Election sure to change face of Senate

[October 29, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- One certainty of next Tuesday's ballot will be the elevation of the first sitting senator to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1961. It also ensures that the Senate is going to see another new face next year in addition to those who win election next week.

Make that two if Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., are the victors.

If Obama wins, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich would appoint a successor to the seat Obama has held since his election in 2004. The appointee would serve until the next national election in 2010.

Since Blagojevich is a Democrat, he would almost certainly pick someone from his and Obama's party. It's not going to be an easy choice.

One strong contender is Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who is close to Obama and would inherit Obama's position as the only black member of the Senate.

Two other black candidates are state Senate President Emil Jones and Secretary of State Jesse White. Both are older -- Jones is 73 and White is 74 -- and probably would be considered caretakers who wouldn't run for a full term.

White has said he isn't interested, while Jones has a reputation for steering state jobs and money to relatives, not exactly in synch with Obama's message of change.

Other state officials mentioned as candidates are Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Comptroller Dan Hynes. Both are possible challengers to Blagojevich in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, so the governor could narrow the field of rivals by sending one off to Washington.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky also expressed interest this year in replacing Obama.

Arizona's Gov. Janet Napolitano is also a Democrat, but under state law she would have to appoint a Republican if the Republican McCain, a senator since 1987, is elected president. Injecting a bit of intrigue, Napolitano herself has been mentioned as a possible Senate candidate in 2010 when McCain's current term is up. She would be barred by term limits from running for a third term as governor.

Rep. John Shadegg, a conservative facing a tough re-election campaign this year, is seen as a leading Republican candidate if the Senate seat opens up in 2010. In the meantime, Napolitano might be more prone to pick a moderate to fill the seat for the next two years.

Moderate Republicans mentioned as possible Napolitano choices include former Rep. Jim Kolbe, former state Attorney General Grant Woods, Arizona Corporation Commissioner member Kris Mayes and state Rep. Chris Herstam.

Biden, who is simultaneously running for his seventh Senate term, would have to relinquish his seat if he becomes the next vice president. Democratic Gov. Ruth Ann Minner presumably would pick the successor, although there's the dynamic that Minner will leave office on Jan. 20, the same day Biden would be sworn in as vice president. Conceivably, Biden could wait to resign until after Minner's term runs out, although that seems unlikely.

Biden's eldest son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, has been mentioned as a possible successor, but that may not happen now that he is being deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit.

Some Delaware Democrats are pushing for Minner to appoint Lt. Gov. John Carney, who last month lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary to state treasurer Jack Markell. Carney has said he would be interested in the Senate job if Biden becomes vice president, but said he has not been approached by Biden or Minner.

If Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is elected vice president behind McCain, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell would become governor on Jan. 20, or whenever Palin resigns. No special election would be required.

[Associated Press; By JIM ABRAMS]

Associated Press writer Christopher Wills in Springfield, Ill., Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Paul Davenport in Phoenix, and Randall Chase in Dover, Del., contributed to this story.

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