CHICAGO - Community leaders and politicians say they're starting a petition drive to ask Gov. Rod Blagojevich to name a black person to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. | SLIDESHOW: Possible Senate replacements

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush said Tuesday that with the president-elect's resignation there is no black U.S. senator. He says it'll be a "national disgrace" of a black Illinois politician doesn't replace him.

The decision rests entirely in Blagojevich's hands. The Chicago Democrat can choose anyone who meets the requirements: An Illinois resident at least 30 years old who has been a U.S. citizen for nine years.

Blagojevich has said little about his criteria for choosing a replacement, but says he plans to choose by the end of the year.