Burris sworn in to fill Obama's old Senate seat

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, having outmaneuvered top fellow Democrats in a political showdown, was sworn in on Thursday to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Burris gave Democrats 58 seats in the 100-member Senate, their biggest majority since 1981. Like Obama during his years in the Senate, Burris is the chamber's only black member.

Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, in one of his final acts before leaving office next week, administered the oath to Burris, appointed to the seat on December 30 by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"Congratulations," Cheney told Burris, triggering applause from the new senator's Democratic and Republican colleagues.

Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois, who had vowed the Burris appointment would not stand, hugged him.

Obama and Senate Democratic leaders initially opposed the appointment, calling it "tainted" since Blagojevich has been charged with having earlier tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder.

Under pressure from other Democrats, including many black officials, they reversed themselves and agreed this week he allowed to be sworn in.

They did so after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the appointment valid and a dispute over certification was resolved.

The Senate is popularly elected but if members resign or die, governors generally have the power to name a replacement. Burris had to clear the additional hurdles.

"There are many paths to the United States Senate. It is fair to say that the path that brought our new colleague from Illinois to us was unique," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said in a floor speech.

"Senator Burris, on behalf of all senators, we welcome you as a colleague and a friend."

Among those who attended his swearing in were members of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives.

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Peter Cooney)