Burris set to replace Obama in Senate today

[January 15, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Roland Burris gets sworn in as Illinois Senator today as President-elect Barack Obama's replacement, with Senate Democrats still carrying a bitter aftertaste from being shamed into seating him.

The Senate had resisted Burris' appointment by impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who stands accused of trying to sell the seat. But members of the famously fussy chamber insist that their initial resistance was never about Burris personally. Burris is getting a polite reception so far.

After he's sworn in by Vice President Dick Cheney, the senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, will throw a reception in Burris' honor.

If Burris expects to win the seat outright in two years, he'll need to quickly win over leaders of his party whose blessing can help raise campaign cash.

[Associated Press]

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