Edgar Is Expressing Interest
ArchPundit
Jim Edgar is expressing interest in Peter Fitzgerald’s Senate Seat.
?Jim Edgar is the party?s 500-pound gorilla,? with the capacity to preempt the field and avoid a bruising primary, said one source who has spoken with him. Though Mr. Edgar previously toyed with, and ultimately dismissed, becoming GOP party chairman or even governor again, this time, ?it?s serious,? said the source, who asked not to be named
With Democrats sweeping to victory in the 2002 Illinois elections, ?a ticket of Jim Edgar and George W. Bush in 2004 would be a dream ticket in terms of rebuilding the party,? Ms. Topinka said.
?If the president calls, he runs,? predicts another Edgar confidant. ?Remember that he and Bush served together as governors. They?re close.?
Big News! I like many others assumed he was enjoying what was essentially well paid retirement. If he gets in, he is the frontrunner for the general election. He is the most popular statewide politician in Illinois with only Paul Simon and Jim Thompson have similar appeal. He is a fiscally conservative, pro-choice Republican.
The last sentence suggests he could be challenged for the nomination, but I find it hard to believe that any of the usual suspects amongst social conservatives could credibly challenge him. While O’Malley may try, my guess is he will sit out to avoid being a two-time loser (and his State Senate seat is up in 2004 IIRC).
For the Democrats it becomes more vital to nominate the strongest general election candidate and against Edgar, that will be Dan Hynes. Hynes is fiscal conservative and socially moderate allowing little room for space while providing a clear choice in whether Bush’s agenda gets passed–an agenda not particularly popular in Illinois.