LaHood Now Out of the Way for Illinois Senate Seat

In my original home state of Illinois, retiring Rep. Ray LaHood is one of very few Republicans who could win statewide in a special election to fill President-elect Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

But now that Obama has tapped the popular Illinois politician to be secretary of Transportation in his administration, I guess that’s one big threat removed. With LaHood out of the way, Democrats have a better chance of retaining the Senate seat if forced by public outcry to hold a special election rather than gubernatorial selection, whether by likely soon-to-be-ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich or Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn once he becomes governor resulting from the impeachment or resignation of Blagojevich.

While LaHood is and always has been a very good choice for just about any job in government and elsewhere, the move by Obama is just a little too cute by half. Obama is, indeed, playing politics with his former Senate seat, and the LaHood nomination for secretary of Transportation just may be proof of that.

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