The Senator Nobody Loves

Despite various Democratic CST-NWS-quinn03.article">efforts to get Sen. Roland Burris to resign, Burris has told everyone that he has no intention of leaving office and may even run in the primary next year - this despite the latest polls putting Burris’ support at the 0.6% level.

(As the pollsters helpfully explained, 0.6% means that exactly one person out of the 167 surveyed indicated a wish that Burris run again.)

It’s almost funny. Yet one fact about Burris’ tenure is profoundly sad: the reflexive support he is receiving in Chicago from black leaders. Black Chicago City Council members, Congressman Bobby Rush, and prominent black ministers have rallied to Burris’ side.

Black voters thus far seem to be ignoring these elected politicians. They show no more enthusiasm for Burris – i.e., virtually zero – than do white voters. Which suggests that maybe a Burris victory could be a good thing after all: It could lead to a landslide Senate victory for Chicago area congressman Mark Kirk, exactly the kind of Republican that could revive the party’s national standing.