Lynn Sweet reports that Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris will be meeting in D.C. today.  Here's her take on what's expected to happen:

Burris will also be sending, directly or indirectly (maybe this is it) two messages: he will not resign in the wake of the controversy surrounding his appointment by the ousted Gov. Blagojevich and he will not run for the seat in 2010. Burris has finally realized that not seeking election next year is the least price he will pay.

If Burris wants to keep his seat through 2010, this may be the way to do it.

You may remember that there were reports in the weeks between Blagojevich's appointment and Burris' eventual swearing-in that indicated Durbin and Harry Reid were trying to get an assurance that he wouldn't run in 2010.  The Senate leaders were worried -- and rightly so -- about the stigma associated with him being "Blagojevich's candidate."  But at the time, Burris was enjoying his newfound national celebrity and appeared unwilling to rule out a 2010 reelection bid. 

In the wake of his evolving affidavits, he's not riding so high any more. 

He's just endured a media feeding frenzy, received a chorus of calls for his resignation, and saw his interim chief of staff jump ship.  It seems a sure thing that the next set of polling numbers are sure to show him with even higher unfavorables.  Meanwhile, the special election idea doesn't seem to be going anywhere, particularly when the primary campaign is likely to begin in the next few months anyway.

But if Burris is going to bow out of the 2010 race, it's not clear how simply signaling his intention to Durbin and Burris will suffice. If it's just a signal and not a public declaration that he intends to leave office in January 2011, what are potential candidates like Alexi Giannoulias and Jan Schakowsky to do?  They -- and the public -- will need to know whether this is a challenge or an open seat.