Today, we’ll look at two other front runners who are getting a lot of buzz lately:

1. State Senate President Emil Jones, 73, Chicago

Emil Jones (R) pictured with Governor Blagojevich (C)

Senator Jones is a legend in Illinois politics and was a strong mentor to Barack Obama in his days as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago and later as a fellow state senator. Senator Jones is also very close to Governor Rod Blagojevich, making him an instant front runner. Considering his age, Senator Jones may figure to be a “placeholder” selection. In other words, Jones would get the honor of a lifetime, a two-year appointment as only the fourth African American United States Senator post-Reconstruction (the third to come from the state of Illinois), but would not be expected to seek reelection in 2010. This would leave the long-term replacement in the hands of Illinois voters in 2010. This makes a lot of sense and is the most democratic option. Appointing anyone else would not only allow him or her to serve the next two years, but also give them a big advantage as the incumbent candidate in 2010. Having a truly open primary in 2010 would allow someone like Barack Obama (who emerged out of nowhere in the 2004 primary) a chance. The more I think about it, the more I favor this option. It would likely set up an epic primary battle between the likes of Jackson, Schakowsky, Gutierrez, etc. In addition, Jones would serve very capably for the next two years and be an aide to his former mentee who will reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

2. Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, 54, Chicago

Congressman Gutierrez speaks to a community group in Chicago

Congressman Gutiérrez is actively seeking this appointment. Congressman Gutiérrez, the only Latino representative in the entire Midwest, is a well-known national voice for immigration reform and a very influential representative. Gutiérrez also comes very humble roots. Prior to serving in Congress, not only was he a city councilman and social worker, but also a cab driver. If appointed, Gutiérrez would become the first Puerto Rican Senator in United States history. Gutiérrez has flirted with retirement before and is rumored to have his eye on the Chicago mayor’s office. However, with an Olympic bid brewing, I doubt the current Mayor Daley is retiring anytime soon (he’s been mayor since 1989).  Although I don’t see Gutiérrez as being Blagojevich’s number one choice at the moment, there seems to be good evidence that he is definitely on the short list.

Who are some of the candidates?

Today, we’ll look at two of the front runners:

1. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., 43, Chicago

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Jackson, Jr. has been mentioned for several months as someone who is actively seeking this position.

Positives: Jackson, Jr is the only African American front runner. His appointment would ensure that there wasn’t a 100% decline in the number of African Americans serving in the upper chamber. Jackson is also very popular on the south side of Chicago, is a charismatic up and coming leader in the Democratic Party, and was one of Obama’s national co-chairs.

Negatives: Largely because of conservative attacks on his father, Jesse Jackson, Sr., the Jackson name has high negatives in conservative areas outside of Chicago, which some claim may make it difficult for Jackson, Jr. to be reelected statewide in 2010.

2. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, 64, Evanston

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

Schakowsky, a member of the House Democratic Leadership, also has also been campaigning actively for the position. I had the honor of doing some political work with members of her staff this past year, and they were very much positioning themselves for a possible future in the Senate.

Positives: Schakowsky’s district, which includes parts of Chicago’s north side and inner suburbs such as Evanston and Skokie, neighbors Rod Blagojevich’s old district, and the two are apparently fairly close politically. In addition, Schakowsky was one of the first representatives to endorse then state-senator Obama when he ran in the 2004 Illinois Senate primary. What goes around comes around in Illinois politics, and Congresswoman Schakowsky is in better with Obama and Blagojevich than anyone else.

Negatives: Schakowsky’s husband Robert Creamer, former director of the Illinois Public Action Fund, was convicted of one count of failure to collect withholding tax and of bank fraud for writing checks with insufficient funds in 2005. In fairness, it should be noted that the judge said that Creamer acted not out of greed but in an effort to keep his community action group going without cutting programs. Also, Schakowsky had no wrongdoing in this situation. In addition, some commentators claim that Schakowsky’s liberal voting record might not play well in some more conservative areas outside of Chicago.

Full disclosure: Jan Schakowsky is my Congresswoman, and I have had the honor of meeting her on a couple occasions. She is my personal favorite for Obama’s seat.