Who Would Replace Them In the Senate? Part I

Back in 2004 and even in 2008, there were tons of stories speculating on who would replace John Kerry should he win the White House or (more recently) who would replace Hillary Clinton should she win the White House. I've been surprised by the lack of speculation on who would replace McCain or Obama should either man win the White House. So here goes:

Illinois

Under Illinois law, the Governor pick will pick a person to fill the Senate seat until the end of Obama's term (which would be 2010). Scandal plagued Rod Blagojevich, could do anything (even replace Obama with himself). That'd be too cute by a half and hard feelings would probably linger well into 2010 upon which he'd probably lose the Democratic Primary for the seat. So who does Rod pick?

(1) Attorney General Lisa Madigan: Madigan has been a thorn in Rod's side since day one and since she's a potential challenger to him in 2010, he'd love to ship her off to Washington DC.

(2) Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.: Given how much he's been sucking up to Barack, its clear he's working hard to get this Senate seat. While I'm sure he'd much rather be Mayor of Chicago, I think settling in as the lone black Senator would help him champion "urban" issues.

That's one thing that people have to remember. If Obama wins, blacks gain a Presidency but lose a Senate seat. There will be a lot of pressure on Blagojevich to pick another African-American and given Blagojevich's potential challenge from Madigan for the Governorship, having a lone African-American Senator with deep roots in the black community on his side can make an incredible difference in the Democratic primary for Governor in 2010.

(3) Comptroller Dan Hynes: For those of you who follow politics closely, you'll remember Hynes is the guy who was originally the front runner for Obama's current Senate seat in 2004 (Seems like a life time ago). But Hynes got outraised by the erratic (and likely crazy) Blair Hull which paved the way for Obama. Blagojevich may feel that he's the most qualified and put him in the top spot. And Hynes is from Chicago which I'd imagine Blagojevich will consider for regional balance (Dick Durbin, the senior Senator from Illinois is from the downstate).

(4) Senator James Clayborne: If Blagojevich wants the glory of selecting the only African-American Senator but without the egoism and trouble that may come with the Jackson name, he may pick State Senator James Clayborne. Clayborne is young, has worked in and outside of state government for several years now, and has deep roots in the African-American community.

(5) Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins: Blagojevich could attempt a "double electoral whammy" and pick an African-American female Senator. Collins is a former journalist (and pretty well known..I had heard about her before I ever heard of Obama..) She's a Harvard graduate too and been in the state Senate for a few years now.

(6) Congressman Luis Gutierrez: Gutierrez has been hoping and waiting for Richard Daley to retire as Mayor so that he could run, but what if Daley never retires? Perhaps Gutierrez could cool his heals in the Senate for a few years. Unfortunately in the game of politics, given there are several Latino Senators already, it probably doesn't gain Blagojevich much politically to pick him.
(7) Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: Schakowsky wants this job and you remember that she was the one that inadvertently introduced Bush to the name Obama when she wore an Obama pin to the White House and Bush mistook it for an "Osama" pin.

If I had to guess I'd say Blagojevich goes with Madigan. He'd rather remove his strongest challenger and impediment to his re-election chances in 2010. My second guess would be for him going for the "double whammy" and picking Collins.