The Illinois Leader slobbers over Steve Rauschenberger in a piece that suggests he’d be a good candidate for Governor.
That’s okay because he would be a good candidate and really the best antidote to a flip and ever campaigning Governor for the Republicans. Staying out of whether he could beat Blagojevich in general, he would seem best positioned to put up a credible challenge. The press loves him. He bridges moderates and conservatives in the Republican Party well–not alienating either group. He is a clear voice and a goo-goo. Normally goo-goos are assumed to be liberal, but Steve has certainly shown himself to believe in basic good government issues. He also has an encyclopedic knowledge of state government in general and the budget specifically.
Compared to potential rivals he’d be in the best position. Topinka is hated by social conservatives or at least enough to call into question whether she could unite the party for a general election. Fitzgerald has all sorts of problem with the public. Mostly centered on the public doesn’t know who he is and he is a sitting Senator. O’Malley is the favorite candidate of Blagojevich because the I’m Mad as Hell bit doesn’t actually work in the general election. O’Malley also alienates what is left of moderate Republicans. Though I do think the Combine wouldn’t mind him being the nominee so they could teach him a lesson by handing him one of the most lopsided defeats in Illinois history.
rauschenberger’s got my vote against mell, i mean hot rod
Steve Rauschenberger is also seen as honest.
While I don’t think I agree with the man on… well, ANYTHING, he has character and I think he can be trusted to do what he thinks is best for Illinois.
The only problem is I think he is DEAD WRONG about what is best for Illinois
Let’s be clear, I won’t vote for Steve, but I think he is a good guy. If he was more moderate on social issues, I’d consider voting Republican, as I did for Edgar once and some others for lower offices. Of course, then the Republicans wouldn’t like him…