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Davis Said Thanks, No Thanks to Obama's Seat

Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008 | Updated 10:06 PM CST

Rep. Danny K. Davis said no thanks when Gov. Blagojevich's attorney called last week to offer Davis the U.S. Senate seat once held by President-elect Barack Obama. Blagojevich on Tuesday appointed Roland Burris to the vacant Senate seat.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) would like to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate. The appointment was dangled before him last Wednesday. He turned it down. We discussed why when we talked Tuesday night, hours after a defiant Gov. Blagojevich, facing impeachment for, among other charges, trying to sell the Obama seat, tapped former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris for the spot, touching off a racially inflammatory firestorm.

Davis, speaking on the phone from Chicago, said he met with Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Jr. last Wednesday morning. The two met in Davis' Chicago office. Davis said he was told "the governor would like to appoint me to the vacant spot." After Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9, Davis, who sought the appointment from him when he thought Blagojevich was playing it straight, said he would not take the job if offered.

Lynn Sweet has details of her conversation with the Congressman in the Chicago Sun-Times.