Sen. Burris off to slow fundraising start

SPRINGFIELD - With less than 10 months to go before the February 2010 Democratic primary, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris appears to be off to a slow start if he expects to run for election to the seat to which he was appointed in December.

Although Burris has not declared himself a candidate yet, he scheduled a fundraiser for this Sunday in Chicago. The event follows disclosures this week that Burris has raised only $845 since taking office three months ago and faces new legal questions over his role in a prepaid funeral industry scandal.

Those are not good signs, political experts say.

"He may officially run, but I don't think he's going to have a real, serious campaign by all signs at this point," said Christopher Z. Mooney, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. "Burris is not acting like a candidate."

Matthew J. Streb, an associate professor of political science at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, agrees.

"I would be very surprised if Roland Burris' name was on the ballot in the general election," Streb said. "I would be even more surprised if he won."

The main problem the Chicago Democrat faces, both experts say, is raising enough money to run a successful campaign.

"As a U.S. senator, even if you're from Delaware, you have to have a lot of money to run," Mooney said "They have to continuously be raising money because it's expensive to run, and in Illinois even more so."

Burris' fundraising stands in sharp contrast to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a Democrat from Chicago, who reported this week he's raised more than $1.1 million since forming his Senate exploratory committee March 3.

"When you see an incumbent challenged in a primary, you usually see the party run to the rescue of the incumbent," Streb said. "My guess is the Democratic party will stay on the sidelines for this one."

That's because Giannoulias' fundraising ability and his friendship with President Barack Obama - they play basketball together - may lead many Democratic primary voters to support Giannoulias over Burris.

The results of a new Rasmussen opinion poll of Illinois voters seem to bear this out. Some 62 percent of those surveyed still think Burris should resign and 54 percent say they will "definitely" vote against Burris if he runs for a full six-year term in 2010. Only four percent said they will "definitely" vote for Burris.

Burris was appointed to the U.S. Senate on Dec. 30 by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill Obama's Senate seat. The controversial appointment led some elected officials - including Gov. Pat Quinn, who took over after lawmakers removed Blagojevich - to call for Burris' immediate resignation. State lawmakers also proposed several plans for a special election to replace Burris. None of those plans were implemented.

"Had Burris just been appointed and all the stuff that came out afterward had not occurred, he'd be in a different position right now," Streb said. "The controversy surrounding the Burris appointment makes it hard for him to come back and win."

Such a prospect has Illinois Republicans "licking their lips and thinking they have a chance," Streb said. "As a political junkie, I'm looking forward to it."

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, said this week he will announce by the end of April whether he plans to run for the U.S. Senate or Illinois governor. Streb said U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, could also make a run for the Senate.

A spokesman for Burris said Friday the senator has "not made a determination on 2010."