Black No longer in the United States Senate in 2011

That historically all-white club known as the U.S. Senate is likely to lose what little diversity it has after November's elections. Two white men will be competing for President Obama's former Senate seat from Illinois, now held by Roland W. Burris, the chamber's lone black member. Appointed by a scandal-tainted governor, Mr. Burris won't be seeking a full term. In contests in Florida, Texas and North Carolina, black candidates face daunting uphill battles to join the august body. They are having difficulties raising cash and building name recognition against better-known, better-financed rivals. Blacks constitute 12.2 percent of the nation's population, but not in the 100-member Senate. Come next year, the total number could be zero. Let's talk about it tonight, on the slugfest.