Burris holds 1st campaign fundraiser as senator

April 19, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Supporters of Sen. Roland Burris held his first official campaign fundraiser Sunday.

Paperwork filed last week shows Burris has less than $900 in campaign coffers, since former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him to office amid a scandal three months ago.

The fundraiser was held at the office of Chicago's N'Digo magazine.

Approximately 30 people attended that fundraiser, including a handful of Chicago aldermen.

The news media was not allowed inside the fundraiser, but space was provided fro them inside a parking garage for Burris' first Chicago press conference in two months.

Competing against the noise of cars and motorcycles entering and exiting, Roland Burris did not use the setting of the parking garage to announce his run for Senate in 2010. The junior senator from Illinois told reporters he had not made a decision yet.

As for the purpose of his first campaign fundraiser, Burris says it is to raise money to erase an $11,000 debt. The money will not go for the legal bill.

The people attending Sunday's fundraiser seemed to want Burris to run in 2010. The senator said he would make a decision in the near future.

"It's just a matter of my feeling comfortable that I've got my Senate legs under me, and I grasp the issues very well, what's happening in the United States Senate. That will make the determination," Burris said.

The senator told reporters he owes $111,000, primarily to consultants. Aides claim he raised at least $10,000.

In the meantime, a new Rasmussen poll has found Senator Burris' approval rating stands at 19 percent. Only 4 percent of likely voters claimed they would definitely support him if he runs for election, and 62 percent of respondents said they thought the senator should resign.

The senator was speechless in response to the news about the poll, but then he went on, like many politicians do, to say that polls don't matter.

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local, sarah schulte

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