Wake Up Call Show  

Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 11/8/2008 5:53 AM UTC

  REP JESSE JACKSON JR. MAY GET PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA STATE SENATE SEAT.
  

  

  Illinois political insiders say Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who defended Barack Obama after his father famously threatened to castrate him, is the favorite to replace the Democratic nominee in the Senate.

  Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) scolded his father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, publicly after his comments were caught unexpectedly on tape before an interview with Fox News this summer.

  But Jackson Jr.’s path is by no means assured. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) also wants to replace Sen. Obama (Ill.) in the upper chamber if he is elected president.

  This gives Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who must choose between an African-American political scion and a close ally of the labor movement, a difficult decision.

  Jackson has made plain that he would like to succeed Obama in the Senate.

  “If Sen. Obama wins -- and I’m optimistic that he will, I indeed would be honored and humbled to succeed him in the U.S. Senate,” said Jackson in a statement. “But, in the end, the decision rests with Gov. Blagojevich and I’m confident that he’ll make an appointment in the best interest of the state as well as the nation.”

  Jackson’s case is strengthened by the fact that Obama is the only African-American member of the Senate. Presumably, Obama would like to see at least one African-American representative in the chamber.

  Jackson also benefits from being co-chairman of Obama’s presidential campaign and a product of the same South Side Chicago political machine from which the Democratic nominee emerged.

  Illinois political insiders, who declined to discuss the subject on the record for fear of appearing presumptuous before the results of the presidential race are known, say Obama would have a major hand in the decision.

  But it’s not a slam-dunk for Jackson. Blagojevich must pick a candidate who can hold the seat in 2010, when the temporary two-year appointment would expire.

  Some Democratic strategists question whether Jackson can win statewide.

  “Jesse Jackson doesn’t make sense, he’s not electable statewide,” said a Democratic operative with ties to Illinois. “He’s a very left-of-center politician.”

  Jackson supporters counter that he is no more liberal than Obama and note that he enjoys the support of many Republicans in his district.
  
  LETS KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSS. GOOD LUCK REP JACKSON JR.

  • Tags:
  • SENATOR
  • Permalink