errr…Matt Yglesias argues this, but it is a gross misreading of the Illinois political scene and the national party in the state. The myth has grown that Hull was the frontrunner and had the organizational support because he had the ability to self-fund. Certainly some looked at that as a positive, but I think I’m a reasonably good analyst for Illinois politics and I had Hull in the third position up until the last few weeks. The reason was he had some organizational support including Mell and behind the scenes, the Governor. But the candidate most friendly to national party leaders was Dan Hynes who has a father who is a national committeeman and was tied into the party hierarchy.
Even then though, Barack was always considered a strong contender. I dare say no one thought he’d win the race with over 50%, but no one argued that the organizational preference of the party was for Hull.
The organization isn’t a single thing in Illinois for one thing. Hynes was tied to the old ethnics. Barack had the ascendant black leadership headed, but not ruled by the Jacksons and Hull had the Governor’s folks. Adding to it both Pappas and Chico had elements of the leadership supporting them.
Hull himself followed a Corzine like strategy, but he did it solely on his personal fortune, not at the behest of the DSCC which largely stayed out of the deal.
In short, national blogger doesn’t get Illinois politics.
Via Os-Blog which covers similar points.
Ah Pundit, you are indeed more knowledgeable than that outta-towner blogger, but I think you’re just reciting local conventional wisdom. Here’s the real scenario: Emil Jones has virtually adopted Obama as his son, and made it his mission to get the man elected and on the national scene. Emil’s tears of joy during the keynote address bespoke that love. Now, Emil and the Governor have been thick as thieves in denying the Speaker his way lately. The Speaker, of course, was a Dan Hynes guy through and through. Hull obviously helped the Governor get elected with huge loads of cash. Hull was led to believe that the Governor was reciprocating by having Mell’s organization help. But anyone on the ground will tell you that his organization did not even try to come through for Hull come election day. It appears the fix was in to have Hynes waste all of his energy attacking Hull, while secretly pushing for the Obama victory. Sealing the deal, Emil Jones and a fair number of black legislators have now firmly allied with Blago against Madigan(s), thereby subverting a gubernatorial challenge by Lisa next primary. I love Hull, and I love Obama. Hull really took one for the team, but never knew it. And all the while Hynes and Madigan never saw it coming. Let’s start being nice to Blair, folks….
In general I agree with the ArchPundit take (and reacted similarly to the Matt Yglesias piece when I read it before reading this). Mike’s comments above are interesting and have merit, but I do think that Mell’s organization not coming out for Hull could well have been, in part, from the late revelation of Hull’s divorce papers alleging that he beat his wife and threatened her life among other things. Hull was nose diving at the end, with or without organizational help. Hynes certainly thought (and said) that he had all the organization that mattered, plus a statewide name — and he wasn’t alone in judging himself to be a, if not the, favorite early on, although he definitely did seem fading towards the end. But like I said, I think Mike’s take has a lot of merit.
Didn’t Hull win Dick Mell’s ward? I think it’s the only place where he did win. As for Mell’s organization not coming out for Hull: I disctinctly remember the 33rd Ward being polluted by Hull signs before the election. Mell places great emphasis on yard signs, and so it’s a good indication that his organization was working hard for Hull.
V
I think Barak’s primary campaign reminds me a lot of Jeff Smith’s race for Dick Gephardt’s seat down here in St. Louis.
Lipinski endorsed Hull, though Mayor Daley was tacit on Obama(which is ironic because Obama’s pro-Peoytone, its not ironic that Obama’s pro-Peotoyne but is ironic that the mayor would “endorse”(tacitly) Obama) Obviously though rush ran against daley and rush and obama are nemisises……….jones endorsed obama…………jones ran against either davis, rush, or jackson………wouldn’t run against jackson and endorse obama……i think it was davis…………..donne e trotter ran in 2000 against rush and obama so its no surprise that the bishop trotter is castigating obama on gay marriage(cortez trotter chicago fire commissioner is donne e trotter’s cousin)