Burris, Blocked From Taking Seat, Gains New Support
By CARL HULSE and DAVID STOUT
WASHINGTON — Roland W. Burris, the would-be junior senator from Illinois, picked up the support of a key Democrat late Tuesday afternoon in his bid to occupy the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
Mr. Burris, who was rebuffed by the Senate clerk earlier in the day, gained the support of Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the chairman of the Rules Committee, who broke with many of her Democratic colleagues and said that Mr. Burris should be seated despite having been appointed by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, who is facing corruption charges.
Regardless of the charges against him, the governor still has the right to fill the Senate vacancy, Ms. Feinstein said, and keeping Mr. Burris from taking his seat could have implications for appointments by other governors.
Ms. Feinstein’s support is important because her committee has a say in whether Mr. Burris is qualified to serve. The California senator’s endorsement was surely heartening for Mr. Burris, who arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday morning for the start of the 111th Congress to meet a mob of reporters and photographers.
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