Tuesday Recap

Illinois: Yesterday, Roland Burris met with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin to discuss his future. Durbin suggested that Burris resign, but the Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet reported that Burris strongly suggested that he would not resign due to the current controversies that surround him, but he also suggested that he would not run for the seat outright in 2010. Then, a Burris spokesman said that Burris had made no decisions about 2010. The saga continues...

Kentucky: NRSC chair John Cornyn said that the last week's meeting with state Senate President David Williams (R) was just a courtesy visit, and that he is not recruiting anyone to challenge the unpopular and vulnerable Sen. Jim Bunning (R) in a primary. He also added:“As long as he is running, I will be supportive of him.” Bunning rejected this olive branch: “I don’t believe anything John Cornyn says. I’ve had miscommunications with John Cornyn from, I guess, the first week of this current session of the Senate.” He then added this firecracker: “If they recruited someone to run in a primary against me, I would sue them because they are not following their bylaws.” So it looks like Bunning's going to be the GOP Senate nominee in Kentucky. The DSCC can start celebrating now.

Pennsylvania: RNC Chairman Michael Steele threatened to withhold RNC funds from Sen. Arlen Specter (R) and is open to supporting more conservative primary challengers over Specter for his 2010 reelection bid--mainly because of his vote on the stimulus package. Then the chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party suggested that the state party might not support Specter in a contested primary. He is gonna face one hell of a primary challenge from the right yet again this election cycle.