Congressmen Rush and Davis will address constituents for Jesse Jackson Jr. today

On the day that’s the deadline for U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to pull out of the race for reelection, two congressmen will instead speak on his behalf.

Congressmen Bobby Rush and Danny Davis are planning to address reporters at O’Hare Airport this evening to talk about their meeting with Jackson this morning in his Washington D.C. home.

“I know they’re trying to reach out, through (the media), to his constituents,” said spokeswoman Renee Ferguson. “This is Pastor Bobby Rush now. I’m sure there was prayer involved. Because this is a friend.”

Ferguson said Rush and Davis were not concerned about standing up for Jackson at a time that he’s being dogged by federal investigators for alleged improprieties related to his campaign fund.

“I think you stand by your colleague and your friend during difficult times,” she said.

Ferguson said Rush and Davis will also address mental health issues at the media availability.

Voters have not heard from Jackson since he took a leave from office in mid-June. That is, with the exception of a robocall to constituents over the weekend.

Last week, reports emerged that the congressman was seen at a Washington D.C. bar drinking with other women. The Daily caught up with him on his front porch in his DuPont Circle row house where Jackson, smoking a cigar, said “I’m not well.”

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed first reported last week that Jackson was headed back to Mayo Clinic this week for further treatment for bipolar disorder.