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 Burris was permanently tainted when he happily took the offer from
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich just three weeks after Blagojevich was
arrested for trying to sell a Senate seat to the highest bidder. He
fought waves of criticism, opposition from fellow Democrats, court
battles and even a perjury investigation.
Weakened and facing multiple primary challengers next spring, Burris
has decided to not to fight for a full Senate term.
He told party leaders Thursday of his decision not to run in 2010, a
Democratic official said. An official announcement was scheduled for
Friday in Chicago.
A Burris friend said the 71-year-old had concluded he could not
change public perception without spending huge amounts of money.
Burris raised only $845 during the first three months of 2009.
"He knows he didn't do anything wrong. On the other hand, he knows
it's such a tough tide to turn," said the friend, who along with the
Democratic official spoke on condition of anonymity because Burris
hadn't yet announced his decision.
The decision to stay out of the race could help Democrats hold on to
the seat by preventing an ugly primary battle focused on the
Blagojevich scandal.
Burris, the nation's only black senator, denies doing anything
improper to get his appointment to the Senate seat formerly held by
President Barack Obama. Yet he has repeatedly given vague and
conflicting accounts.
He said he had talked to only one Blagojevich associate about the
Senate post before it was offered, but later acknowledged other
conversations. He denied any discussions of campaign donations, but
it turned out federal investigators had recorded him talking to
Blagojevich's brother about the possibility of raising money for the
governor.
Burris told Robert Blagojevich he had looked into the issue but
couldn't find anyone willing to donate to the disgraced governor.
Still, Burris promised to make a donation himself -- something that
didn't happen before Blagojevich's arrest.
The Sangamon County state's attorney looked into whether Burris
should be charged with perjury for his incomplete testimony to an
Illinois House committee that questioned him. The prosecutor
concluded it would be impossible to prove Burris' answers were
intentional lies.
When Burris first went to Washington to be sworn in, he was turned
away from the Capitol in the rain. Reluctant Democratic leaders
eventually seated him, but he's faced a lot of cold shoulders.
Democrats and Republicans alike refuse to partner with him on
legislation.
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 Polls have found little support for Burris among Illinois voters.
Just 34 percent had a favorable opinion of him in one Chicago
Tribune survey.
Burris fought hard during the past six months to position himself to
run for a full term. Spokeswoman Delmarie Cobb often rebutted news
stories she considered negative and harshly criticized Democrats who
didn't support Burris.
She sometimes presented the issue in terms of race, arguing
Democrats were taking black votes for granted or that newspaper
editorials had different standards for Burris than for white
politicians. She accused some Democrats of trying to "lynch" Burris
and make him a "whipping boy."
Serving in the Senate was supposed to cap an impressive political
career.
Burris grew up in southern Illinois at a time when blacks weren't
allowed to use the community swimming pool. He went on to become the
first black man to hold a major statewide office in Illinois,
serving three terms as state comptroller and two as attorney
general. His last election victory was in 1990, however. Since then, he has
lost four races: three tries at the Democratic nomination for
governor and one for Chicago mayor. Blagojevich's appointment
offered a return to politics at the highest levels.
Reputation clearly matters deeply to Burris. A mausoleum
commissioned for himself and his wife has the words "TRAIL BLAZER"
carved on it, along with all his accomplishments and titles.
Burris apparently intends to serve out the rest of his appointment,
which ends in January 2011.
His decision not to run is the second major development in the 2010
Illinois Senate race in as many days. On Wednesday, Illinois
Attorney General Lisa Madigan -- a top recruit who was wooed by the
White House -- announced she would not run for Senate and instead
would seek re-election.
First-term Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias plans to seek the Democratic
nomination. Christopher Kennedy, a Chicago businessman and son of
the late Robert F. Kennedy, and Chicago Urban League president
Cheryle Jackson are considering wading in, too.
[Associated Press; By CHRISTOPHER WILLS]
Associated Press writer Henry C. Jackson
contributed to this report from Washington.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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