One of two things should happen. A special election or an appointee to just sit in the seat with conditions to leave in 2010.
A sad day in Illinois and for Democrats.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urges a special election for Obama's senate seat, to produce a credible replacement.
Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois says the state's legislature should order a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat rather than allow Gov. Rod Blagojevich to pick a new senator.
Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday in connection with allegations he sought favors to influence his choice for Obama's replacement.
Durbin told reporters in Washington, "No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement."
He urged the Illinois legislature to quickly set up a special election.
Illinois law gives only the governor the power to replace a resigning senator. There is no provision for the governor to pass on that power.
However, if the governor resigns, he would be replaced by the state's lieutenant governor, who could then name a Senate replacement.
Durbin also lamented what he described as a strained relationship with Blagojevich, calling him a "difficult man to communicate with." He said the governor waited 12 days before returning Drubin's phone call last month about the Senate appointment.
The Illinois senator added, however, that he sensed nothing out of the ordinary about the appointment selection process during his conversation with Blagojevich.
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