It seems like President-elect Barack Obama has held a press conference every day for the past two weeks. He has named his economic team... His national security team... And today, at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Obama announced that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will be his nominee for Secretary of Commerce. What do all these appointments mean? For one thing, that there will be a whole lot of empty seats to fill -- in two Southwestern state capitals, in the Senate, and in the House of Representatives.

In Arizona, Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a Republican, will become the governor, if current Gov. Janet Napolitano is approved. And in New Mexico, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish would get Gov. Bill Richardson's seat, if he is approved. (He has said he won't resign until the confirmation hearings conclude.)

In Illinois and New York, people are already talking about replacements for the seats vacated by Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who was named Chief of Staff,... Here are the short lists:

In Illinois, which Obama represented in the Senate, and in the 5th congressional district, Rep. Rahm Emanuel's district:

For Obama's seat:
* Rep. Danny Davis
* Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth
* Rep. Luis Gutierrez
* Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
* Fmr. Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones
* Attorney General Lisa Madigan
* Rep. Jan Schakowsky

For Emanuel's seat:
* Alderman Tom Allen
* John Borovicka
* Peter Dagher
* State Rep. John D'Amico
* State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
* Alderman Manuel Flores
* State Rep. John Fritchey
* Alderman Margaret Laurino
* State Rep.-elect Deborah Mell
* Justin Oberman
* Alderman Patrick O'Connor
* Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley
* Alderman Ariel Reboyras
* Cynthia Santos
* Alderman Eugene Schulter
* Alderman Tom Tunney

And in New York, where Hillary Clinton (the president-elect's nominee for Secretary of State) has a Senate seat:
* Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo
* Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, from Albany
* Rep. Steve Israel, from Long Island
* Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, from Queens
* Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, from Brooklyn

1:59 - December 3, 2008

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