IT’S BACK!
1. Steve Rauschenberger. Smart and has ties to both sides of the Illinois Circular Firing Squad Team’s civil war. Probably the only candidate without significant detractors on eitehr side. Willing to take the nomination, but a mediocre fundraiser. Will run hard and work hard for friends in the Lege. Best thing–they would produce some of the most enlightening public policy debates seen in a long time.
2. Ron Gidwitz. Considered to be from the moderate wing–look down and see some of the quick oppo on this guy. Won’t be popular with the social conservatives, but lots of ties to Chamber of Commerce types and can self-fund. Friend of Topinka–bad for social conservatives. Danger is that he’ll run to increase name recognition this time for a 2006 run at Governor. If he does so, bottom of the ticket will suffer.
3. Oberweis, Uberweis. Set to the tune of edelweis. Party leaders understand he’d be a disaster in the general election. Upside. Free ice cream. Downside, demagoguing twit. Upside. Great commercials–not to win, but for entertainment value. Downside: Democrats think he’s the best choice. Upside: has a legitimate claim as the runner up in the primary. Downside: Hurts minority outreach of GOP. Upside: Did I mention free ice cream? Downside: Still lots of resentment from social conservatives over his calling Pro-lifers the Taliban.
4. Andrew McKenna. Says he doesn’t want it. Also has ties to Ray LaHood who is out of favor with social conservatives. Lots of ties to business community. Too boring to have ever had kinky sex so that’s a plus.
5. Jim Durkin. The good soldier sacrificial lamb to take on Dick Durbin in 2002. Lost heartily, but has some grass roots ties and by all accounts is a nice guy. It’s unclear that he wouldn’t be a downballot disaster given the last race. Smart and generally well-liked. He’s a realist so he may avoid the race.
6. Rod McCulloch. No good deed goes unpunished.
7. John Cox. LOL–Like rejuvinating the Cook County GOP isn’t punishment enough.
8. The Thompsons/Bob Thomas/Jim Edgar/Topinka–all have said no. None of them are dumb enough for this fool’s errand.
9. Patrick Fitzgerald. He isn’t stupid and he’s said no.
10. Peter Fitzgerald. Over the Speaker’s dead body given their latest fight. Bad candidate the first time around, doesn’t have the fire in the belly to fight this race which will take every day campaigning.
11. Chinjeev Kathuria. Sources say he has an impressive resume.
Patrick Fitzgerald is the only one I’d worry about (mainly because he’s the only one I’d ever consider voting for–not against Obama, but in some hypothetical future race)
I interviewed all the GOP Senate candidates in the primary except Oberweis. For different reasons Ryan, Rauschenberger and Andy Martin made good impressions.
Rauschenberger is good at talking about issues. Can he run and keep his state senate seat?
Would it be kinda odd for Patrick Fitzgerald to quit the Plame investigation?
Should we respost the Rauschenberger interview?
Republicans don’t need a replacement. They’d just “clutter” the ballot and “confuse” voters, as the Rs and Ds say when asked to pass EQUAL ballot access laws instead of discriminating against non-power parties. Most Republicans would find they agree with Jerry Kohn more anyways.
They better find someone before the picnic season is over. Who’s going to ride in the parades? An empty car with a picture of Ronnie?
Every day that passes makes them look weaker and weaker — a good thing, in my opinion, however…
In fact, not sure I even want to play this game in case I actually give them advice that’s useful!
Patrick Fitzgerald is the biggest jerk the world has yet seen – his hallmark in any political office he holds would be oppression and censorship. We need to get him out of the state as soon as possible. Mark my words – this guy is bad news.