* Turnout was a bit light yesterday…

If Illinois Republicans looked more unified than Democrats Thursday, perhaps it was because there were fewer of them.

Where 1,500 Democrats packed into a standing-room only banquet hall at Springfield’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, a mere 150 Republicans stood for a gathering in a lobby at the same hotel on Day 2 of the parties’ politicking at the Illinois State Fair.

Where the Democrats had well over 1,000 cheering and sometimes booing members at their State Fair rally Wednesday, Republicans drew a more sedate and mannerly crowd of 350.

350 is a generous estimate…

Unlike the Democrats, the Republicans didn’t bus anybody in, and it showed. They must’ve relied on word of mouth.

* One of the more interesting quotes of the day…

“I don’t know how you go down further,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett, who’s considering a 2010 run for governor or attorney general, offices he’s failed to win before.

November may be instructive.

* Despite the attendance and the lack of overall enthusiasm, GOP leaders did their best to put a positive spin on things…

Republicans are clearly the state’s minority party. Democrats hold every statewide elected office, as well as control of the Illinois Senate and House.

But state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, noted that after the 1994 election, Republicans dominated state government in the same way that Democrats do now.

“That pendulum eventually swung,” Rutherford said. “I think that the public has now heard the gong of the bell of the swing too far and (is) ready for a correction to come.”

The IL GOP has certainly suffered because of George Ryan, but its biggest problem in the past few years has been President Bush. After he finally leaves, they may have a shot at something.

* Watson attempted to link rank and file Democrats with Gov. Blagojevich…

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson of Greenville suggested the GOP would link local Democratic candidates to problems at the top of the party, namely the low approval ratings of Democrat Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

He said top Democratic lawmakers should share the low ratings.

“They need to be held accountable and responsible, and so should their members,” Watson said. “And that’s what we’re going to take to them in this November in this election.”

* Remember, though, that whatever Watson and House GOP Leader Tom Cross say about Blagojevich, they’re still wholeheartedly endorsing his capital plan. Sen. Bill Brady offered up some gentle criticism…

Even as Republicans sought to rally around a unity theme with an “action agenda” of principles, some GOP legislators who have spent years castigating Blagojevich for a lack of trust eagerly jumped aboard the Democratic governor’s statewide construction program this spring. Some even went as far as embracing the long-taboo Republican issue of expanded gambling in hopes of bringing some projects back to their districts.

Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, among several potential 2010 candidates for governor to attend the fair, chided some of his GOP legislative colleagues for backing a Blagojevich-driven construction plan.

“Some of the Republicans have been put into a position to where they feel they’ve got nothing else to do but trust,” said Brady, who has opposed the governor’s construction plans. “Do I applaud our leadership for trying to do something to work across the aisle? Yeah. It’s just not something I would have negotiated or I would have supported.”

* Col. Jack Jackson (retired), a John McCain surrogate, was the keynote speaker…

Jackson said Illinois sent two of the greatest U.S. presidents to Washington, D.C.: Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

“I want to tell you something, though. Don’t send me a third,” he said, referring to Barack Obama of Illinois.

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Obama would be a great president, so don’t send him? Or, don’t give the country a third Illinois president? Actually, if Obama is elected he would be the fourth. Jackson forgot about US Grant.

* You can listen to audio clips at this link. I thought congressional hopeful Aaron Schock’s speech was surprisingly flat, given that he reportedly still has hopes of being tapped to speak at the GOP national convention.

* Related…

* Where’s the Party?

* Britt: Toon about governor and Sen. Jones at state fair’s Democrat Day

* State Republicans’ dream agenda: fight tax increases, look for tax breaks

* Illinois Republicans Endorse Agenda For Action