Anumber of bad choices

For Harry Reid to make about seating Roland Burris in the senate. [Link]

Lost amid the scads of cameras and scrambling reporters seeking to get a glimpse or a word from former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris over the last 24 hours is one simple fact: Burris -- and, by extension, embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- have backed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) into a corner.

By keeping the highest media profile possible, Burris has made clear that he is not planning to simply step aside as the appointed senator from Illinois because of Blagojevich's problem. And, thanks to the carefully orchestrated work of surrogates like Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Burris has ensured that the racial component will play a central role in any analysis of the standoff.

The refusal to seat Burris today -- based on the fact that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White had not formally certified the appointment -- is a temporary solution at best.

If Burris, as expected, continues to assert his constitutional right to the seat, Reid will be faced with a series of difficult choices -- none of which are particularly appealing to Senate Democrats.

What are those options? The Fix asked a handful of smart political operatives to brainstorm the obvious -- and not so obvious -- ways that Reid can handle the Burris brouhaha with as little political damage as possible.