best card to play is the African American vote- either getting enough of it to win outright, or just making the primary so racially charged that if anyone else wins, they’re too damaged for the General. I can’t imagine that taking pot shots at Obama helps with that (though one quote from his flack isn’t going to even get to all of those voters).

Comment by colby Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 9:31 am
MacBeth, what makes you think he cares about helping anyone other than himself? I haven’t seen anything from him lately that shows he even remotely cares if he hurts the people of Illinois. All he cares about is himself…and HE is now a Senator. That’s good enough for him. There will be toadies that introduce him as Senator for the rest of his life.

Comment by ThreeSheets Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 9:51 am
Delmarie is a bit of an out of control hypocrite. Yes, I know we’re not supposed to launch ad hominem attacks, but in this case it’s so self evident.

Out of control? Let’s see, she’s a media strategist who attacks Obama in his home state, attacks the media, and clearly lives in denial. So out of control? Check.

Hypocrite? Hmmm, well we’re supposed to believe electing an African American is more important than anything else for the seat and that’s why she’s backing Roland and if you have a problem with that than you’re a racist. But she endorsed and still would fight for a white woman over a black man. So hypocrite? Check.

Roland and Delmarie make a great pair and have for decades.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 10:26 am
As dumb as my party has been with Senate candidates, maybe he can switch parties and be the GOP nominee.

Comment by HoosierDaddy Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 11:01 am
Kind of sad to see a nice guy who had a good run over the years and then get out clean have his legacy tarnished. He made a serious error in judgement by accepting appointment to the Senate by Blago.

Comment by Stones Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 11:06 am
If Burris becomes a Republican, Rep. Kirk should become a Democrat. Kirk is pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage, pro-illegal alien, and anti-Iraq surge. He’s more liberal than many Democrats.

Comment by ConservativeVeteran Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 11:18 am
Pro-illegal alien? Wow, now that would make for a great TV commercial. I’m Mark Kirk and believe in illegal aliens!

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 11:33 am
“Run Roland, Run”….and might I add, “and don’t stop until you reach the South Pole”, and don’t return.

Comment by You Go Boy Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 12:19 pm
Delmarie Cobb was on the radio last week -in advance of the fundraiser- talking about Burris not needing IL because he can raise $ everywhere else. I kept wondering if she could hear herself being played back during the primary — “Illinois doesn’t matter….”

Comment by Redbright Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 12:34 pm
Just ask Cobb if she would work on a contigency basis to determine if she beleives in Roland, or the paycheck. No win, no pay.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 2:21 pm
Burris knew he was stepping into a hailstorm. It was decent of him to step up and help. I’ll leave any other motivation out of picture. What comes with the job is the heat of being from the wrong camp and a Blago appointment unfortunately tarnishes many people. Burris needs some outcomes and it is very clear, he is not going to get the chance to come close to getting anything done. I do not see how you come back from where he is.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 2:22 pm
Anybody have any guesses about how successful the latest Burris fundraiser was? I heard only 50 or so attended but I understand that some may donate without attending. Who, in their right mind, would donate to this guy?

Comment by One of the 35 Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 2:45 pm
“It was decent of him to step up and help.”

Are you being sarcastic or do you really believe that?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 3:20 pm
One, various reports. 30 donors, apparently, but not quite sure.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 3:28 pm
Ooops, forgot to write that check the the Burris campaign. Now, where did that letter go? Hmmm, I seem to have misplaced it. Oh well, I’ll catch him next time.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 20, 09 @ 5:23 pm
[…] He has had little success raising money and has suffered from low approval ratings. […]

Pingback by Burris bows out of 2010 Senate race at The Civic Report Thursday, Jul 9, 09 @ 4:41 pm