The new Copley poll has Alexi Giannoulias leading Christine Radogno by just six points, 39-33, with 7 percent for the Green Party candidate and a whopping 21 percent still undecided.
“All the polls we’ve seen have shown (Giannoulias) with a strong lead. Our internal polls had Alexi up by 12 points,” said Giannoulias spokesman Scott Burnham, adding that other recent surveys have shown the margin as high as 17.
Here are the most recent polls in the race, including the latest Copley poll:
* 39-33-7 - Copley, Oct. 30-31
* 40-23-5 - Tribune, Oct.30-31
* 44-37-1 Post-Dispatch, Oct. 23-26
* 43-34-6 - Daily Herald/ABC7, Oct. 16-22
* 33-29 - Glengariff Group, Oct. 13-15
* 38-26 - Copley, Sept. 19-21
There really isn’t much else in the story except the numbers in the other down-ballot races:
Incumbent Secretary of State Jesse White holds a 41-point lead over his GOP challenger, state Sen. Dan Rutherford of Chenoa. The poll showed White with 65 percent of the prospective vote, Rutherford with 24 percent and Green Party candidate Karen Young Peterson at 3 percent.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan would collect 64 percent of the vote for re-election, the poll shows, compared with 22 percent for the GOP candidate, Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz, and 4 percent for David Black of the Green Party.
Comptroller Dan Hynes leads Republican state Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca by 23 points, according to the poll, 49 percent to 26 percent.
Meanwhile, the Sun-Times has a story on the battle entitled “Youth seems to be trumping experience in treasurer race” and the AP has a piece on Radogno’s objection to Giannoulias’ latest campaign ad.
State treasurer candidate Christine Radogno accused her opponent of running a “desperate” campaign ad that distorts the truth, but Democrat Alexi Giannoulias stood by the television commercial Wednesday.
The ad claims Radogno, a Republican state senator, voted to let utility and telephone companies raise rates. It cites as its source an Oct. 23 Chicago Sun-Times story.
But Radogno’s name appears nowhere in the article. […]
“The citation doesn’t say she voted for the raise,” said campaign spokesman Scott Burnham. “It refers to the article that says as a result of the legislature’s actions, the utility giants had the authority to increase rates.”
- Niles Township - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 9:11 am:
While it might be easy to dismiss this Treasurer’s poll as out of step with all the polls, I think the numbers for the other consitutuional offices, which seem credible, make me take it seriously (at least as far as polls go). Radogno hasn’t been on TV that long. Is this the first poll taken since her ads have been continually airing?
- Wumpus, I'm Tiger Woods - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:08 am:
Have there been any debates between White Rutherford?
- Name/Nickname/Anon - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:28 am:
Even when they are winning by 41 points, the Illinois Democrats can’t help themselves and they have to do negative ads. Last night I saw a Jesse White ad attacking Rutherford because his company did business with the state, something like a mere $100,000.
When am I going to see Jesse White attack the Governor for making $113,000 from his wife’s business dealings with the state (isn’t that even more money than the Governor’s own salary?).
Seriously, why can’t they control themselves?
- Wumpus, I'm Tiger Woods - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 10:32 am:
Haha, Rutherford’s company is Servicemaster, I believe. It is amazing they only have that much business with the state, for a Fortune 500 company I assume, that is less money than White’s daughter makes per year as an employee of the Sec of State, since her salary has tripled.
- wah - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 11:05 am:
Lots of crying here. Both parties are equally guilty of using negative because it works. Judy is probably the only candidate who has a legitimate gripe. The most ridiculous whiner is Radogno. She bases her campaign on negative and then throws a fit when they use one negative ad to muddy the water. If they had cited the roll call on the bill as a source then would the ad be ok? That whole thing is ridiculous. Jesse is only using that ad to muddy the water as well. He would have won big anyway. Negative works and until that changes, expect campaigns to keep using it this way.
- Thor - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 12:27 pm:
wow. that radogno has a lot of nerve. not only is her entire campaign negative, but it is based on this innuendo that Alexi has mob connections. if she felt so strongly that ex convicts should not be in allowed to obtain loans, she was in a position as state senator to sponsor such a bill (though it probably would be unconstitutional). this allegation of mob ties with alexi is really absurd. yet she cries when alexi’s campaign rightly points out that she took money from utilities and voted to allow them to raise rates. however you spin it, that did happen. she can defend the economics and morality of that all she wants but to cry foul about alexi’s campaign bringing it up and to dispute its accuracy is a joke. and hypocritical in light of her whole strategy. i thinking alexi is the one that should be crying foul….”scandal in the making”, come on.
- Will County Wiseguy - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 1:06 pm:
Chris Radogno would make an excellent State Treasurer and, based on her knowledge and experience, she should win easily over Giannoulias. However, her campaign has been pretty much invisible in my area, and I live in her Senate district. I think we’ve received one mailer in the last 3 months. Maybe she thinks she has this area locked up, but I don’t think any candidate should take voters for granted.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 1:47 pm:
Rutherford attacked White first. Jesse is right to strike back.
Radogno is toast. She was hoping to simply go negative on Chicago t.v. in the last week and drive Alexi out. The problem is, Alexi came right back with a much better negative ad on her, his ad buy appears to be much bigger, and unlike Radogno, I think Alexi’s is running all over the state.
I love those who argue that Radogno is better qualified. They argue that she’s more “knowledgeable and experienced,” yet they can’t really point to any record of accomplishments in her 9 years in the legislature.
ANYBODY can get re-elected time-after-time in a safe district, go to Springfield, collect a paycheck, and get nothing done. That doesn’t qualify you to be a Constitutional officer.
While Alexi doesn’t offer political experience, he has articulated a vision for the office. Lisa Madigan was elected on a similar vision in 2002, and I think Alexi wins as well, although it won’t be a blow-out. 51-47-2.
- Doug - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 2:21 pm:
Let’s be honest, no one is ever “qualified” for the office they seek.
Great defense YDD “he started it!”
Thank God this election is almost over…people here need to get back to their day jobs…if they have one.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 2:36 pm:
Doug –
Yes, it is a great defense. Rutherford called White too old for the job and questioned White’s integrity, dragging Jesse’s daughter through the mud in the process.
White responded by pointing to Rutherford’s long and deep ties to George Ryan, who was convicted of abuse of power in the SOS’s office, and one of Rutherford’s “best friends.” Not to mention all of the campaign cash from Ryan.
Dan Rutherford left White with two choices politically: defend his own record or attack Rutherford’s. No matter what your lead, if you’re defending, you’re losing, because you’ve allowed your opponent to define the terms of the debate. White was right to strike back, and Rutherford should stop crying.
- Bill - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 2:48 pm:
Yellow Dog Republican,
Whose yer Daddy?
- Big Guy - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:03 pm:
Radogno wins 50-47-4. Looks like Alexi is trying to take a page out of Rod’s playbook…..Say “anything”, even lie, to win…..
- Big Guy - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 3:05 pm:
50-47-3….Sorry
- Muletown - Thursday, Nov 2, 06 @ 6:57 pm:
To Wumpus I’m tiger Woods–Jesse White on WBBM claimed he would be happy to debate Dan Rutherford. Obviously Jesse had not taken his medicine prior to appearing on the radio live. Dan Rutherford immediately accepted the opportunity. Since that time Jesse White has been kunder wraps and out of sight. No debates took place. In another words Mr. White did not have the guts to appear one on one against his challenger. This should send a large message to the voters of Illinois. If an incumbant such as White or Blagojevich do not have the hutzpah to stand face to face against their challenger standing on their record it indicates they have no record to stand on and should be replaced immediately at the ballot box!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Irish Eyes R Smilin' - Friday, Nov 3, 06 @ 9:51 am:
Yellow Dog-
“Your the Man!/Woman!”
Hope to see you Nov. 7th at Crowne Plaza-Greek Town.