The American Spectator

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There is another reason why Harry Reid would want Obama's replacement to be appointed. Beyond the fact that a special election opens up the possibility, however slight, that Democrats could lose the seat, a special election would delay the seating of a new Senator, likely by months. Reid's letter imploring Gov. Blagojevich to step aside so that Lt. Gov Pat Quinn can make the choice emphasizes that such a route "would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated..." Why is time of the essence? With the Minnesota Senate seat either lost or in flux, without the Illinois seat, Democrats would be at 57 seats in the Senate. That's still a lopsided majority, but the vacancy would make it more difficult to thwart Republican filibusters on legislation that Democrats want to ram through during Obama's first 100 days in office. Card check would be one example that comes immediately to mind. That's why it actually surprised me yesterday to hear Dick Durbin call for a special election, and I wonder if such an outcome can be avoided now that the cat's out of the bag.