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Durbin Says U.S. Senate Race A Battle With or Without Burris
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says Senator Roland Burris (D-Ill.) choosing not to run next year does little to change the nature of the U.S. Senate race.

Burris would have been a weak incumbent, so his decision not to run doesn't really open up the race; it was wide-open to begin with. Analysts say not having Burris on the ballot makes it more likely Democrats will hold the seat, but U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says it will be a battle. "We can't take anything for granted," he said. Just because President Obama is from Illinois and carried the state handily is no reason to assume the state must elect a Democratic senator, Durbin says.

Durbin says there is nobody who's not running who he will urge to run, and he expects to be neutral in a Democratic primary.

The Democratic field so far is comprised of state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, though others may jump in with Burris out, including Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson and businessman Christopher Kennedy.

On the Republican side, state Republican Chairman Andy McKenna is considering a run.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 10 09 by Newsroom
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