Obama to leave Senate
President-elect Barack Obama is resigning his Senate seat effective Sunday. In a statement, he called his four years in the Capitol “one of the highest honors and privileges” of his life.
Under state law, Democratic Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich will appoint Obama’s replacement, who will serve the remaining two years of his term. Blagojevich has ruled out appointing himself.
The vice president-elect, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, may remain in the Senate until January. His vote could be needed in the lame-duck session of Congress that begins next week.
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