Obama Leaving Senate on Sunday

Blagojevich is a deeply unpopular governor whose approval rating was 13 percent in a recent Chicago Tribune poll. He is close to few people in the Illinois political hierarchy and, as a consequence, owes almost no one.

His own future is unclear, although he remains ambitious. A widening federal investigation into his administration has damaged his reputation, and repeated budget battles have weakened his prospects for election to a third term or to Obama's Senate seat in 2010.

By choosing Jackson, Jones or another African American, Blagojevich would ensure that the Senate continues to include at least one black member. In choosing Duckworth, he would place in the Senate a young Iraq war veteran who lost both legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down.

"That's what he has to decide: Is this going to be a legacy issue or is this going to be a reelection issue?" said one Illinois political operative who is following the situation closely.

Obama, who is not close to Blagojevich, has said he intends to stay out of the discussion about a successor. Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said this week that he hopes to discuss a shortlist of his own with Blagojevich.

After a morning workout yesterday, Obama spent time in his Chicago transition offices before making a half-hour stop at Johnson Publishing Co., publisher of Ebony magazine.

CBS News announced yesterday that Obama, along with his wife, Michelle, has agreed to give his first post-election interview today, which is scheduled to be aired Sunday evening on "60 Minutes."

Biden, who has made a series of calls to foreign leaders over the past few days, spent late yesterday afternoon meeting with Vice President Cheney. The Cheneys greeted the Bidens at the vice presidential residence at the Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington.

The four posed for a photo on the front porch before disappearing into the residence. Inside, the Bidens toured their new home, and the vice president and his successor held a 50-minute meeting.

"It was a good visit," said Megan Mitchell, the vice president's press secretary. "The Cheneys enjoyed giving the Bidens a tour of the residence and wished them well as they make it their home in January."

Staff writer Shailagh Murray contributed to this report.