If Rush Retires, Many Are Ready

This is in the Capital Fax morning shorts this morning. More about Rep. Bobby Rush and the "rush" to suceed him if he chooses to retire before his term is up. Real Clear Politics:

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) had a cancerous tumor removed some three months ago and has been seen little on Capitol Hill since. The possibility that the eight-term congressman could retire from his Chicago-based seat has a number of would-be candidates waiting cautiously in the wings, the Chicago Sun-Times' Laura Washington writes.

Tongues are wagging, and webs are spinning. There is no shortage of politicians, pastors and businessmen who covet his job. Yet they know protocol and decency prohibit them from proclaiming their interest.

Barack Obama once coveted this seat as well, challenging and losing to Rush in the 2000 Democratic primary. The candidates that Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported last month who were interested in the job include: 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson (the wife of 2nd District Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.), 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle and Carolyn Rush, wife of Bobby.

Washington writes in her column today that the list of potential candidates is much longer than that. It also includes: 4th Ward Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, State Sen. Kwame Raoul, state Sen. James Meeks and state Sen. Jacqueline Collins.

If Rush does decide not to return to Congress, there would not be a Democratic primary. Rather, the 1st District Committeemen would gather and decide whom their candidate will be in the general election.

As Washington writes, "The party insiders will cut a shady deal and pick their own hack. That person will win, be able to serve a full, two-year term and will be difficult to dislodge the next time around."