Burris aide attacks Democratic leaders

WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- An aide to U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., claims Democratic leaders are using the indictment of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to impugn Burris's character.

Delmarie Cobb says certain Democrats are trying "their best to discredit one of the few 'clean' politicians Illinois has ever known," Politico reported Friday.

Cobb, who serves as Burris's media and political consultant, issued a statement accusing Democratic leaders of retaliating against Burris because Blagojevich outfoxed them in appointing Burris to fill U.S. President Barack Obama's Senate seat.

"They saw one of his final official acts as an attempt to outwit them," says Cobb.

While Cobb's statement did not name anyone, Politico said it appeared to be directed at Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Cobb said the statement reflected her own views and added she intended to direct her criticism at state Democratic leaders, Politico said.