Obama mum on Senate replacement
If President-elect Barack Obama has a person in mind to fill his shoes in the Senate representing Illinois, he isn't naming him or her publicly.
"I think there are going to be a lot of good choices out there, but it is the governor's decision to make, not mine," Obama said during his first news conference as president-elect Friday.
Under the U.S. Constitution, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has the sole authority to pick someone to fill out the remaining two years in Obama's Senate term. The Chicago Democrat has assembled a team to review applicants for the spot.
Blagojevich has not said who he is leaning toward, but the shortlist may include U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Illinois Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, among other notable Democrats.
On Friday, Obama said only that the governor should pick "somebody who is capable, somebody who is passionate about helping working families in Illinois meet their dreams."
Blagojevich has said he wants to "ensure that Obama's successor will understand and fight for the needs of average Illinoisans."
Technically, a replacement cannot be named until a vacancy officially exists. Obama does not become president until he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20. Until then he's still a U.S. senator.
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