On Capitol Hill, Democratic leaders appear to have reversed their opposition to allowing Roland Burris to claim President-elect Obama’s vacated Senate seat. Burris was appointed by the scandal-plagued Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has been indicted on corruption charges. Democratic lawmakers met Burris Wednesday, one day after blocking his swearing-in on the Senate floor. Burris said he expects to take office.

Roland Burris: “So I’m very pleased this afternoon. I’m happy. My whole interest in this experience has been to be prepared, Roland, to represent my great state. And that is my love, that is my desire, and, very shortly, I will have the opportunity to do that as a junior senator from the fifth largest state in this great country of ours.”

Burris is the former Illinois Attorney General. If he is allowed to serve, he would be the only African American in the Senate.