Ummm..how this became serious, I’m not sure, but we know who to thank….
In addition to Rauschenberger, the second-place finisher in the Republican primary, millionaire dairy owner James Oberweis, submitted his name as a potential candidate. Andrea Grubb Barthwell, deputy drug czar in the Bush administration, and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka have also been mentioned as a possible Ryan replacement.
U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., smiled when asked his reaction to Rauschenberger’s announcement Thursday and said: “Ditka, Ditka.” Hastert wouldn’t comment on the possibility of a Ditka candidacy. A message left for Ditka at his restaurant wasn’t immediately returned.
Dillard said Thursday that the Republican State Central Committee members hadn’t discussed the possibility of a Ditka campaign, but he said it wouldn’t be far-fetched.
“Coach Ditka is an icon in Illinois and would send a very good message to working class and regular people throughout Illinois that if they are his fans and fans of his values, the Republican Party is where they belong,” Dillard said. “Coach Ditka would be able to attract the Reagan Democrats.”
I refuse to ridicule this as ridiculous because at this point nothing is unimaginable.
From what I’m hearing there is scuttlebutt out there and there are calls being made about Ditka between here and DC.
The danger of such a deal is twofold. The first is that Ditka spontaneously combusts with the press. The second is that he runs a Jesse Ventura like campaign actually incorporating new voters. The problem is that the reason Ventura won was because no one thought he would–Obama’s campaign wouldn’t make that mistake.
Draft Ditka is updating the developments if I miss any…
we’ve got over 8,000 signatures in the past 24 hrs. It’s crazy.
We’re set to do Sportscenter tonight, and we’ve received emails from Scarborough, and Hannity!!!
Ditka for Senate isn’t any less plausible than Schwarzenegger for Governor, though I’d like to think we’re more rational than Californians.
Ventura and Schwartzenegger aren’t good models for this race. Ventura won in large part on the strength of last minute voters who registered on Election Day. Illinois voters have to be registered 30 days before the election. So, in addition to everything else that a Senate campaign has to do, add the task of creating a voter-registration drive. And, Ventura still didn’t get over 50% of the vote.
In California, Schwartzenegger was running against hugely unpopular Gray Davis. I know, I know: Californians voted for the recal first, and the vote for Schwartzenegger was separate. Fact is, though, that in most voters mind the big question was whether to keep or dump Davis. That dynamic just won’t play against Obama.