Progress Illinois

Here's the video of Sen. Roland Burris announcing this afternoon that he will not be a candidate in the 2010 election.  He cited fundraising concerns as his main rationale for not launching a campaign and, around the one-minute mark, declared that "Political races have become far too expensive in this country."  That comment caused a member of the audience to yell out, "Harry Reid, Harry Reid. Come up with the money, Harry Reid" -- which elicits a little chuckle out of Burris. Watch it:

On a related note, Greg Hinz writes today that there are increasing doubts about whether Chris Kennedy will ultimately enter the race (after stirring up a good deal of buzz in the Chicago press this spring):

Much of the media — me included —have assumed Mr. Kennedy would jump in if Lisa Madigan moved out.  But three days after her move, he's still saying nothing, and speculation is rising fast that Mr. Kennedy in the end will take a pass.  That would be awfully good news for state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who then would have to face only Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson.