Illinois’ Democratic state treasurer says he’ll run for Barack Obama’s old Senate seat

Democratic Ill. state treasurer to run for Senate

CHICAGO — Illinois’ state treasurer says he’s going to run for President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO’-lee-ehs) said Tuesday he’ll formally announce his candidacy this weekend.

The first-term state treasurer hopes to win the seat now being held by Sen. Roland Burris, who has served under a cloud of suspicion since his appointment to the seat by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Burris has said he will not seek the seat in 2010 because of fundraising problems.

Five-term Republican Congressman Mark Kirk announced Monday that he’s running.

Blagojevich, a Democrat, was impeached and removed from office in January after being charged with allegedly trying to sell Obama’s U.S. Senate seat.