Durbin: Special election needed to fill Obama seat

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, said the Illinois General Assembly "should enact a law as quickly as possible calling for a special election" to fill the Senate vacancy of Barack Obama. "No appointment by this governor could produce a credible replacement." Durbin spoke after Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested early Tuesday on charges he conspired to sell or trade President-elect Obama's vacant Senate seat. "The options are few and not appealing," Durbin told a Capitol news conference. Without a special election,, "this could drag on for a long period of time." Blagojevich could make an interim appointment, Durbin, but even that person would be "tainted." He was asked about his own relationship with the governor. "I've known him a long time. We certainly didn't enjoy a close relationship." Durbin recalled how "he could be a difficult man to communicate with." When the governor first took office, Durbin recalled calling him and not getting the call returned. Recently, when he called to discuss the Obama vacancy, Durbin said it took 12 days to get the call returned. "We went through 20 different names," Durbin said. He advised the governor "Don't appoint a caretaker and do it as quickly as possible, so we could have a seniority advantage." Anyone sworn in prior to Jan. 3, 2009, would instantly have that advantage over the class of senators elected last month. Durbin said he did not think the controversy would hurt the Obama administration, which badly needs Democratic votes quickly next month. And, he said, "I don't think any association between the president-elect and the governor of Illinois could possible raise that suggestion."

Entire National Mall to be open for Obama inaguration

With more than a million people expected to descend upon Washington for President-Elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20, 2009, swearing in, his Presidential Inaugral Committee announced Thursday that the entire length of the National Mall will be open to the public for the first time to accommodate the anticipated overflow crowd.

The Mall, which stretches 2.5 miles from the steps of the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, will be equipped with large viewing screens and speakers so people standing far away from the swearing-in event can see and here.

"We're grateful to local, federal and military officials for their efforts to open the National Mall to Americans who want to participate in this historic occasion," Presidential Inaugural Committee Execuitve Director Emmet S. Beliveau said. "These arrangements represent our committee's continuing commitment to make next year's historic inauguration as accessible as possible to citizens in Washington, DC, and across the country."

In the past, the Mall has been used as a staging area for participants in the inaugural parade. But after members of  the House of Representatives and the Senate were deluged with requests from consitutents for tickets for the 240,000 tickets they had to dole out, some federal lawmakers and Obama's inauguration committee pressed to have the mall open to the public.

"This will be an inauguration for all Americans," Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said. "And we are dedicated to opening it up sothat people from across the country can gather together in America's front yard."