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BURRIS GETS APPROVAL FROM DEMOCRATIC LEADERS: Blago's pick will replace Obama in the Senate.
Barring unanticipated roadblocks from Senate Republicans, Burris, appointed to the seat by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in December, could be sworn in within days, giving Democrats 58 of the Senate's 100 seats.
The decision by Senate officials to swear in Burris was a major about-face by the Democratic leadership, which initially vowed that the appointment would not stand because Blagojevich has been charged with having earlier tried to sell the seat.
Democrats also privately feared that Burris, 71, a former Illinois attorney general who has lost a number of statewide races, would fail to retain the seat in the 2010 election.
At a Chicago news conference, Burris described himself as "humbled and honored."
"I wish you all could see our telephone calls ... all over the country, people are congratulating us," Burris said. "Certainly some people may not like it, but I look at the positive."
Dan Pfeiffer, a spokesman for Obama's transition office, said the president-elect knows Roland Burris, has high regard for him and looks forward to working with Burris and the rest of the Senate.
Obama initially backed the decision by Senate Democratic leaders to deny Burris the seat. But, under pressure from other Democrats, Obama agreed last week to find "an amicable solution" to remove the matter as a distraction in the new Congress, a party aide said.
For MORE of this Reuters report by Thomas Ferraro, go HERE.
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