Jackson no longer contender, observers say

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has gone from leading candidate to long shot to succeed President-elect Barack Obama as Illinois' junior senator, observers said.

Jackson has been named as the previously anonymous "Senate Candidate 5" in a criminal complaint filed against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich that alleged, among other things, the governor tried to sell Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday after federal prosecutors released the criminal complaint.

During a news conference Wednesday, Jackson denied involvement in any quid pro quo regarding the Senate seat although on the wiretap Blagojevich talks about an emissary of "Senate Candidate 5" discussing raising more than $1 million for the governor's campaign fund.

"Like anybody who's ever been named in an indictment, there's an implication in that that's going to be awfully hard to overcome," Terry Walsh, a Democratic consultant, told The Hill.

Fred Lebed, a Democratic strategist with a history in Chicago and Cook County politics, said Jackson's refusal to answer questions implies trouble, the Washington political publication said.

"There's too many unanswered questions," he said. "There was something missing, and it was Q-and-A."

Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at University of Illinois-Chicago, said Jackson's best chance to be named Obama's successor would be if state officials scheduled a special election, the professor said.