Can Jesse Jackson, Jr. Be Replaced by a Republican?

Jesse Jackson, Jr., who represents the 2nd district of Illinois in the United States House of Representatives, is alleged to have had an affair with a blonde Washington D.C. restaurant hostess. The married Democrat and son of Jesse Jackson, Sr. has also been accused of involvement in disgraced former Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich's scheme to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat for money. Fundraiser Raghuveer Nayuk is alleged to have teamed with Jackson to give Blago $6 million in campaign money for the seat. Recently, after Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced he would not run again, Jesse Jackson, Jr. indicated that he was interested in running for Chicago's mayor.

How could Jesse Jackson, Jr., a man with both a master's degree and a law degree, be so dumb?

The list of men who are caught in infidelity scandals is too long to mention. If you risk losing your marriage, that's one thing. But when you also risk damaging your political career, the smart person would think twice. Jesse Jackson, Jr. recently indicated that he wanted to run for Chicago's mayor now that Richard M. Daley will no longer run. He has spent the time denying that he had any involvement in the Blago scandal to sell the Senate seat, reiterating that although Rahm Emanuel is on government tapes, he is not. Now what? "Bring it on," Jackson proclaimed. It looks like we have.

Why should anyone believe Jackson? He cheated on his wife. "The reference to a social acquaintance is a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago," said Jackson. He said he lost 50 pounds with exercise, diet and some "shots in the butt" when it was really just weight loss surgery. If he is involved in the Blago scandal, he lied again.

Will Jesse Jackson, Jr. lose his seat in the House of Representatives to a Republican?

If we conclude that the plans to be mayor are over, the big question about Jesse Jackson, Jr. is will he lose his seat in the House of Representatives to a Republican? Jackson represents a district that includes the South Side of Chicago, one of the strongholds for Democrats. For a Republican to take the 2nd district would be nothing short of a miracle. However, miracles do happen.

Sources:

Carol Marin, Worst thing to happen to Jackson Jr.? Barack Obama, Sun Times

Andy Fies, Jesse Jackson Jr. Ensnared in Political, Personal Scandals, ABC

Natasha Korecki, Jackson on cash for Senate seat scam: Fundraisers were speaking Hindi., Sun Times