>>>Correction: Obama's senate seat is vacant *now*. He has already resigned.
>>
>>Probably so the seat would get filled quickly and give the new Junior Senator from Illinois a little extra seniority. Doesn't look like that'll happen at this point.
>>
>
>That's not why Obama said he did it. (Of course, he was lying ;-) ) He wanted to focus on the transition.

Sounds reasonable, too. And of course, the governor could have appointed someone quickly so that Illinois would be represented.

Tamar