Burris gets nudge, declines to resign
WASHINGTON - Senator Roland Burris declined to resign yesterday, rebuffing a call from the Senate's number two Democrat who told him that the embattled Illinois lawmaker has little hope next year of winning the seat vacated by President Obama.
"I told him that under the [same] circumstances, I would resign," fellow Illinois Senator Richard Durbin told reporters after an hourlong meeting with Burris. "He said, 'I'm not going to resign.' "
"I can't force him," Durbin added.
Burris, also a Democrat, was appointed by former governor Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and driven from office after he was accused of trying to sell the Senate seat.
Burris repeatedly changed his story about how he was appointed. He is facing calls for his resignation after he admitted trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Burris has said he did nothing wrong.
Emerging from the hourlong private meeting with Durbin, Burris looked a bit shaken and said he was under orders not to comment, other than to say the session was a "great discussion."
Burris has faced intense pressure from all quarters, from politicians to home state newspapers and black ministers clamoring for him to step down. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said last week that Burris should resign for the good of the state. Quinn has argued that the controversy surrounding the appointment has cast a shadow over Burris's service in the Senate.
In their meeting, Durbin said he told Burris that support among other Democrats was eroding because of Burris's shifting account of whether he tried to raise money for Blagojevich.
And in the careful language of the Senate, Durbin said he made clear that if Burris tried to run for the seat next year, he would not have much - if any - support from Senate Democrats. Consistent with a Senate appointment, Burris would have to win the seat outright next year.
"I asked him if he would be a candidate in 2010 and he said he had not made up his mind," Durbin said. "I told him I thought it would be extremely difficult for him to be successful in a primary or a general election under the circumstances." 