Statewide campaign roundup
Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The Pantagraph reports that Mrs. Blagojevich says her husband isn’t yet looking at a White House bid.
Illinois’ first lady says her husband isn’t looking for a job in the White House - yet.
Speaking to a class of fourth-graders from Harristown Elementary School Friday, Patti Blagojevich said her husband is concentrating on his bid for re-election as governor of Illinois.
“I think all of our focus right now is - to make sure he gets the chance for another four years,” she told the students during a mock press conference at the Executive Mansion.
Meanwhile, the AP reports, without specific polling data to back it up, that women Democrats are split between Blagojevich and Topinka.
Many female Democrats like Donovan are drawn to Topinka, in part because she’s a woman but mostly because she’s a moderate.
That crossover appeal gives the state treasurer the opportunity to pick off voters from a key Blagojevich constituency, one he has carefully courted over the past four years.
“The fact that she’s a moderate makes it possible for them to slide over,” said University of Illinois at Springfield political studies professor Chris Mooney.
And that’s vital, former two-term GOP Gov. Jim Edgar notes, because Democrats outnumber Republicans in Illinois. […]
Bonnie Grabenhofer, president of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women, said Blagojevich has a long list of accomplishments when it comes to women’s issues.
For example, he supports abortion rights, while Topinka favors restrictions on it that are “troublesome to us,” Grabenhofer said.
Topinka also slammed the governor over the weekend over his conservation record.
State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka offered stinging criticism of Gov. Rod Blagojevich during a speech to more than 100 leaders of environmental and conservation groups gathered at the University of Illinois at Springfield on Saturday.
Blagojevich did not attend the conference.
“Even worse than his absence and indifference is the harm that Rod Blagojevich has caused to conservation interests,” Topinka said in a 15-minute speech. “And the harm has been significant.”
And the Illinois Times ran an interesting column about why downstate black Democrats could embrace Meeks’ candidacy. Go check it out.
- DOWNSTATE - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 5:32 am:
Does anyone know if Meeks has taken any legal steps as far as petitions or any other filings toward running or is this just talking to different groups.Good for JBT in taken the gov. on for his indefference to our park system which is a very big part of our tourism package.It is a support of a lot of small businesses thru out the state.
- DOWNSTATE - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 5:40 am:
Rich read the sideline about Universal Pre-school and www,xbip.com stating that the Democrats wanting to take funding from Breast Cancer Research to pay for it.Is there truth in this piece?
- Bill Baar - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 5:48 am:
That woman are automatically pro choice a heck of an assumption.
That’s a big mistake I think.
- B Hicks - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 6:16 am:
Ultimately, Donovan says, she’ll probably vote for Blagojevich unless something really bad about him comes out.
“I don’t want to give the Republicans any more power than they have.”
You go, girl!
- Lovie's Leather - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 8:08 am:
Bill, I believe what the article intends to say is that women democrats are pro-choice. Women Republicans are generally pro-life and Topinka pretty much has their vote (unless there is a viable 3rd party candidate). Women generally being pro-choice is a false assumption… but if Topinka can take some of the pro-choice one-issue-voters and bring them into her camp, she is well on her way to the governors mansion.
- Bubs - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 9:07 am:
It is increasingly difficult to speak in litmus test labels of “pro-choice,” “anti-choice”, “pro-life” and “baby killer” on the issue of abortion in America. With Roe now 33 years old, and unlikely to be overturned even by the Roberts Court, the issue is evolving into a spectrum of abortion policies rather than merely “for or against Roe.” Looked at in that light, Topinka strikes me as much more “conservative” than a lot of folks. Certainly PersonalPAC thinks so.
- Veritas - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 9:14 am:
Bubs,
It’s telling that you had to re-define the word “conservative” in order to apply the label to JBT. If you have to change the definition of a word in order to have it apply, does it really apply?
- Barnaby - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 9:38 am:
Is the sky blue in the Blagoevich world? Maybe the President on “The West Wing”?
Illinois is a deep Blue state and offers the Democrats no electoral advantage with Blagoevich on the ticket. Rod’s time has passed nationally and possible Federal indictments down the road do not help.
- Support Parks - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 1:07 pm:
Judy Baar Topinka knows very well that former State Representative and DNR Director Joel Brunsvold is highly respected by the members of the Illinois General Assembly concerning conservation and sportsmen issues. When he served in the General Assembly he was regarded as a conservation authority and his knowledge of the issue was sought after by the membership. Joel worked with fellow democrat and republican colleagues to sponsor and pass legislation for the betterment of DNR and conservation issues for our state. Topinka is well aware that Joel Brunsvold is not “just another political hack” who was appointed as director to a state agency. I am sure Joel would agree with Topinka that DNR took more than its share of cuts. It was not Joel’s idea to implement massive lay offs, budget cuts and she should know he fought for the agency, their programs and our state’s natural resources. Where have all these organizations been the last three years - their support was needed! Topinka is aware that years ago Joel, along with former republican Senator Harry “Babe” woodyard, organized the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. As a former teacher, mayor and state representative , Joel’s leadership and professionalism should not be in question. Instead of questioning Brunsvold’s credentials, Topinka should ask the Governor when he last visited a state park.
- Minion - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 7:40 pm:
oh wow, I don’t know how much I can thank Patti for her assurance that Rod is not looking at running for President at this time. Really. Rod as President? God help us all (or at least us Democrats). Well, if that were to happen, Rod’s top advisors could be happy that they could go home to Washington, D.C. and would not have to be bothered with Springfield, IL anymore. We all know how much they love it so…
- taxs man - Monday, Apr 10, 06 @ 8:35 pm:
have you looked at the gas pumps lately. gas going up again thanks to george w bush. all bush cares about is himself and chennie. vote Democrat this time. Iam after all my income taxs has not gone up under this govenor like it will if judy babe gets it. this republicn going democat this time.