Blacks torn on whether to support Burris

Davis had been offered the seat first by Blagojevich but said he did not accept it because “the environment was too murky for me.” And both Sharpton and Davis said Obama’s pointed opposition to the appointment could make it difficult for other blacks to support Burris.

“One of the things that the civil rights community should do is respect the president-elect,” Sharpton said. “He’s made a public statement, and media will play it as if we’re against him.”