One can’t even do a GOP Republican Cattle Call for any office because there are too many possible combinations. Rich Miller’s column from two weeks ago addresses a bunch.
Lauzen seems ready to jump in as well. Birkett is the Democrats’ wet dream. Few politicians are simply as unlikeable as he is. His bigger challenge is that if he challenges Madigan for AG, last time everyone assumed she’d be a plant from her father, but has shown an admirable independent streak and impressed a lot of people–she’ll be hard to target for anyone. Depending on who moves around, the only potentially vulnerable Dem in position is Blagojevich with the Treasurer’s spot possibly an open seat. If Hynes doesn’t take another run, that’ll be two open slots and a race for Governor leaving a nearly impossible run against White and an uphill race against Madigan.
Illinois Republicans aren’t in a strong position for this cycle though the biggest spot is up for a serious challenge.
I don’t Lauzen will do anything becuase his term is up in ’06. He’d hate to be a ‘nobody’ when he lost.
Lisa Madigan is in the strongest position of the Democrats. Jesse White is a close second. I agree that Blago may make a race of it in an arena where there should not be a race–that in itself may draw enough Republicans to sink them in a divisive primary. I think there will NOT be a major Democrat in that primary. As bad as Blago is, he’s got all the cards in the Democratic race.
I’m still waiting for the mea culpa on the Nicarico case from Birkett. “What’s that around your neck Joe? Looks like an albatross.”
Spinning, please tell me what exactly Birkett had to do with the Nicarico case.