White House: 'The President Is Not Going To Pick A Candidate In The Illinois Senate Race'

News of a White House meeting between Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and President Obama fueled speculation that the administration is trying to persuade Madigan to run for Obama's old Senate seat 2010. On Thursday White House press secretary did his best to insist that looks can be deceiving.

"The president is not going to pick a candidate in the Illinois Senate race," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters at Thursday's White House briefing, according to the Tribune:

"The president has a very long relationship with the attorney general, dating back to their time in the state Senate," he said. "She'd be a terrific candidate, but we are not going to get involved in picking a candidate in Illinois."

Madigan met with Obama, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod late last week at the White House. Her spokeswoman insisted that Madigan has yet to decide and "talking to the president is an important part" of making up her mind.

Madigan has long been interested in running for governor, not the Senate, but as the Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet writes, "the full court press from Team Obama will be hard to ignore." Should she run, Madigan has two big demands, Sweet reports:

Here's the gist put out by a Madigan camper. Madigan is getting more serious but has a few conditions. If Madigan is to get in the Senate race, she wants an endorsement from Obama when she announces and she wants the Democratic primary field to be cleared of rivals.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who has already raised substantial money towards a run, pushed back against that idea in a statement issued Thursday:

Voters in Illinois are facing the most troubling economic times in decades and they want leaders who will solve problems and fight hard every day against the political insiders who have failed us. When Barack Obama ran for this seat in 2004, he was not the choice of the insiders. He became the choice of the people because of the strength of his ideas and his ideals.

"Illinois has been ill-served by state party leaders who think they know better than voters. Now
more than ever, anyone who seeks this seat must convince voters they have the ideas that will
get our economy on its feet and put our people back to work, not just prove that they have the
political clout to demand a clear field and win appointment.

Madigan's political director said this week that the AG will decide "within four to six weeks" whether to run for the Senate, governor or another term as the state's chief legal officer. Chris Kennedy, the president of a Chicago-based commercial real estate firm and son of Robert F. Kennedy, has been planning a run but not yet announced, nor has embattled incumbent Sen. Roland Burris.

Comments

[JimmyC]

Where do I begin. Burris is toast, he couldn't raise enough money to be elected Cook County dog catcher much less win election to the U.S Senate in his own right. As for Lisa Madigan she is best right where she is as Illinois' AG. I would not have issues with her as Illinois governor if her father was not Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, sorry that strikes me as not exactly in the best interests of the residents of Illinois. For the U.S Senate, I would support Chris Kennedy, since we need another serious progressive in that body.

[swan1]

Burris can't raise 50.00 toward lunch, so he's out THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!1

[furtivelook]

Lisa Madigan for Dog Catcher!

[jayevans20]

I don't trust neither because both are probably apart of the machine; especially Madigan. However, If I had to chose it would be Giannoulias.

[BethinIllinois]

Madigan is NOT part of the machine. I'd say go Lisa, but I'd really like her to be govenor. (On the other hand, not that Blago's gone, that's not nearly so critical.) Lisa Madigan would serve us well in the Senate.

[Czoe]

Oh, she is too. How do you think she snagged AG? Her daddy.....

[murphysgirl]

Burris is toast no matter who runs for the Senate seat.

[47th]

A Madigan or a banker, jeez, can't we do any better than that! Illinois is a sinkhole!

[whocan]

Yeah right... Nobody is buying that Rahm and Barack aren't going to be telling the Dems who to run

[ejhickey]

I am in illinois and in the next Senate election I am voting for ABB- ANYBODY BUT BURRIS.

[crookedcountyillinois]

Why isn't Madigan prosecuting government corruption in Illinois? Isn't that part of what an Attorney General does?

[47th]

She doesn't want to investigate her father.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

so true

[Czoe]

LOL!

[Tugar]

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SEN. BURRIS, REMAINING IN OFFICE AS THE SENATOR FROM ILL.! I dont believe he did anything illegal, and should be returned to ofc by the state of ILL's governing body !

[greenie 61]

Burris did himself no favor by accepting the appointment by a disgaced & now impeached governor. I won't be voting to keep him in.

[denicci1977]

The man lied. He was caught on tape agreeing to do a pay to play. Blago was arrested before the money was to exchange hands.

[JDJase]

Madigan needs to retain the respect she has and say as far away from the Senate as Possible. Madigan for Governor!

[sandpiper1]

She's setting conditions should she decide to run for the Senate. This woman comes across as being very arrogant. I hope the citizens of Chicago gives her the boot.

[BethinIllinois]

That would be the citizens of the entire state, not just Chicago...

[k6007]

I wish he would 'back off' ALL of the races, support which ever democrat the PEOPLE choose.

[jukesgrrl]

I, too, would like to go to a job interview where no other candidates are being considered. I'll bet I could ace the competition.