Who do you want to replace Obama in the Senate?

Say it actually happens - Obama beats McCain in November. In that case Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will have to choose a successor for Barack Obama's Senate seat.

Today, Robert Novak rumors that Nancy Pelosi would like Rahm Emanuel, House Democratic caucus chair, to replace Obama. Now, this may be true or not. With the self styled Prince of Darkness you never know.

No matter what Novak "reports" or Pelosi supposedly wants, here's the more important question:

Who would you like to see replace Obama in the Senate?

From what I understand, this is totally up to Illinois' governor. So he could name just a placeholder until the next election, or someone seen as a more permanent replacement. Here are some possible candidates:

Rod Blagojevich (Governor) - yup, he could actually name himself and I've heard this seemingly ridiculous suggestion several times on different blogs from people from Illinois. He's also a former Congressman. Extremely unlikely, but I'll include him anyway.

Lisa Madigan (Attorney General) - young, would be only the second female US Senator from Illinois, daughter of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, first elected in 2002, reelected in 2006 with 72% of the vote.

Daniel Hynes (State Comptroller) - young, elected statewide three times, lost to Obama in the US Senate primary in 2004

Alexi Giannoulias (State Treasurer) - extremely young (32), would be youngest member of the US Senate, first elected in 2006

Tammy Duckworth (Dir. of IL Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - young, Asian American, female, disabled Iraq War Veteran, lost 2006 congressional race against Republican Peter Roskam

Melissa Bean (Congresswoman - IL-8) - young, female, Blue Dog Democrat, member of the New Democrat Coalition, first elected in 2004

Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Congressman - IL-2) - young, African American, member of the Progressive Caucus first elected in 1995

Luis Gutiérrez (Congressman - IL-4) - Hispanic, member of the Progressive Caucus, first elected in 1992

Rahm Emanuel (Congressman - IL-5) - fmr. DCCC chair in 2006, House Democratic Caucus Chair, member of the New Democrat Coalition, first elected in 2002

Jan Schakowsky (Congresswoman - IL-9) - female, Chief Deputy Whip, founding member of the Out-of-Iraq caucus, member of the Progressive Caucus, first elected in 1998

Emil Jones (IL Senate President) - old, African American, member of the State Legislature since 1973

Barbara Flynn Currie (IL House Maj. Leader) - old, female, member of the IL House since 1979

Michael Madigan (IL House Speaker) - father of AG Lisa Madigan, member of the IL House since 1971

Richard Daley (Mayor of Chicago) - first elected in 1989

Carol Moseley Braun (fmr. Senator) - female, African American, held this seat before Obama did, fmr. presidential candidate

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Who's your choice? What do you prefer - a placeholder or a more permanent replacement? Looking forward to your comments.