Confident Burris: 'I Am the Senator'

Roland Burris is declaring himself the junior senator from Illinois, and he's confident that Democrats will "come around" and ditch their efforts to block his appointment, the Wall Street Journal reports. If they don't, he's got a team of lawyers ready to fight, but he doesn't think it will come to that. “By what authority can Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid deny a governor carrying out his constitutional duty?” he asked. "I am the senator."

"I think Roland was a bit braver than I am," said Danny Davis, who represents Illinois in the House and turned down the offer of a Rod Blagojevich appointment before Burris accepted. "I think Roland decided that he could withstand the climate, and still be effective." (More Rod Blagojevich stories.)