The U.S. Senate refused to seat Roland Burris on Tuesday, since his credentials were not signed by the Illinois Secretary of State. Is Harry Reid passing the buck on this issue after saying weeks ago that he would not sit any senator appointed by scandal-ridden Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich? What happens now? Will a deal be struck or will Illinois be without a senator for as long as two months? And how has race impacted this standoff? We ask Shira Toeplitz of Roll Call newspaper.
