Top Democrat wants Sheriff Tom Dart to consider Senate bid

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Is Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart going to give us another reason for having made Time magazine's 100 most influential list in 2009?

• • The report: Several Sneed sources claim that Dart, who has had a boatload of national publicity this year, was approached several weeks ago by a top top Dem to seriously consider running for the U.S. Senate seat once occupied by President Obama.

(The "top Dem," who has heavy influence in Cook County and the Obama administration, verified the report, but asked to remain unidentified.)

• • The response: "The sheriff is seriously considering it and will announce his decision by the end of the month," said a top Dart source.

• • The reason: Dem sources, who are furious that Chris Kennedy "went underground" and pulled out of the Senate race late in the game, tell Sneed they feel the present list of Dem Senate candidates, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and the Urban League's Cheryle Jackson, is fairly weak.

• • The rationale: Dart, who served in the state Legislature for 10 years, made headlines by suspending foreclosure evictions; was the driving force behind the Burr Oak cemetery investigation, and filed suit against Craigslist's erotic services section, calling it a source of prostitution.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1727807,CST-NWS-SNEED21.article