Jesse Jackson Jr., he of the "Hillary was crying about her appearance" and "we need to rewrite the Bible to accomodate Barack's accomplishments" fame, thinks he's Senatorial material.
Jesse Jackson Jr. Says He'll Step Up (if Asked) to Fill Obama's Seat
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. would accept an appointment to the Senate if Barack Obama wins the presidency and leaves Gov. Rod Blagojevich with a vacancy to fill.
"I wouldn't say no if asked," said the Illinois Democrat, who serves as a national co-chairman for Obama's campaign. In the past, he has declined to speculate on Obama Senate succession scenarios.
Several of Jackson's colleagues also have been mentioned as possible successors to Obama if the Democrat wins the White House, as has Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran who lost a House bid in 2006. Democratic Gov. Blagojevich could also appoint himself or another ally in state government.
Other than Jackson, the Democrats most often mentioned as replacements for Obama are Reps. Rahm Emanuel , Jan Schakowsky and Luis V. Gutierrez . Schakowsky has made clear that she is interested in the seat. Emanuel insists he doesn't want it.
Despite being more than 20 years younger than Schakowsky, the 43-year-old Jackson has more seniority. If appointed to the Senate, he would be the chamber's youngest member.
An Obama presidential victory would also leave the Senate without an African American member, which may, or may not, figure in a Blagojevich decision.
Stay humble, Jesse Jr. The odds of them crawling over Rahm Emmanuel and Tammy Duckworth to get to you are pretty damn slim.
