Burris On Senate Run: 'You Never Say Never' (VIDEO)

Roland Burris sounded like a man who had made up his mind when he said last month that he would not seek to retain his Senate seat in 2010.

"I was called to choose between spending my time raising funds, or spending my time raising issues for my state," Burris said at a Chicago press conference announcing his decision to not run for a full term next year. "I believe that the business of the people of the state of Illinois should always come first."

But Illinois' junior Senator, who has been wracked by controversy since accepting former Gov. Blagojevich's appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President Obama, may be reconsidering his plans.

In a "Subway Series" interview with ABC News released Monday, Burris said that he's being urged by "people from all over the country" to consider running.

"What I'm still hearing," Burris told ABC, is "people from all over the country and they are saying, 'Don't give up that seat.'"

Asked if he'll change his mind, Burris replied, "you never say never in this business."

Comments

[ejhickey]

09:27 PM on 08/11/2009

Roland Burris - The Zombie Senator. Just when you thought he was down and out - HE'S BACK. Coming soon to a campaign in your state, illinois.

[Rayme]

12:47 PM on 08/11/2009

I hope he runs, we will definitely get a Republican in Illinois Senate with his help. He should have never taken the Senate seat, he's done nothing but vote pro-business since in office. He doesn't give a darn about the people.

[stav506]

11:02 AM on 08/11/2009

"What I'm still hearing," Burris told ABC, is "people from all over the country and they are saying, 'Don't give up that seat.'"

Too bad your constituents (you know, the people that keep you in office) are saying "GIVE UP THE SEAT!"

[stav506]

11:04 AM on 08/11/2009

PS: I'm one of them.

GIVE IT UP!

[Bude]

09:53 AM on 08/11/2009

OK Roly, then let me say it, never!

[BocaMom]

10:14 PM on 08/10/2009

I love Burris! And it's great to another blame Senator from Illinois!

[nikkirkpatrick]

10:00 PM on 08/10/2009

I hope for every citizen of Illinois, myself among them, that Mr. Burris does the right thing for once and steps down. I understand there is an issue, especially with Mel Martinez stepping down, that we have a Senate full of WASP's. but there is no wayhe can be an effective Senator. He, for some reason, still doesn't understand that merely being nominated by Blago that he made himself persona non grata to anyone who can think objectively. He was and is a tool. Whether he put himself in that situation of Blago chose him as a last joke on all of us, we may never know. But know this: Roland Burris will never be the Senator we need. That is all.

[PuzzledinPeoria]

09:44 PM on 08/10/2009

He didn't mention those people all over the country asking him to run were asking him to run for the border ASAP.

[JackNasty]

09:02 PM on 08/10/2009

Doesn't this four flushing Congressional feces have another anti-gay speech to give somewhere?

[aquarius64]

07:33 PM on 08/10/2009

You just want to be humilitated, don't you Burris? I guess need to get your @ $ $ handed to you in the primary before it finally sinks in.

[AmirZadeh]

05:55 PM on 08/10/2009

Roland, you are an embarrassment as a U.S. Senator and as a human being. PLEASE RESIGN!

[d49]

08:37 PM on 08/10/2009

ditto

[NickConrad]

05:53 PM on 08/10/2009

Roland, you didn't spend any time in the Senate doing what you say you were doing. Your name is on the sponsorship and cosponsorhip of exactly zero pieces of legislation. Your name is also missing from a comically large amount of checks coming out of the people of Illinois. Your ego is matched only by Blago, but that does not mean that you are getting out of the primaries if you run after saying you wouldn't.

[kamachanda]

05:41 PM on 08/10/2009

I live in Illinois.
Senator Burris, I urge you not to run.
Senator Burris, I urge you to stay home and polish your tombstone.
Senator Burris, I urge you to write a tell all book so you can be author and senator.

Anything, just go away, you aren't qualified for anything except self delusion.

[thelipstickfemme]

05:18 PM on 08/10/2009

oh my gosh, where we go again. Another hard headed person who needs therapy and a good mirror.

[hallowellboy]

05:02 PM on 08/10/2009

He can sell shamwows on tv now that Billy Mays is gone.

[stav506]

11:03 AM on 08/11/2009

Wrong pitch man. At least know the stuff he shilled. It was Oxyclean and many others.

[TruthJusticeForAll]

04:40 PM on 08/10/2009

On the other hand he is a shill & a crook. He is in McFlip-Flop's seat. Possibly, it is a good fit.