Washington in 5 Minutes

NEW JERSEY

Dobbs considers run for Senate

TRENTON, N.J. | Former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs is seriously considering running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey as “an intermediary step” that could lead to a run for the White House.

Mr. Dobbs told former Sen. Fred Thompson’s radio program Monday that he had been urged to run for president and would talk to some people about it.

His spokesman is playing down the idea. Robert Dilenschneider told the New York Times on Wednesday that a run for president is a “long way off.” The spokesman said there would have to be an “intermediary step,” such as the seat held by Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat.

Mr. Menendez is the Senate’s only Hispanic member and a strong advocate for immigrant rights. He’s up for re-election in 2012.

Mr. Dobbs, who owns a farm in rural northwestern New Jersey, has criticized illegal immigration.

ILLINOIS

Democrats worry about Senate seat

CHICAGO | The White House and Illinois Democrats said Tuesday that their bid to hold on to President Obama’s old Senate seat won’t be easy and their difficulties aren’t just because of the scandal that engulfed ousted Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.

Next year is the first major election for Democrats since Mr. Blagojevich was arrested last year on federal corruption charges and removed from office. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to sell or trade Mr. Obama’s Senate seat.

“No one ever said it was going to be easy. There’s a dark cloud over everyone’s head,” said Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois’ treasurer who’s running for Mr. Obama’s Senate seat.

The Obama administration has even expressed some uneasiness about Democrats’ ability to keep the seat away from Republicans in the wake of the Blagojevich scandal.

“Obviously, there is an added burden, but not an insurmountable one,” top Obama adviser David Axelrod told the Associated Press.

But Mr. Blagojevich isn’t the Democrats’ only hurdle, said Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle. Mr. Del Valle on Tuesday endorsed former city of Chicago inspector general David Hoffman, one of Mr. Giannoulias’ Feb. 2 primary opponents.

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