Talking to the Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet, Ab Mikva said that if there is ultimately a special election to fill Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate Seat, he's supporting Rep. Jan Schakowsky:

Abner Mikva, the gold standard for integrity in Illinois politics, told me Thursday night he is not interested in an appointment to replace President elect Barack Obama. And when there is an election to fill the Obama seat, Mikva said his candidate is Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)

Not a bad guy to have on your side.

Whether there will actually be a special election next spring remains an open question.  The Sun-Times, meanwhile, has written its second editorial in less than a week arguing that the voters should choose Barack Obama's replacement.

UPDATE: The Washington Post also editorialized in favor of a special election in Illinois today.  (H/T CF)