Will begin with the Illinois GOP Gubernatorial Nomination Cattle Calls
In no particular order
Topinka
O’Malley (why isn’t the main stream press talking about a guy who has essentially announced?)
Rauschenberger
Schillerstrom (who probably goes for a lessor statewide post)
Dillard
Rutherford (probably SOS candidate)
Gidwitz
better throw Alan keyes onto the list. I can see him running if for no other reason than to spite JBT.
The decision of who runs will be made after Keyes embarasses the GOP by getting little over 20%. This will throw the conservatives into disarray — they will be divided into those that blame Topinka because she chose Keyes, and those that blame Topinka because did not promote Keyes.
I think this means several whack-job conservatives on the ballot (O’Malley, maybe Syverson or someone of that ilk), while the moderates get behind one candidate. Right now, I’d say it’s JBT, but she took a real hit for mishandling the Senate race.
It occurs to me that the logical choice to head up the GOP ticket in 2006 must be Zell Miller. He’s from out of state, he’s a hypocrite, and he’s as nutty as Keyes.