July 10, 2009 Ill. Sen. Burris not running, cites fundraising

CHICAGO (AP) - Embattled Illinois Sen. Roland Burris says he won't run for a full term next year because of the burden of raising money to pay for a campaign.

Burris is scheduled to make his official announcement Friday afternoon at a Chicago hotel. An advance copy of excerpts of his speech was obtained by The Associated Press.

In the speech excerpts, Burris says he had to choose between raising money or doing the people's business.

Burris is the country's only black senator. He was appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill the seat vacated by President Barack Obama. The Democrat's tenure has been dogged by scandal, including his changing statements about whether he offered to raise money for Blagojevich.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)