Jesse Jackson Jr. Replacement: Potential Successors Line Up After Illinois Congressman's Resignation

Though it's only been three days since Jesse Jackson Jr.'s abrupt resignation from Congress, about a dozen potential names have already been floated in numerous media reports on the future of the Chicago Democrat's now-vacated seat.

One potential name -- Sam Adam Jr., former defense attorney for R&B singer R. Kelly and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- didn't even wait for Jackson's Wednesday resignation to throw his hypothetical hat into the ring. Reports began to circulate almost two weeks ago that Adam was potentially interested in the seat, were it to become available.

Another seemingly unlikely Jackson successor -- the unpopular former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger -- is also weighing a bid for the seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday, the race for which political consultant Delmarie Cobb, formerly Jackson's press secretary, said is "going to be the Wild Wild West."

Toni Preckwinkle, Stroger's successor, is also considered to be another possible candidate for the seat, according to the Associated Press.

(Scroll down to meet some of the individuals rumored to be considering a run to succeed Jackson.)

As of Jackson's Wednesday resignation, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has five days to set the date for a special election to replace the former congressman. The election must be held no later than March 16, within 115 days of Jackson announcing his resignation.

Jackson resigned this week, about two weeks following his reelection in Illinois' 2nd congressional district. The 47-year-old congressman had been away from work since June as he sought treatment for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic, which readmitted him last month.

The congressman is reportedly engaged in ongoing plea negotiations with the feds concerning allegations that Jackson used campaign funds for personal use. In his resignation letter, Jackson publicly acknowledged the investigation for the first time.

The probe is unrelated to an ongoing "pay-to-play" ethics investigation concerning whether Jackson was aware of efforts to raise money for imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for his appointment to the Senate in 2008.