Bye-bye Burris: Obama's tainted Senate replacement won't run in 2010

(UPDATE: As predicted Burris did announce Friday that he will not seek election in 2010.)

If you were thinking of running for Barack Obama's old U.S. Senate seat from Illinois but were holding off because of incumbent Roland Burris' intention to run next year, change of plans.

Looks like on Friday afternoon in Chicago, a time designed to minimize public attention, the 71-year-old Democratic veteran of Illinois' bare-knuckles brand of politics will announce he's decided not to run in 2010. Purely his own choice, of course. And all for the better of his state.

The first clue actually came when Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, now indicted for trying to auction off his nomination to fill the new president's vacant Senate chair, chose Burris as one of his final official acts before impeachment.

That tainted nomination, initially resisted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his No. 2, Dick Durbin, also of Illinois (see smiley photo above), eventually went through after a face-saving song-and-dance ...

Meg Whitman's $6.5 million fundraising, plus $4 million of her own money, puts her atop California gov race

Former eBay CEO and current GOP candidate for California governor Meg Whitman will announce shortly that she's already raised more than $6.5 million for her campaign. More, her campaign claims, than any other Republican candidates in the race longer.

Not bad considering she's a political newcomer and been an announced candidate for only five months.

And 85% of that dough came from Californians, the campaign says. Whitman has also chipped in $4 million of her own for a total of about $10.5 million.

In the news release Whitman's campaign chair, former mayor, former senator, former gov Pete Wilson, says:

There is no more certain measure of enthusiasm for a candidate than heavy early campaign contributions. This unprecedented outpouring of support for Meg confirms the demand for a new style of leadership that creates jobs, cuts wasteful spending, and effectively manages state government. Meg's appeal reaches far beyond just traditional Republicans. She is attracting new donors and new voters to expand our party at a critical time. They are putting their money where their hearts and minds are.

Whitman knows a little about money, having turned eBay from a company with 30 employees and $4.7 million into one with 15,000 employees and $8 billion in revenues. In the no-longer-very-recent presidential campaign, she was natrional finance chair for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and then raised millions for Sen. John McCain. Both have since endorsed her; probably a coincidence.

The gubernatorial field is vying for the unlikely honor in this fiscally-pressurized deficit days of replacing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose term limits run out in January 2011.

Whitman's primary primary opponent, Steve Poizner, the state insurance commissioner, reports raising north of $1.2 million with $250,000 coming the last two days of the quarterly reporting period. He's also given himself $4.2 million and reports $3.5 million still in hand.

"The Poizner campaign will be fully-funded," said spokesman Jarrod Agen, "and we will make Meg Whitman spend it all.'

On the Democrat side, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom reported raising $1.6 million in the last six months, most of it online, which is way less than fellow Democrat, former gov, former mayor and current state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who reports raising $7.3 million. 

All great news for the state's TV stations next year.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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With Michael Jackson still dead, Democrats launch major caucus-primary reforms

Despite the nation's pop paralysis over the death of sad singer Michael Jackson, the Democratic National Committee's Change Commission begins its complicated work tomorrow of reforming the procedures, timing and rules of that party's convention delegate selection process.

What comes from this series of meetings, that sprouted from the long bitter struggle last year between Barack Obama and a New York senator, could radically alter the way Democrats pick their presidential candidates for many elections starting in 2012.

As The Ticket reported here in March, it's a delicate delegate process because certain states -- we'll call them Iowa and New Hampshire -- believe they have a right handed down by Thomas Jefferson to go first in the selection process, which is deemed to make them more important. Or at least help fill the state's hotels and restaurants and empty the rental car lots during a normal winter's months when inbound flights to Des Moines often have vacant seats.

At the "suggestion" of its nominee at last summer's Democratic National Convention in Denver, delegates voted to establish a commission to examine everything including improving the caucus process, which can seem even longer than Iowa winters, reducing the number of unpledged delegates and quite possibly tinkering with the calendar window for the caucuses and primaries for the 2012 presidential election cycle.

Co-chairs of the Change Commission are Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. There'll be a lot of talking starting Saturday at 9:30 Eastern in the Capitol Hilton. They'll start with history lessons and a speech by DNC Chair Tim Kaine, who isn't the governor of New Jersey despite VP Joe Biden's comments.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Dick Whipple / Associated Press

Joe Biden Gaffe update: He fires N.J. gov, moves another guy in

For your Joe Biden Gaffe files:

Washington. Mandarin Oriental Hotel. LGBT fundraiser. Hauled in about $1 mill. 33% better than last year with Michelle Obama.

Maybe four dozen protesters outside, impatient with the Obama administration's perceived slow pace on lesbian and gay issues. Signs: "SHAME." "Gay Uncle Toms." Chants: "Shame on You." "Boycott the Bigots."

Inside, Biden spoke 20 mins. Lots of applause. "I am not unaware of the controversy swirling around this dinner and swirling around the speed or lack thereof that we are moving on issues that are of great importance to you."

Boasted the new administration has appointed 60 gays or lesbians, including nine requiring Senate confirmation. Promised to "put some pace on the ball."

Standing ovations as he pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, Don't Ask Don't Tell and get passage of the Lieberman-Baldwin bill on health benefits.

Additionally, Biden promised to put a ban on workplace discrimination, get adoption rights for all and end the HIV travel ban.

Biden also praised Tim Kaine as the "great governor of New Jersey."

One problem: Tim Kaine's not governor of New Jersey.

Jon Corzine (right) is governor of New Jersey (Remember, he didn't wear his seatbelt in the state patrol car for the big high-speed crash).

Tim Kaine is governor of another state, called Virginia.

He's also chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Biden is from Delaware.

He used a Teleprompter.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credits: Getty Images (top and middle); N.J. Governor's Office (bottom).

How to get a job in the Obama administration in a tough economy

First, get a lot of money.

Second, get a lot of friends with a lot of money.

Third, all of you give a lot of that money to Barack Obama's Democratic presidential campaign.

A new research study by the Center for Responsive Politics confirms what a lot of Washington watchers expected all along: All that Obama talk about changing the way Washington works is also a whole lot of hooey, at least insofar as it relates to United States ambassadors to other countries.

The capitol's decidedly bipartisan tradition for generations has been: Want to live in a foreign place for a couple of years, probably not all that important a place but still foreign, get a nice title for life, luxurious government housing, staff, car and driver and more use for your tuxedo than back home?

Then help the winning White House entrant finance his/her campaign.

And no one throughout American political history ever had a better-financed campaign than Obama with his $750 million.

The CRP has found 19 of Obama's new ambassadors and their families bundled at least $3.4 million for Obama's campaign and an additional $1.4 million just for his inauguration festivities. And you thought the campaigns don't keep track of such generosity? Even some of now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's donors are getting rewarded.

Yes, true, Obama did name Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as ambassador to China. And Huntsman bundled $500,000 for Obama's defeated Republican opponent, old what's-his-name from Arizona who keeps popping up on the Sunday shows anyway.

But it's apparently worth at least a half-mil to Obama to get Huntsman tied to his Democratic administration, out of the country and far from Iowa in the run-up to 2012.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Hat Tip to Jake Tapper's must-read Political Punch blog.

Recognize the balding fellow on the $10,000 bill? We didn't either. Scroll down for his identity.

What Joe Biden is telling the Democrats' donors these days

Vice President Joe Biden interrupted a series of private meetings today to go over to a Washington hotel and talk enthusiastically and volubly to a crowd of Democrat donors for the party's Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees getting ready for next year's electoral struggles.

Because as the Obama-Biden ticket demonstrated last year with its amazing $750 million in donations, you can never have too much political money, even in these days of Republican Party disarray. And the president speaks at another Democratic money convention this evening where most of the 187 donors will pay even more than the $5,000 they shelled out for lunch with a hurried Joe.

The VP is clearly at home among the backslapping, concealed weapon congressional crowd, having served in the Senate for nearly four decades even before his new boss set his sights on the White House in law school.

Look, on the surface, Biden's 18-minute speech seems like a good-natured, rah-rah celebration of seizing power on both sides of the Hill and in the White House and a recitation of achievements already underway thanks to those victories that would have been impossible without the audience's past money-giving and an unspoken demonstration of the kind of access to officialdom that their future donations can purchase.

Harry Reid, the Democratic Majority Leader in the Senate who's up for reelection next year with impressive unpopularity ratings back in Nevada, could probably have done without Biden's joke pointing out to the economically struggling world that Reid has a free car and driver standing by at all times. But the luncheon didn't allow TV cameras, so there will be no troublesome video of that for anyone to use against the senator back home.

Joe also loved the job Nancy Pelosi is doing, "an incredible, incredible job," given the circumstances she inherited as House speaker, although she's actually been there a few years. And nevermind ...

Late Joe Biden update: Private meetings, a speech, private meetings

Vice President Joe Biden kicks off another hectic Thursday with a series of morning private meetings.

And he'll end it in the afternoon with, surprisingly, another series of private meetings.

In between, Biden, who spent nearly four decades in the U.S. Senate from little old Delaware preparing to handle the duties of the vice presidency, will meet pretty privately with the deputy prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard. Photos will be allowed briefly.

Biden will also witness President Obama's meeting with the administration's special Mideast envoy for peace, George Mitchell. Closed to the press.

And the Democratic vice president will speak at a lunchtime Democratic fundraiser. Just to ensure no videotapes emerge of any impromptu Biden remarks, the lunch may be covered only by a few print media with pens (or pencils).

Oh, and yet another afternoon oath-giving, this one for Ray Maybus, the new secretary of the Navy. But because this is such a uniquely transparent administration, that historic event will be closed to the press altogether.

Other than that, more private meetings. Also closed. Hence the term "private."

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Getty Images

What both sides should know about Newt Gingrich's Republican road map

As The Ticket reported last night, Sarah and Todd Palin did eventually attend the summer's major Republican fundraiser.

And former Speaker, current small business owner Newt Gingrich did speak. As usual, provocatively.

They raised nearly $15 million. And Gingrich acknowledged the Palins, to applause.

But what was really important, politically, from the evening event were his heartening remarks to the Republican faithful, offering encouragement and historical precedents, including how quickly the GOP rebuilt after major defeats in 1964, 1976 and 1992.

He also noted, to some audience murmuring, that while Barack Obama won 61% of California's presidential vote in November, six months later in the recent referenda, fully 64% rejected raising taxes and spending.

Partisans of either side may be pleased or angered by his words. They'll boo or cheer while watching this C-SPAN video. Which is fine. But they'll miss Gingrich quoting Democrat Al Sharpton positively. And outlining ways Republicans should ally with the new president.

And for those historical political observers who value a strong two-party system duking it out while Americans watch and make their choice, Gingrich's remarks offer the first actual proposed, detailed road map since November for a 21st century Republican reconstruction.

Whether Gingrich's familiar fountain of ideas triumphs, his thoughts are certain to become a part of the ongoing political debate leading up to the 2010 midterm elections -- and beyond.

And, if speaking about such things in 2009 helps position Gingrich for 2012, well, maybe he won't mind.

As we often do here, we'll let the political actors speak for themselves.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Barack Obama to Hollywood: Without you, no Obama White House

When rock stars need to replenish their bank accounts, they hit the road and go on tour.

President Barack Obama demonstrated again Wednesday night that he is the current star money-raiser of American politics, as he brought his support-the-Democratic National Committee tour to Beverly Hills and packed not one room, but three at the Beverly Hilton there.

How big a draw is the president?

Well, big enough to convince 250 Hollywood bigwigs and stars like Seth Rogin, Marisa Tomei, Kiefer Sutherland, Jamie Foxx, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, Holly Robinson Peete, Tyler Perry, Nicky Hilton, Lawrence Bender and the entire Avant family.

Not to mention newly minted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter and healthcare go-to guy Sen. Chris Dodd -- to spend more than $30,000 a couple to eat dinner in one of the hotel's private ballrooms.

By the way, for that check the diners got Sonoma greens, marinated artichokes, pepper goat cheese, roasted tenderloin, kabachi ravioli, grilled organic chicken and sunchoke rosemary mashed potatoes.

Last night, as we reported here earlier, Obama helped raise $2 million for a lesser Las Vegas crowd of Harry Reid supporters, while VP Joe Biden had another fundraiser in Denver, also for the DNC.

The president was introduced by Katzenberg, who said, "If you look in the dictionary under 'grace under fire,' it will say Barack Obama."

Obama, ever the basketball fan, quipped about the Lakers-Nuggets playoff game, by then underway at Staples Center, "It was tied in the first quarter," he said. "That's the story. We will get out of here before the end of the third. Some of you will get out of here before halftime."

And they did, lining up for their cars behind police lines and opposite a group of protesters on Wilshire Blvd.

The president went on to thank Katzenberg, saying "If it weren't for you, we would not be in the White House."

Addressing the assembled big-ticket donors, Obama added that, it's "because of Americans like you, who are willing to dig deep," not just with money but also going door to door and volunteering ... that we have the chance to bring about change."

One of those particularly thrilled by the president's remarks was Bender, an early Obama supporter who had to miss the inaugural because he was in Berlin working on a film with Brad Pitt. Bender said he had to pinch himself to make sure he really was in the same room with the president.

After dinner, it was on to a bigger ballroom for a concert by the other sort of rock stars (Earth, Wind and Fire and Jennifer Hudson). Obama still got the biggest applause.

And an estimated $4 million from the party for the party.

-- Tina Daunt

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Caesars gives Obama a room upgrade since he's president now

Caesars Palace gave President Obama a room upgrade Tuesday night, putting him in one of its special high-roller suites, despite the Democrat's denunciation last January of business excursions to Las Vegas on taxpayer money.

Obama revealed the upgrade to the crowd as a sign of his importance since his last visit before becoming president. "Thanks, Caesars," he said according to some at the reception. Obama spoke at a fundraiser for Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who says he needs $25 million to win a fifth term next year, although he does not yet have any viable Republican opponents.

Even without a GOP opponent, the Our Country Deserves Better PAC has launched ads against Reid, whose recent poll numbers look bad for an incumbent.

With Obama, Sheryl Crow and Bette Midler on the evening's marquee, Reid expected to haul in about $2 million, giving him $5.3 million so far.

Meanwhile back at the ranch in Denver, Vice President Joe Biden brought in an unannounced sum for the Democratic National Committee. The DNC will sponsor tonight's soiree with Obama at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Obama might get double miles if he plays his presidential hand right.

Reid told an exclusive special reception, "This man is extremely smart, he can communicate, but the best part of Barack Obama is his heart is bigger than any heart in the world."

"We need to keep Harry Reid exactly where he belongs," Obama told the enthusiastic main crowd, which had paid at least $250 to attend. Those paying $29,500 got an actual presidential handshake. 

Obama, who praised his Supreme Court nominee and his own stimulus spending plans, thanked crowd members for their past support that provided the opportunity to change the country's politics.

"I think it's fair to say," Obama told the 4,000 or so attendees, "that over these past four months we've done a pretty good job of seizing the opportunity."

Exactly how the $2 million evening with President Obama represented change from Sen. Obama's $750-million presidential campaign was unclear. But the crowd applauded anyway.

To help make the trip cost not 100% political, this morning Obama will visit a battery plant and hold a town hall before leaving for L.A. and then an overnight flight back to Washington.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Top photo: Sen. Harry Reid greets President Obama at the airport. Credit: Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Bottom photo: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.