BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said he's got a short list of people he'd like to see replace Barack Obama in the Senate, and he acknowledged Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth is among the mix. | Slideshow: Who will replace Obama in Senate?

"I have several names and certainly Tammy would be on that list," said Durbin, visiting an Illinois Wesleyan University class Wednesday.

He said he's asked Gov. Rod Blagojevich for a meeting to talk about possibilities, but he stressed the decision of the appointment lies solely with the governor.

Durbin introduced injured Iraq War veteran Duckworth to politics and supported her in an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2006.

While addressing Tari Renner's American Elections students, Durbin took questions on a range of topics, including how Democrats should deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman.

The independent former Democrat from Connecticut still caucuses with his old party, chairs the Homeland Security committee and holds other committee leadership posts. Despite his continuing Democratic ties, he actively supported Republican John McCain's presidential campaign.

Durbin had been among critics who call for some public recourse against Lieberman, but he said he's since changed his mind. Lieberman's Senate leadership roles remain in question, however, he said.

"I am very disappointed in Joe. … But, I think Barack Obama is right. We had a great victory (in the Nov. 4 elections) and should move forward together," said Durbin.

"I want to help Barack Obama be a success," he added.

Next week the Democratic caucus will meet to vote on Lieberman's status.

Durbin said Lieberman telephoned him Tuesday morning, thanking him for changing his position.

The No. 2 leader in the U.S. Senate also talked with students about how the evolving role of technology was highlighted in the 2008 campaigns.

"They've changed dramatically," he said, pointing to a shift away from television and radio ads and mass mailings to a new frontier of online social networking and e-mail solicitations for donations.

"In this election one candidate got it," he said. "It was Obama who went into this medium, and used it in the most efficient way."