Would Burris Promise Matter?

January 07, 2009 10:10 AM

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl Reports: As George Stephanopoulos reported this morning, Roland Burris may wind up being seated in the Senate after all, with one main sticking point Senate Democratic leaders’ desire that he commit to not seeking a term in his own right in 2010. (Burris has lost multiple statewide races, and Democrats don’t want to lose a seat in one of the bluest of states.) 

But one should be careful about vows not to run ....

Case in point: The wonderful story of Hattie Caraway.

Caraway was appointed by the governor of Arkansas to her husband's Senate seat in 1931 after she promised not to run to retain the seat in 1932. "Silent Hattie" seemed like a safe placeholder; she did more knitting than speaking on the Senate floor. But Caraway took a liking to Senate life and her populist political views won her a powerful ally, Louisiana's Huey Long.

Just before the filing deadline in 1932, she stunned the Arkansas political world by announcing her intention to run. The pledge didn't stop her, and neither did the six other candidates who had already entered the race.

Huey Long, escorted by a convoy of Louisiana state troopers, campaigned throughout Arkansas with Caraway. She won, becoming the first woman elected to the US Senate.

If Roland Burris winds up being seated as the junior senator from Illinois, as seems increasingly likely, it will be in no small part because of the politics of race.