A few things that caught my eye.

The Tribune has a story today that builds on my “extra” from yesterday about the line of people who want to replace state Sen. Barack Obama.

At least eight candidates have submitted their names. They include Will D. Burns, a senior adviser to Illinois Senate President Emil Jones and a protege of Obama; Kwame Raoul, a senior staff attorney with City Colleges of Chicago; and Stephen Stern, former president of the Cook County Bar Association.

Burns would appear to have the inside track because of his ties with Obama and Jones. Burns is a top aide to Jones and before that served in Obama’s district office in Chicago. [Snip]

Burns, 31, of Kenwood said Friday that he has Jones’ backing. Jones was not available for comment.

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Tom Roeser has quite a different take on the Illinois election than I do in my newspaper column.

In Illinois, we have what I call the Judy Baar Topinka style of pandering. Ignoring the GOP’s national stand on defense of marriage (she plays her accordion eagerly at gay-rights rallies), her assaults on the political right are destructive to the party base. When her term as state GOP chairwoman ends, it is imperative her successor break with the past and support Bush’s positive social values. [Snip]

The landslide loss of Alan Keyes to Barack Obama? Consider: After all the mishaps in the Senate race — the decapitation of Jack Ryan, his failure to promptly resign his commission, the long debate in the State Central Committee to pick a successor, culminating in the appointment of the indomitable Keyes with only a few scant weeks to campaign — the fact that Keyes got 27 percent of the vote and 1.3 million votes and carried 10 counties, all Downstate, is amazing. And this without the support of the state GOP, which left him off its most expensive mailing! His vow to stay in Illinois and build up the grass roots is welcome news for a party that has been starving for the enthusiasm and fresh ideas he imparts.

I agree with much of what I didn’t include here (the CrossBlog has more), but the rest of the column is, well, I don’t really have to explain, do I? Talk amongst yourselves.

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Rumors have circulated for a few days that Alan Keyes might be hinting about staying in Illinois because he was up for Don and Roma’s morning gig on WLS radio. The two have been involved in a long contract disupte. Eric Zorn even mentioned the possibility in his blog. Thankfully, the duo renewed their contract yesterday.
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There’s an odd political fight brewing in Lake County. And retiring US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald paid a visit to a suburban school last week. The Southern Illinoisan has a story on upcoming medical malpractice reform legislation. The CrossBlog has thankfully returned to its pleasant self (flies, vinegar, honey, and all that), and even provided a killer link to a Wilco cover of “Don’t Fear the Reaper” (which is playing full blast on my Macputer as I write). And, the Grateful Dead has an amazing new box set.