Burris Discusses Meeting With Senate Leaders

I've read the affidavit that you sent, but I have a question a little deeper. I was under the impression that when -- before Blagojevich was (inaudible) that you did want to put yourself in play for an appointment. And if so, your affidavit said you had no contact with the governor. How were you putting yourself in play, then? Who did you talk to specifically and... (CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: Oh, I was putting myself in play by friends from Illinois and across the nation, saying, "Roland, what -- well, you know, you want to be senator?" or, "You ought to be senator," and, "What can we do?"

My statement was, "Call the governor's office. Send an e-mail to the governor's office. Send in letters." And they were doing that from all over the country.

BURRIS: And so I thought, you know, that that would raise some level of interest on behalf of my -- of my interest in the Senate seat, and evidently it didn't, because...

(LAUGHTER)

... because they didn't even mention my name. I mean, I -- I didn't show up anywhere.

And I don't know what they were doing with the names and the people calling in, because one -- one of my high school classmates -- by the way, I was in the class of '55 -- and one of them called into the governor's office, and she called back to my classmate in Centralia, my hometown, who had started this, and said, "This lady said you're the thousandth person to call in for Roland Burris. We know about Roland Burris"...

(LAUGHTER)

... somebody said that.

QUESTION: Do you think anyone on your behalf might -- might have talked to -- this wasn't covered in the affidavit -- I don't think. Do you think anyone (inaudible) to talk to the governor? Are you concerned that (inaudible) might be with the wiretaps -- you know, there's some conversations that might surface?

BURRIS: I have no knowledge of that. And -- and if they did, there was certainly no pay-to-play involved, because I don't have no money.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: Yes, please.

Oh, there's a gentleman -- excuse me. I just saw him. This gentleman is from Somerset.

Dick Barber (ph), stand up.

He's from Somerset, New Jersey.

Dick, how many people did you e-mail across the country and saying that Burris should be the senator? BARBER (ph): About 100. And I sent it to the press -- included Chicago, New York, L.A. The press didn't respond.

(LAUGHTER)

I've known Roland for 30 years.

BURRIS: Thank you, Dick.

BARBER (ph): Thirty years.

BURRIS: Thanks, Dick. Thank you.

I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

(UNKNOWN): (OFF-MIKE) time for one more question.

QUESTION: Mr. Burris?

BURRIS: Yes?

QUESTION: One of the things that some Democratic officials have brought up as a -- as a deal to seat you would be a commitment from you not to run in 2010.

QUESTION: Now, in your discussions with Mr. Reid and Durbin and their staffs and the Democratic leadership, did you make any sort of commitment concerning the 2010 election? And, specifically, did you make any commitment not to run for reelection?

BURRIS: That is very interesting. I want to know where these -- where this information come from.

This wasn't even on their radar screen. They hadn't even brought it up. And I was getting these rumors about conditions.

They weren't talking any conditions. What -- what Majority Leader Reid said at his press conference, that is exactly what took place. It didn't come up.

QUESTION: So would you run for reelection in 2010?

BURRIS: Well, now, let me get my Senate legs under me and -- and get in and raise some money to pay for all this stuff we've been doing and figure out that once we get in and get settled and learn where the -- where the bathrooms are.

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: You haven't made any commitment at all?

BURRIS: No, no, no commitment at this point.

Thank you all, press. Thank you so much. Thank you.

END