The man who will pick President-elect Barack Obama's successor in the U.S. Senate is talking to someone interested in the job: U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich) says he's meeting Monday with Jackson and describes the Chicago Democrat as a "very strong" candidate. The son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson is among several Illinois politicians mentioned as contenders.
The governor will not say who is on his short list. He says his hope is to pick a replacement before the holidays.
He dismissed the notion that his pick would be tainted by the cloud of a federal investigation hanging over his administration.
Blagojevich says there is no cloud hanging over him, only "sunshine."
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