Burris approved for Obama's old Senate seat

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Roland Burris on Monday won his bid to fill the seat in the U.S. Senate vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, overcoming objections from Democratic leaders who now stand ready to enjoy their biggest majority since 1981.

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."

Burris, who testified he had committed no impropriety, said, "There's no such thing as taint" with the appointment.

Others disagreed. "It is regrettable that Senate Democrats have gone back on their word and will now seat Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointee," said Republican Party Chairman Mike Duncan.

"They accepted a Blagojevich appointee rather than risk losing a Senate seat in a special election."

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.

COURT RULING

On Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the appointment of Burris was valid. But Democrats stuck to their position that he would not be seated until the appointment was certified by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

While White refused to certify the appointment, he signed a statement after the court ruling certifying that the governor's appointment letter was legally filed with the state.

That appeared to satisfy the secretary of the Senate, who had last week rejected Burris' credentials as incomplete.

"The secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate Rules and validate his appointment," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Assistant Senate Democratic leader Dick Durbin said in a joint statement.

"We are pleased that everything is now in order, we congratulate Senator-designee Burris on his appointment and we look forward to working with him," they added.

The announcement followed a meeting at the Capitol between the Senate secretary and parliamentarian and Burris' lawyers.

With Obama set to be sworn in as the first black U.S. president on January 20, Burris would replace him as the only black senator.

Senate Republicans could still try to block him. But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said last week, "If Mr. Burris presents the correct paperwork, he's going to be a senator."

There is still one U.S. Senate seat undecided in Minnesota.

(Additional reporting by Andy Stern in Chicago; editing by Mohammad Zargham)