1. Obama. Everything is breaking his way.
2. Hull. I’m guessing here, but I’m going to put his GOTV operation as a lot better than we expect.
3. Hynes. Good showing, but wrong election. Machine will turn out votes, but a very good candidate never provided a compelling reason for people to vote for him.
4. Pappas. Shut out of the race by money and everytime she got into the free media, something came up to take attention away.
5. Chico. Odd candidate out.
6. Skinner. Really, the new radio network is a perfect gig for you.
7. Washington. The great thing about victory parties, when you get destroyed you can drink all night.
It’s really too bad about Chico. Maybe some other time.
Charles Schumer was on the Daily Show last night, and he mentioned that he thought Dick Durbin would be a great VP candidate. Aside from the fact that I think he’s insane (Illinois is a lock for the Dems, basically, and I’d expect Tom Harkin or Dick Gephardt as VP choices before Dick Durbin), Illinois needs Dick Durbin. I’d be pissed if he went off to D.C. as V.P.
All that said, I think Chico has a future in this state. Having Paul Vallas behind you is a huge plus, and while Chicago schools still aren’t up to snuff, they have come a LONG way, baby.