UNLESS the Senate seat was too tempting. It is a cushy job that takes NO effort. You can be on life support or barely functioning and still do the job. Perks, prestige, millions as a lobbyist later...
And you only have to run once every 6 years as apposed to running every two years as a congressmen. Of course if he got named the senator he would have to run in two years but after that it would probably be senator for life time for him in Illinois.