Roland Burris

With Senate leaders threatening to block Roland Burris from being sworn in today as Barack Obama's replacement, many of his supporters see a familiar story of race and injustice. An all-white club, they say, is trying to prevent a black man from gaining admission, as well as the power that comes with a Senate seat. Summoning a harsh metaphor from the nation's racial battles, Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) even called the Senate "the last bastion of plantation politics."

Should Roland Burris show up for duty in the Senate on Tuesday, armed police officers stand ready to bar him from the floor. This cinematic showdown is among an elaborate set of contingencies that Democratic leaders are planning if, as expected, the former Illinois attorney general appointed by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich shows up with newly elected senators to press his claim that he is the legitimate replacement for President-elect Barack Obama. Democratic leaders hope to avert such a standoff.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opened the possibility Sunday that former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris might serve in the Senate despite the aggressive opposition of Democratic leaders to his appointment by a scandal-tarnished governor. "I'm an old trial lawyer. There's always room to negotiate," said Reid, a Nevada Democrat, on NBC's "Meet the Press." When pressed by host David Gregory on whether there was a possibility Burris might ultimately be seated, Reid responded, "That's right."

Roland Burris and Democratic party leaders headed toward a showdown at the door of the U.S. Senate today as the former Illinois attorney general presses his claim to the disputed seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Burris said in an interview Monday evening that he intended to try to walk onto the Senate floor to be sworn in with incoming senators when the Senate convenes, despite declarations from party leaders that they will prevent him from entering the chamber.

Roland Burris gained a powerful ally in his bid to replace President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday when Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California urged the Senate to seat him, arguing that his appointment was lawful. Her stance could strengthen Burris' position as he meets with Senate leaders today. Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, came to the Capitol to be sworn in with other senators Tuesday but was barred from the Senate floor.

After days of distracting controversy -- and a quiet request from President-elect Barack Obama -- Senate Democrats opened a path Wednesday toward ushering Roland Burris into the seat vacated by Obama. A top Senate Democratic source said Obama's concerns were among several factors that resulted in an about-face by Senate leaders, who had vowed to reject Burris or anyone else appointed by disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. Obama told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.

Roland Burris told the Illinois impeachment panel Thursday that he cut no deals with embattled Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, and he heard no quid pro quos. "Absolutely, positively not," said Burris, 71. "I can before this committee state that there was nothing . . . legal, personal or political exchanged for my appointment to this seat."

Just days after his prospective colleagues in Washington turned him back from the Capitol, Democrat Roland Burris seized on an Illinois high court decision filed Friday to assert he should be accepted as President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate. Armed with the Illinois Supreme Court ruling, Burris' lawyers vowed to return to Washington on Monday and file suit in federal court unless top Senate Democrats reverse their rejection of impeached Democratic Gov. Rod R.

Roland Burris will probably replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate this week once the Senate's legal counsel completes a review, Assistant Majority Leader Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sunday. The legal counsel is to evaluate additional paperwork today on Burris' appointment by impeached Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, Durbin said. Burris, 71, was appointed by Blagojevich three weeks after the governor's arrest on federal corruption charges, including that he tried to sell the Senate seat.

His appointment finally endorsed by U.S. Senate leadership, Roland Burris said Monday he expects to be sworn in this week as Barack Obama's replacement. Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, extended an olive branch to the Democrats who had stood in his way after he was nominated by embattled Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. He singled out for thanks two of his foremost opponents, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois.