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Burris

* The setup, from ABC7…

One last question for Roland Burris: Will you run for a full term as U.S. senator in the February, 2010, Democratic primary?

“I basically say I’m not going anywhere,” Burris said.

What do we take from that?

“I’m not going anywhere,” said Burris.

How should we take that?

“You can take it as you see it.”

* The Question: Do you think Burris runs for the Senate next year? Explain fully, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 7:56 am

Comments

Yes. I don’t have any fuller explanation, because it’s just conjecture. I do think, however, that perhaps he should run for the office of question avoidance via vague answers.

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 7:59 am
I try to avoid personal attacks, but in this case I can’t resist. The doddering, calcified, silly, delusional old fool will run. Ego, age-induced insensitivity, sense of victimhood, and hope for a free-for-all in which he can squeak through will propel this has-been joke into a primary. He will be beat bad. Race relations will take a step back. Blagojevich will get his last laugh on Illinois.

Comment by phocion Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:01 am
Maybe he’ll just barricade himself inside his tiny Senate office and dare them to drag him out.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:01 am
Incidentally, is that how Burris votes in the Senate? 57 Aye, 42 Nay, and one “Let’s just say that I’m not going to be drafting a bill like that any time soon.”?

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:03 am
If Burris gets enough people deluded enough to sign his petitions to file, he will run. Sadly, I doubt he will have any problems getting signatures. There are a lot of deluded folks out there.

He will lose big time.

Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:14 am
No, I don’t think he’ll have the money needed for a serious run. It is possible to run a campaign with a shortage of funds, but it requires manpower and hard work. I don’t think Burris will be pounding the pavement with a volunteer army. Without money or a grassroots army, he’ll see that the campaign season would be unpleasant. I think he’ll serve out the term in the comfort of his Senate seat and avoid the beating at the polls.

Comment by Sewanee Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:14 am
Voters will have to pry his senate seat from his cold, dead hands as the rest of his decaying corpse drags behind in protest.

Comment by Philosophe Forum Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:16 am
If the opponents are Jan and Capt Bright Start it seems like running and winning the primary would be a certainty. Meanwhile the Circular Firing Squad(aka GOP) will serve up some non-electable and he cruises in.

Comment by BowlinForRollin' Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:39 am
Finances will make the decision for him.

If the floodgates open and allow him to run a full campaign, he will run.

Otherwise he will plead age or concentration on defense in criminal matters that need more attention as reasons to remain on the sidelines.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:43 am
Of course he will. What have we been seeing from this guy? He was actually barred from entering the US Senate chambers just a few months ago. No one wanted him, except Blagojevich. So, is this the kind of guy who will not run?

He will run, and he may discover the going tough.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:47 am
No.

Burris needs to talk as if he will be in the race, so he can raise funds to pay off his legal debts. But he knows he won’t have the money or support to win the primary, much less the election. The only reason he might actually put together a credible campaign is to get his five years in and be elegible for a pension.

So at this time, I think he’s “running” without actually seriously running.

Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 8:57 am
Yes he will run. My only explanation is ego and money. He wants to be able to raise money to pay his legal bills, and his ego wont let him slink away with his tail between his leggs.

Comment by fed up Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:05 am
For entertainment reasons and to improve the chances of the Republican’s taking the seat.

Yes

As a wise move politically or for the state in general,
Not so much

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:12 am
Yes he will run unless he goes down with Milorad or gets charged with perjury for lying to the Impeachment Committee.

Comment by Dan S, a Voter and Cubs fan Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:14 am
He doesn’t say he will run, just that he won’t leave. So, he won’t run, but good luck to whoever tries to get him to move out of his office.

An alternative take on “I’m not going anywhere.” is that he has a complete grasp on reality. After raising less than $1000 last quarter, he is clearly not going anywhere.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:15 am
I think 75 - 25 that he will run. Probably the same odds that he will lose in the primary.

If somehow he makes it through the primary, I’ll give him a 50 - 50 shot of winning the general election.

That’s my gut opinion.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:22 am
Yes, he has an ego to gratify.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:23 am
Yes. What else is he going to do? As pointed out earlier, if he’s running against the lady married to a convicted felon and Obama’s basketball teammate, he wins.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:35 am
Yes, absolutely.

It gives him the opportunity to raise some money. I know it won’t be tons, but any sitting U.S. Senator should be able to shake some dollars out of K Street.

Plus, my crystal ball’s broken; who’s to say that if there are two or three white candidates in the Dem primary that he doesn’t have a shot? Todd’s under fire, too. Are Dem voters going to knock out two black incumbents in one primary? Tricky.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:44 am
Will he run!! No question. Will he win? No way! He can’t raise money, noone wants to be tied to him. There is no movement in is favor. He believes he deserves the seat. That it is owed to him. I have seen alot of canidates fall with this same belief.

Comment by Zoble Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 9:47 am
Why not run, surely you cant think the words of the media should stop him

Comment by blackdem Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:00 am
From a man that thinks “First African American from the Southern Illinois University to the University of Hamburg” is important enough to put on his grave? From a man who put that grave twenty feet from the tomb a of legitimate trail blazer, Jesse Owens? Yeah, he’ll run.

Comment by Former Traffic Prosecutor Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:00 am
He will run, based on ego and lack of anything else to do. He very well may win the primary based on race, the wide-open field and the fact that this is Illinois.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:03 am
Unless another African-American candidate jumps in, he’ll have enough cash and bodies to get on the ballot. And that’s all the excuse he needs. He’ll disregard any polling that has him getting creamed, play the victim and use his incumbency as much as he can. Working on that guy’s campaign will be terrible.

Ravenswood RW is right that the Dem candidates all have major, easy-to-explain arguments against them. If the ILGOP were smart (LOL) they’d clear the field for Kirk and a token far-righty so Kirk could win the primary as a super moderate. Statewide, Kirk has to be the favorite.

Comment by State Sen. Clay Davis Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:03 am
The egomaniac will run. He doesn’t realize when his political career is over and now thinks that because Blago boy pulled a fast one and put him in the Senate, that will make Burris popular enough in less than 2 years to win the office on his own. He will lose. He will lose BIG. He will be grossly outspent because of his lack of raising the big money needed. He won’t have the support of Durbin or other mainstream democrats in this State. Stick him with a fork - he’s done.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:10 am
One Man…you actually saw a Republican in Illiois? What do they look like?

Comment by Hank Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:13 am
Sure, if you can call being in the race with no money and no manpower “running.” He doesn’t understand how the electorate really feels about him, and even if he did, he’s got nothing left to lose anyway. And hey, if Alexi G, Jan S, and Mark K’s planes all crash into each other, he’s got a chance!

Comment by colby Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:16 am
Stones- I was about to scoff at your idea of 50-50 in the general. Then I realized, if he wins the primary, circumstances will have had to change so drastically that he obviously WOULD be on a dramatic upswing.

Comment by colby Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:18 am
Maybe he can take RodB’s place in the Costa Rica reality show and retire some of his debt that way. The publicity will bring in more cash and he can bowl over the competition.

I wonder how good he would look in that flying get up?

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:29 am
it really depends on how you define “run.” will burris be a serious candidate? doubtful. will his name be on the ballot? probably. will he spend any money he raises on his campaign? only after he pays off his debts (which i assume are largely to himself)…

Comment by bored now Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:33 am
If he was willing to take an appointment from a flawed figure as our ousted governor then he is going to try to run believing that he’ll get a full-term.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:45 am
Durbin, Reid and the Dem establishment will cut him off at the knees for DC money. Davis and JJJ will tell the Congressional Black Caucus that they shouldn’t bother to throw Burris a lifeline.

Who inside Illinois is going to help him raise money? A few old Black ministers? For those ministers expect politicians to get them money. The ministers provide an audience on Sundays for the politicians.

Burris is having senior moments where he can’t come up with the right word or name. He’s avoiding the media.

That said, Burris does have people around him who will encourage him to run. And it won’t take much encouragement.

Here’s a prediction to further make things difficult for Dem Party: Rod Blagojevich will file to run as part of an attempt to extort money for his legal bills from the Dem Party.

In a field of:
* Rod Blagojevich
* Roland Burris
* Alexi Giannoulias
* Chris Kennedy
* Jan Schakowsky

Will Burris be at least a credible threat of winning the primary? If he’s a credible candidate what more justification does he need to be in the race?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:45 am
Of course he’ll run. He’s Roland Burris, and the sky is always bright blue in his world…albeit with flying pink elephants that he swears really exist. Some polls are showing him with 15-18% now, and by next spring enough deluded voters will suffer from memory loss that he could pull in 20-30%, which could be enough if people keep throwing their hat in the primary ring. General election though, no chance. Unless Alan Keyes runs. Then we’ll have our first Green Party Senator.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:46 am
Based on his record? He will run. Having little political support or money has not deterred Burris in the past for multiple and failed campaigns for the U.S. Senate (1984) Governor (1994, 1998, 2002) and Mayor of Chicago (1995). Burris is enchanted with the official pursuit of titles.

Comment by David Ormsby Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 10:53 am
Burris is being accurate. He isn’t attracting donors, voters, or volunteers. He isn’t going anywhere.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 11:20 am
I agree with the majority of posters. He will “run”, but his campaign will more resemble doddering than running. By the time of the primary, lack of money, lack of energy and lack of enthusiasm will put him him in the back of the pack.

Nonetheless, he will claim victory at his last election night party, asserting that he ‘gave the other candidates hell’ and that he alone forced the rest of the field to address concerns of the black community.

Comment by Quizzical Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 11:32 am
Sen. Burris will run. If Rep. Schakowsky runs, she’ll win the primary. Republican Congressmen Kirk and Roskam should run.

Comment by ConservativeVeteran Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 12:01 pm
Of course he will run. He’s already shown what he is made of…

Comment by You Go Boy Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 12:12 pm
1. We’ve done A LOT worse lately.
2. If 4 white people run in a primary doesn’t that give him some hope?

Comment by Shore Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 12:51 pm
Suggestion for QOTD: How does Arlen Specter switching parties affect the U.S. Senate race in Illinois?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 12:57 pm
Carl, it definitely puts the crucial anti-Magic Bullet Theory vote in play.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 1:04 pm
Shore,

I think your first point should be Burris’ campaign slogan. “You could do a lot worse”. Sounds catchy.

BTW, Burris’ role in the Illinois Funeral Directors Association scandal could shed a little light on his ethics. Electing a man with as few scruples as Burris would be a lot worse for Illinois. Hasn’t he shown that he will do ANYTHING to get elected. Isn’t that the first step down the road to Blagoland?

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 1:44 pm
Burris reminds me of James Joyce’s description of “a man beyond insult”. He will, of course, run because in his addled little mind he might eke out a win if enough people enter the primary and he garners enough African American votes.
He will be soundly defeated despite his delusions.

Comment by Rocketman Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 1:46 pm
He is running in place and losing ground while he does so. Since Burris is in over his head in more ways than one, I can’t foresee any chance of him winning a primary given the level of scorn and ridicule he has received already. Personally, I think Jan S would win in a four way race with Burris, Alexi, and Kennedy. My thinking is that Alexi and Kennedy would take votes from each other. Jan S is very smart, and knowledgeable and an excellent, tireless campaigner!

Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 3:15 pm
===surely you cant think the words of the media should stop him ===

LOL.

I think his poll numbers will stop him in the end. Primary day poll numbers if it goes that far.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 5:47 pm
“Voters will have to pry his senate seat from his cold, dead hands as the rest of his decaying corpse drags behind in protest.”

To which I say: Amen!!

“but good luck to whoever tries to get him to move out of his office.”

And, Amen!! again. (but won’t it be hilarious to get video of the day he has to leave his Senate Office? In my mind’s eye, I just picture him grabbing at any piece of furniture he can wrap his arms around, screaming and singing some Civil Rights area spiritual and generally creating a big commotion for the TV cameras. Then maybe he can add some line to his tombstone about having the highest Arbitron ratings for any African-American politician in Illinois history.)

It’s gonna be hilarious; can’t wait for primary season to start. Any ideas who the Green and Libertarian candidates are going to be? I may have to pass petitions for them and put their signs in my yard.

Comment by Lynn S Tuesday, Apr 28, 09 @ 11:16 pm