The dominoes are falling.
First, Lisa Madigan is running for re-election as Attorney General.
Next, Mark Kirk is running for the United States Senate.
Of course, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (whom I'm helping) is announcing for Governor today.
There will be more.
Please, please, please - we need a GOP alternative to Mark Kirk. Anyone, anyone?
I am really surprised Mark Kirk is running for US Senate. After voting for cap-and-tax, I was sure that he'd chosen to try for re-election in his left-leaning House district.
I am really surprised Mark Kirk is running for US Senate. After voting for cap-and-tax, I was sure that he'd chosen to try for re-election in his left-leaning House district.
I don't think you realize just how in the minority the right is here in Illinois if you're surprised by this. His vote for cap-and-trade, like cap-and-trade itself, isn't as big of a deal as you are making it out to be.
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This last post conclusively proves that Arvid is in fact Laurel Prussing. Sad. - Anonymous on 2009-06-22 @ 9:30am
Poor Joe Birkett. Announces for AG before Lisa Madigan does, assuming Madigan wants to move up, then Madigan says she's running for re-election.
Now Joe either gets absolutely smoked, announces for a different office, or just folds his tent and saves a lot of money.
Are you being paid for work on his announcement?
And what of Ms. Palin? Oh, you like to stick to Illinois politics.
Numerous people have been mentioned as considering runs for the Senate or for governor in 2010. Ms. Madigan’s decision would seem to help Patrick J. Quinn, the former lieutenant governor who replaced Mr. Blagojevich, if he seeks a full term as governor. It might also clear the way for others often mentioned for the Senate, including Alexi Giannoulias, the state treasurer, and Chris Kennedy, president of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and a son of Robert F. Kennedy.
I'm a Democrat who could vote for Dillard, if the right-wingers in the Republican Party don't push him too far to the right. I'm fed up with the mess in Springfield, and, while the Democrats aren't solely to blame, they've had control of state government during the worst of the mess. I realize Lieutenant Governors run separately from Governors, but I would like to see Dillard form a team with a Democrat and run as a bi-partisan, in-the-middle team. I respect Dillard for making the commercial for Obama although he didn't (couldn't if he wanted any political future) endorse him for the general election. I don't know who the Democrat is who has shown the same willingness to cross party lines, but such a ticket would have a lot of appeal for me.
Madigan's decison with father's advice, certainly helps Quinn. However, time will tell if the Madigans actually end up backing Quinn. He will need the campaign help as he lacks the Illinois Political abilities to get elected.
Perhaps Kirk Dullard should stop praising L Madigan and doing Obama commercials?
Ezra - how about Dillard - Hynes?
I'm a Democrat who could vote for Dillard, if the right-wingers in the Republican Party don't push him too far to the right.
The GOP tried the middle-of-the-road candidate, Topinka, against a terrible incumbent, Blago, and got killed. I am not convinced there are enough Dems in this state willing to cross over to offset the loss of disenchanted conservatives when the GOP runs a liberal-leaning candidate.
Poor Richard, I doubt whether Hynes, already a state-wide office holder with his own designs on moving up would view being Lieutenant Governor as a step up from where he already is. I think it would probably take someone less ambitious or more obscure and willing to wait a few years before going for the top spot.
Redstate, if you think Republicans have any chance of winning in Illinois with a right wing candidate, you're smoking something. Conservative Republicans need to do the same thing as Liberal Democrats and decide to support the "lesser of two evils" rather than a pure candidate who can't get elected. As toTopinka, she started out middle of the road, and I would have voted for her if she had stayed there. However, to get through the primary she had to veer right. To vote for her, I would have had to believe that she was lying about what she told the Republicans in the primary. (By the way, I did not vote for Blagovich; I voted for the Green candidate, but I don't like wasting my vote.)
Madigan's decision NOT to run for Senator removes an issue from the Democratic primary - that is a person challenging Burris among the black voters of the Democratic party with a possible backlash in the fall. Whether Giannoulias or Kennedy can be succesful against Burris remains to be seen - either way the GOP has a shot at a senate seat -
As to the issue of liberal vs conservative candidates - running Keyes back in 2004 - a true blue conservative - had little effect on the turnout - though Keyes did win a good number of downstate counties. However brining him back would be good for Burris
In my opinion, as long as the conservative wing of the party is unwilling to realize that winning the election counts greater then selecting candidates of the correct purity - the GOP in Illinois is doomed to remain the minority
My .02
Greg Novak
Keyes doesn't count - I saw him as 'a bit over the top', and I am about as conservative as they come. I know a lot of 'good Republicans' who thought he was just a kook.
Obama is about as liberal as Keyes is conservative, he just does a much better job at appearing middle-of-the-road.
Don't you think Mitch Daniels could win in Illinois?
(Alexi will be the Dem nominee for Senate)
"had little effect on the turnout - though Keyes did win a good number of downstate counties."
There is no "though." Keyes won 10/102 counties by the barest of margins. These are counties where otherwise Democrats never come close.
AP has a story out that tomorrow Burris is announcing that he will NOT run for re-election in 2010. The plot thickens - will Jesse Jackson Jr. now toss his hat into the ring??
Greg Novak
:"The GOP tried the middle-of-the-road candidate, Topinka============WOW now that is a laugh!
Ms Madigan may well have made a decision which she and her husband felt best for their family. She can well run for another office in 4, 8 or 12 years when their kids are older.
Michael Fuerst
(Click here for Urbana postage stamps, T-shirts and bumper stickers.)
When either Giannoulias or Hynes makes the announcement to run for senate, watch for Mike Frerichs to launch his campaign to run statewide as their replacement. I'm hearing a lot of talk already about Frerichs.
Hey Greg: How could you forget the press conference where J3 announced he was "Senate Candidate A" in the Blago indictment? J3 had a look of sheer terror on his face, and I wouldn't have been surprised to learn that he whizzled himself in fear during that time.
I don't see J3 throwing his hat in the ring for Senate; if he's smart, he'll continue to be a happy Representative from the Chicago area.
Mrs. J3, however, might be another story...but she would be vulnerable to attacks regarding her husband and father-in-law. (And don't ever forget about the lucrative Budweiser distributorship her brothers-in-law have in the River North Area of Chicago, the so-called "Viagra Triangle".)
Would be lots of fun to watch if it ever happens, but I don't think the Jackson family will be interested in anything like this until all Blago trials and appeals are done (probably a decade or two from now).