Replacing Obama

One well-placed Dem suggests the leading contenders to land Barack Obama's IL Senate seat are likely, in no particular order:

Former Rep. Glenn Poshard, president of the Southern Illinois University
-- Poshard served for a decade in Congress and then ran unsuccessfully for governor. A Korean War vet, he hails from White County, which is downstate Illinois; so he potentially has a statewide appeal that might pose a challenge for Rep. Jan Schakowsky, another contender, in a re-elect battle. Schakowsky, an early Obama supporter and visible campaign surrogate, represents liberal Evanston.

Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Dept. of Veterans Affairs
-- Duckworth, a veteran who lost both her legs in Iraq, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2006. She's well-regarded by Team Obama but green.

IL Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.
-- Jones is as old school Chitown politics as could be. His appointment would be a win for machine politics. But he's Obama's mentor and close pal, so stay tuned.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has had abysmal approval ratings of late, will appoint Obama's successor. Worth noting, too, that Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., has expressed an interest in the job.

(JENNIFER SKALKA)