66 Comments - SouthernILRepub - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 2:56 pm: Insanity, what is he thinking????? He is trying to take a high moral ground on this issue. I think Proft has somehow brainwashed a once-sane State Senator. Again this makes things difficult for Poe who looked real good for LT Gov. Is there any truth to Poe dropping out? - nickname1 - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:00 pm: heheh… this is appropriate. After all, it’s been over a year since the GOP frantically searched for a candidate to fill a statewide slot in the height of campaign season. Maybe Ditka will do it. - right of right - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:01 pm: First of all, I have signed up to receive email from each of the republican candidates (except JBT — this function is not available on her site). No mail from any of them on this new realignment. I find this interesting. Now, below is straight from a statement posted on Rauschy’s web site regarding Rich’s point: To underscore this point, my candidacy for Lt. Governor begins and ends with this team effort. If I were to win the Lt. Governor’s primary and Ron did not win the Governor’s primary, I would offer my resignation as a candidate for this office. I will not lend my credibility to elements of our party that are not committed to reform. Like all good teams, this one has its eye on victory and will not settle for anything less - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:04 pm: why would you vote for someone that is going to resign? - Right Wing Republican - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:04 pm: Yeah, he’ll step aside if he’s nominated and Gidwitz doesn’t win - Hah! that’s rich. There’s about enough of a chance of that happening as there is that Blago isn’t going to be indicted (that means slim and none for those not quick on the uptake). - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:08 pm: He’s jump any boat that floats. - No Rauschy! - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:12 pm: Sounds like a Flip-Flop to me! - ron - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:14 pm: Rich takes some liberty with the Rauschenberger quote. Vow to resign versus offer to resign would appear to be a big difference. Come on rich you have a good blog, but when you interject you on views please indicate you are giving you opinion. If Rauschenberger wins the Lt. Gov. race and JBT wins the Gov. primary, it would be difficult for JBT to accept the resignation. Smart move by Rauschenberger. - jeff m - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:15 pm: So…He is running for Lt. Governor, but if he wins he will offer his resignation unless Gidwitz who is polling at 6% wins. So, most likely, unless Gidwitz picks up some huge gain in the polls, Steve will offer his resignation if he wins, which would then leave the GOP in another mess of trying to find the right person to appoint after the primary election at a time when the Gov/Lt. Gov candidates should be campaigning united against Blago in the General. - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:15 pm: I don’t blame the fish for needing to swim. - anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:17 pm: Prediction…Judy wins the primary for Gov. Steve wins the primary for Lt. Gov. Steve resigns. Oberweis puts his name in for Lt. Gov hoping the GOP will appoint him. He will suddenly support Judy again as he has before this election. The party will reject him again and Judy will select Poe as the Lt. Governor candidate. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:19 pm: Ron, the Tribune wrote that he “vowed to resign.” That wasn’t me. Now, back to the topic at hand, please. - jeff m - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:28 pm: This is from Crane’s they too report that Steve is out if Gidwitz loses. “Although the duo called themselves running mates, primary voters cast separate ballots for governor and lieutenant governor. Rauschenberger promised to step aside if he wins the lieutenant governor’s race but Gidwitz loses the battle for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.” - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:32 pm: What I want to know is: Does Gidwitz resign the nomination if Rauschenberger doesn’t win?? - Wilhelm - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:33 pm: The idea that he would leave if any else won besides Gidwitz (an overwhelming likelihood) makes him appear to be a principled kamikaze. I’ve not kown Steve to be this. Rich, at this point I would agree with the earlier poster. The Tribune reporter may be summarizing. His statement merely commits to “offering” his resignation. If the winner of the primary does not accept, he may be free to remain on the ticket. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:38 pm: Someone at the Follower started calling him Rauschjellander. I thought this was pretty funny. - The Colonel - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:39 pm: Rauschenberger has totally lost his mind. What a sad state of affairs for the IL-GOP. If the choice is between the corrupt IL-GOP old guard and the nincompoops Gidwitz/Rauschenberger I’ll take a pass on the whole thing. - Beowulf - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:40 pm: Thank goodness for the clarifying of a questionable comment that Steve Rauschenberger allegedly made to John Kass. I could not, for the life of me, understand why he would resign if Gidwitz were not to get elected. I can understand why he would step down if Judy Barr Topinka were elected since they are so diametrically opposed on many of the issues and idealogies. But, in the event that Oberweis or Brady were to be elected, I think Steve and they could work together quite nicely. Sure,it may not be the perfect fit that any of them would like but, it would float. Steve is too valuable a guy to allow to ride off into the sunset. Each of these men have qualities that can be used to the betterment of our state government. We need to occassionally remind them to put everything into perspective when they are involved in the heat of a campaign. They are certainly not enemies of each other and actually like each other. These will be “the times that test men’s souls”. - fearless freep - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:41 pm: What I want to know is this: Does Rauschy have to scrap all of his governor petitions and start all over again with Lt. Gov petitions? (Legally I would think he’s have to) Now how on earth can someone get 5-10,000 names in such a limited amount of time? This alone should have prohibited any sane person from switching. - Disaster Relief - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 3:56 pm: And all this time I though hurrican season went from June 1 - November 30. . . apparently not in Illinois! - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:00 pm: The hurricane season is yearround for the republican party in IL. - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:02 pm: Colonel, a strange LOL about your comment… - Bobby Hicks - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:05 pm: A Morgan County source has leaked that Ray LaHood’s Administrative Assistant in Jacksonville, Barb Baker has been approached by the Morgan County GOP to run for Watson’s seat, that is, if he decides to step in the ring with the big boys. Hmmmm, interesting. - SM6 - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:07 pm: Hicks, “ring” as in circus? - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:08 pm: Jim Watson would make an excellent statewide candidate. He is an intellegent man with integrity and class. - right of right - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:14 pm: I have to say that this is starting to make me sick. I don’t see any principle or honor in any of our republican candidates. They are making me ashamed to be a republican in Illinois. - fearless freep - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:15 pm: But what about the petitions? How can anybody get 5-10,000 names on such short notice? Does Rauschenberger have to start all over again? Nobody wants to go door to door when its 5 below. - SouthernILRepub - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:18 pm: Rich, you normally have the pulse of what is going on in IL politics. What is going on with Watson and Poe right now? Do you care so speculate as to either of their intentions…. - SM6 - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:21 pm: Right, I know, I’ve been drinking Mylanta all week, but it’s been like fighting the effects of a cheap taco stand in Tucson. Freep, Steve is distributing his petition on his website. - Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:31 pm: Come on people!!! Everyone is blowing this thing up way too much!!!… two candidates joined forces.. who cares!? JBT is still the overwhelming leader, Oberweis is still #2. The only thing this does is boost Gidwitz over Brady… big achievement. Things could change… but count on JBT to win the nomination… Hey, if Rauschenberger wins LT, they would make a great couple……….. - fearless freep - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:33 pm: Both Rauschy and Watson would have a hard time doing petitions at this last minute. Can’t do them easily at the Chicago malls because nobody has heard of Watson. What do you think? Regardless of who you support, ALL of us have done petitions before…I have been kicked out of bingo halls many a time…and we ALL know what grueling work it is, especially if you do it right. I cannot overstate what an arduous task it is at the 11th hour. Even if you have downloadable petitions on the websites, you still have to have people download them and then go out and find live voters to sign them. - jeff m - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:36 pm: I would agree with Freep. I will assume someone will take a long hard look at SR’s petitions after they filing period. - bomber91 - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:39 pm: I voted for Rauschy in the Senate primary, but won’t even consider his bid for LG. He’s a crybaby, plain and simple. Boo hoo, my guy didn’t win the nomination so I’ll take my toys and go home now! Did people in his district know he was a petulant crybaby? I can understand the need to pick a running mate, but doesn’t this call into question the whole process of electing a Governor and LG nominee separately? If candidates want to run as a team, change the law to make them run as team. Better yet (back to the con-con thread), amend the Constitution, get rid of the Lt. Governor’s office and save us this drama every 4 years. - Republican Strategist for Rauschy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:44 pm: Cyclical explosions in population do occasionally induce lemmings to attempt to migrate to areas of lesser population density. When such a migration occurs, some lemmings die by falling over cliffs or drowning in lakes or rivers. These deaths are not deliberate “suicide” attempts, however, but accidental deaths resulting from the lemmings’ venturing into unfamiliar territories and being crowded and pushed over dangerous ledges. In fact, when the competition for food, space, or mates becomes too intense, lemmings are much more likely to kill each other than to kill themselves. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 4:58 pm: This is silly. “Donate to my campaign and I might quit even if I win!” He should’ve stayed in the state senate. Now he’s going to have to fight to get back in the next time his district’s seat is up for grabs. We certainly have an interesting circus for a party! - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:03 pm: If anyone wanted to know why Rauschenberger campaigns always fizzle, just look at the political astuteness demonstrated by this latest silly, self-defeating position. The people need a LEADER, Steve! When they want a moralist or a martyr, they go to church for that. - centralillinois - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:07 pm: Brady has made a statement that would be happy to have Rauschenberher as his Lt. Governor if he wins the election. He would not ask for any resignation. This statement made by SJR looks like it applies only to Topinka. - anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:10 pm: centralillinois…where did you see that Brady quote? Has Oberweis made a similar statement, because I thought Jack Roeser has made it clear that Oberweis has to support some woman from Kane County as his Lt. Governor in order to keep getting money from Jack. - Bobby Hicks - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:14 pm: 5:03pm Actually, a big percentage of the GOP primary voters do want a moralist in office. Not a bad strategy, for the primary. - Bobby Hicks - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:25 pm: 4:08pm I wouldn’t trash Jim Watson, he’s not a bad dude. Heck, he was a Routt Rocket. However, Mr. Watson has served in the General Assembly for over four years, I’m sure that he has pulled a trick or two in that time. I’d be willing to bet that he has placed calls in order to land a close friend or family member a cushy spot in state government. Cronyism, nepotism, whatever you want to call it. That would just be a guess. - Doug the Greek - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:56 pm: On the petition issue, I think a lot of you folks are assuming that SR wasn’t circulating for Lt. Gov. before this . . . - Cook County GOP - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:57 pm: And just why do people hire Dan Proft? - Bill - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 5:58 pm: This is all so amazingly funny, Im at a loss for words so Ill just sing: Well…its 1 for the money, 2 for the show, 3 to get ready now go cat go but don’t you step on my blue suede shoes….well…you can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes… blue,blue,blue suede shoes baby Bring it on, if possible! - Bill Sr. - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 6:39 pm: Bill, are you that guy that calls into Wmay? Loss for words but sing the lyrics? hmm. - Bobby GOP - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 6:39 pm: What’s the holdup on JBT announcing a running mate. I would have thought she would announce today to steal part of the news cycle from the Raushy/Gidwitz deal. Everything I was reading over the weekend said an announcement was expected early this week at the latest. - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 6:45 pm: That’s a hot ticket there- http://www.ron2006.com/ - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 6:48 pm: Yeah, 2 superpowers coming together!! - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 7:00 pm: I hear Judy is thinking of asking Birkett to be her LG. If so, Gidwitz gets the Tribune endorsement. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 7:23 pm: Wood got the Tribune endorsement and came in last. Whether he gets the Trib endorsement or not, Gidwitz is coming in last. - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 7:32 pm: What about Joe’s pledge to finally get the Nicarico case right after all these years and how the rigors of the campaign trail would keep him from doing that. I hope for the Nicarico family he sticks to his promise. - Oberweis-Poe 2006 - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 7:37 pm: I know that Jim Oberweis made some statement today at 3:00 in Chicago regarding Steve and Ron. —————————————— “Today the Republican contest for Governor took a big step forward,” Oberweis said. “Eventually this race is going to come down to a clear choice between business as usual and reform, between the corrupt culture of pay to play and the Midwest values of honesty and integrity. Either Ron Gidwitz or Steve Rauschenberger would make a better governor than Rod Blagojevich. Our conversation as a Republican Party is improved for the participation of these fine men.” Oberweis continued. “I look forward to earning their support as the eventual GOP nominee. Together, we’ll end this Blagojevich nightmare and put the state of Illinois back on the right path,” concluded Oberweis. —————————— I would encourage the campaign to pick up Poe before he drops out and I really hope that Raymond does not drop. But if he did, could you blame him? Being smacked in the face by Topinka, Gidwitz, and Rauschenberger… they all passed him up! - D Gilmoure - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 8:31 pm: I’ll preach three things when I’m walking door to door for the Governor: 1. Health care for children 2. Minimum wage raised for 450,000 workers 3. 2.3 billion more for schools All without raising sales or income taxes. Enough said. - Fighting Ennui - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 8:43 pm: I am just about willing to put money on the fact this horrible dilemma is never going to present itself to Steve. But I hear they are hiring over at Abercrombie. - springfieldnews - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 9:13 pm: BREAKING NEWS - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 1:18 pm: Steve Rauschenberger, in speaking with Ron Gidwitz at a 1:00 press conference at the State Capitol, says there were three things that made him decide to run for Lt. Gov. 1. The speech he gave to the Illinois Jobs group last Friday 2. The State Party meeting that tried to narrow the field 3. Driving 1100 miles on Saturday and Sunday. Steve told the press that he called Gidwitz on Sunday to finalize the partnership. Steve also said he is “all out endorsing Ron Gidwitz.” If Gidwitz does not win, Steve will “give the winning nominee the Lt. Gov candidate they want.” - Dan Proft's Aunt - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 9:30 pm: Now that Rauschy is out of the guv’s race, will Dan Proft put the Illinois Leader site back up? - fearless freep - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 9:43 pm: Look how much this marginalizes Rauschenberger. Now, in order for him to be governor, here is what must occur: Gidwitz must win the primary, THEN he must beat Blagojevich…THEN when he is governor, Gidwitz must die or resign. What is the statistical probablity of this?! As Del Griffith once said, “we’d have a better chance of finding a 3-legged ballerina”. - Old Elephant - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 9:54 pm: Okay, I want to make sure I understand this: Steve Rauschenberger is running to take power away from Bob Kjellander and the Republican Party Leadership. But, if he wins the nomination for Lt. Governor and his preferred candidate or candidates for Governor doesn’t win, he will resign the party nomination so that a new candidate can be selected by Bob Kjellander and the Republican Party Leadership. With that kind of logic maybe he should be running in the Democrat Primary, he’d fit right in with a Governor who thinks reform and renewal means steering no-bid contracts to campaign donors. This is enough to make me want to move to Iowa! Judy Baar is looking better every day. - El Conquistador - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 10:02 pm: Reality check. Rauschenberger is completely out of ALL races as Gidwitz has and never will be in contention. Brady is a non-player and may as well drop out. Obie is an extremist and is spoke of only because he’s an extremist. JBT will win the primary with no problem. Discussing any other outcome is a ridiculous waste of time. The governor is in big trouble as he and his greatly underestimate people’s visceral distaste of the way he operates regardless of their political leanings. He has lost the middle, and therefore, the game. - shelbyville - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 10:04 pm: Rauschy’s move is just plain crazy. What is he saying, “If you want me for LG, you better not vote for Topinka?” What a joke. Nobody knows who he is outsid eof the political arena and nobody cares. He is wasting his time. - respectful - Wednesday, Dec 7, 05 @ 11:11 pm: A vote for Steve may be wasted since he’ll resign when Ron loses. Republicans who want their votes to count will look for another candidate. - Graydog - Thursday, Dec 8, 05 @ 12:31 am: The more I think about this, the more I like the idea of a GiddyBerger ticket. It’s genius, actually. Two reform-minded Republicans who can appeal to the conservative and moderate voters. This will be especially true if JBT commits political suicide by teaming up with Birkett. - The Conservative - Thursday, Dec 8, 05 @ 8:10 am: Senator Rauschenberger should be applauded for his principled stand. He has said that he if elected would give the other Republicans the courtesy of resigning if they where elected. I can think of only one candidate that pehaps would not want the Senator to be on the same ticket as her. For the first time in my life I will not support either Gidwitz or Topinka should they win the primary. So I applaud Senator Rauschenberger and the public should take note of a man of principle and leadership. - RealityCheck - Thursday, Dec 8, 05 @ 8:23 am: Steve took a pricipled stand? Do you actually believe that? This move was about political survivor. If he didn’t do this, he was done, buried, game over. I know you all want to think the amazing Steve is some kind of political hero, but givve it a rest already…I’m sure he’s already preparing his senate bid in ‘08. - Creamy Crack - Thursday, Dec 8, 05 @ 1:39 pm: Rauschy was far from unequivocal during his stop in Springfield. He repeatedly refused to say that he absolutely would not run alongside somebody other than Gidwitz. Seriously, do you think that if Rauschy wins the nomination for lite guv, but Gidwitz loses, he’s going to step aside? Gimme a break. “Sometimes, in public life, we must set aside our egos and personal aspirations to do what’s best for the people,” Rauschy will say. “Today, I am going to set aside my ego and act with courage. I will continue to fight for what’s right alongside (Topinka or Oberweis or the Man in the Moon)”. - Beowulf - Friday, Dec 9, 05 @ 8:53 pm: Give the guy (Rauschenberger) a break. Things that were said or perhaps allegedly said by him and who he was willing to serve with were badly communicated. It makes no difference who needs a communications major. It happened and it is done. Rauschenberger was simply trying to give himself some wiggle room in the event that Judy is elected GOP nominee for Governor. He knows and she knows that they would make too volatile a political mixture together (at least for this moment in time). He will happily serve with Gidwitz, Oberweis, or Brady with no problems at all. He isn’t so sure that he and Judy will be a winning GOP combo is my guess. They probably will kiss and makeup somewhere between March 21st and the November general election. That is just politics in any of the states in the nation. Trackback WurfWhile - Friday, Dec 16, 05 @ 9:41 pm: Illinois GOP Gubernatorial Primary - Judy Baar Topinka And Joe Birkett vs. Ron Gidwitz And Steve Rauschenberger On December 6th Illinois Gubernatorial candidates Ron Gidwitz and Steve Rauschenberger announced a deal for Gidwitz to continue to run for governor and Rauschenberger to drop down to run as his (exclusive) Lieutenant Governor. This followed a GOP unity… Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.