Barack Obama Resigns Senate Seat as of Sunday, November 16, 2008

 President-Elect Barack Obama, who currently holds elective office as a Democratic Senator from Illinois, will resign his seat effective Sunday, November 16, 2008.

 This move leaves his Senate seat open to be filled by an appointment by Rod Blagojevich, Democratic Governor of Illinois.

 Rumored possible replacements include Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill), Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill) and Tammy Duckworth, the Illinois Veterans Affairs Chief, an veteran of the Iraq war who lost both legs in the conflict.  Ms. Duckworth ran an unsuccessful Congressional campaign in 2006.  Ms. Duckworth appeared with President-Elect Obama on Veterans Day with President-Elect Obama in Illinois this past week

 Another name which has been rumored is close Obama senior advisor and friend Valerie Jarrett.  Ms. Jarrett currently co-chairs Obama’s Transition Team and has been appearing as a spokesperson and surrogate for President-Elect Obama in many media outlets, including last Sunday’s Meet the Press on NBC. 

 There is no deadline for Governor Blagojevich to name Obama’s successor, but it is hoped that he will do so in time for any lame-duck session of Congress in the waning days of the current administration.

 Obama’s statement:  “It has been one of the highest honors and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate…It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President.”