Madigan and Jones are on board–it’d be a suicide run now.
More importantly, while these are to a point honorary positions, it probably means we’ll be seeing a true coordinated campaign from top to bottom on the Democratic side. The only serious race in terms of statewide will be for the Treasurer’s position and everything else will be focused upon reelecting Rod and picking up seats–while Republicans cannibalize each other.
I’ve put The Governor’s reelection chances at 50% previously, I’d put it at about 60%—and only that low if Edgar or Topinka are the Republican nominees. LaHood and Rauschenberger give him a slightly better chance, but they wouldn’t be as tough as the first two. Any of the other candidates are dead meat if they become the nominee.
His statewide approval rating is 38%, and there’s not a teacher outside of Chicago or a state university employee anywhere who’ll vote for him. The teachers’ unions will shit-can him, as he’s lied to them at every turn. Here’s a prediction: if Topinka is the nominee, she’ll beat him with 53% of the vote. Edgar will get 60%. Blowjob is the worst governor in our history, and I know a fair number of people who plan to move out of state if he’s re-elected, and those are the Democrats.