The larger problem the Illinois GOP is not facing is that Keyes hurts them downballot. While he might turnout some hardcore conservatives, he’s absolutely toxic to moderate Republicans. While voters who always turnout will show up at the polls, with the top of the ticket hobbled in Illinois with an unpopular President in the State of Illinois and now a loon in the Senate race, many occasional voters who lean Republican won’t show up. First they won’t be able to stomach the man and voting for Obama may not be in the cards for them. Second, people like to vote for a winner and it will be abundantly clear that he will be tanking by the day of the election, perhaps in a historic sized defeat.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, the Illinois Democratic chairman, said the Keyes campaign will be “a big benefit to Democrats because every time he opens his mouth, he says something that will drive people away from him and to the Democrats.”
Next question:
What’s bigger news, that every time Keyes opens his mouth he drives people to the Democrats or that Michael Madigan speaks to the press? ELEANOR?
LOL–I was thinking the same thing. Apparently he’s smitten with them after the budget crisis.
Is the Republican Day the first time Keyes has actually left the Chicago area to campaign? I know he’s done TV, newspaper and radio interviews outside of the Chicago media market, but has he actually gone south of Kankakee or west of Naperville yet?
Hey Don, good to see you.
And yes, I think it is the first time this campaign he has gone south of I-80.
I really wonder how his “eloquent” speech will play in Springfield or Peoria or Carbondale. This may be worth the trip to the State Fair (that, and the sweet corn).
Don’t forget that the hardcore conservatives will never vote for a black person.
We were at the State Fair in Springfield for Dem Day. Major event. Anyway, guess whose sign you couldn’t find at the Republican tent? Rhymes with fleas.
Regardez-vous:
http://chicagolandforkerry.com/photos/state_fair_2004_08_18/