* 11:32 am - As I told subscribers this morning, the official State Board of Elections results show Bill Brady beating Kirk Dillard by 193 votes…
State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) is the Republican nominee for governor.
Brady ended up topping state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) by 193 votes, according to final results of the Feb. 2 primary certified this morning by the Illinois Board of Elections.
Dillard has scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. at which he is expected to concede the race to Brady.
Brady has scheduled a news conference for an hour after Dillard’s.
Brady ended up with 155,527 votes, to 155,334 for Dillard, according to the final, official count.
Earlier, unofficial totals had Brady ahead by 250 votes.
That’s a 0.02 percent win, by the way.
More…
He is also planning to greet voters in downtown Chicago at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening.
On Monday, Brady has scheduled an eight-stop statewide fly-around to formally kick-off his general election campaign. Included are stops in the Quad-Cities and Marion.
He will wind up the day in Bloomington, at the same hotel where he and his supporters watched election returns on Feb. 2.
* 11:38 am - The Democratic Governor’s Association is already out with a Welcome Wagon press release…
Will Brady’s Frantic “Moderate Makeover” Now Come to an End?
Washington, D.C. – With the Illinois State Board of Elections certifying Bill Brady’s victory in the February Republican primary today, will his frantic attempts to whitewash his record finally come to an end?
While Illinois voters have been waiting to find out who won the GOP nod, Brady has been using the time to quietly scour his legislative record and purge it of some of his most bizarre proposals. First, Brady removed his name from legislation he sponsored that would allow the mass killing of cats and dogs in gas chambers. Then Brady removed himself as the sponsor of a bill that would allow some employers to discriminate on the basis of religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. For observers who’ve relished the Brady whitewash, that might not be all – Brady has countless other outside-the-mainstream positions he can reverse, such as his opposition to abortion even in the case of rape, incest and the health of the mother.
“I understand why Bill Brady wants to run from his right-wing record,” said Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association. “Mass animal gassing and denying human rights aren’t exactly high on the list of voter concerns right now. Unfortunately for Brady, no one in Illinois knew who he was before they heard about his ludicrous proposals.”
Daschle added, “Maybe now that he feels he’s moderated his position on mass animal euthanasia, Brady will feel free to join the debate on the issues voters most care about: jobs, growing the middle class and investing in Illinois’ future.”
* 12:06 pm - I shoulda mentioned this earlier, but several people close to Dillard say he will definitely concede today. Not a surprise, but thought you should know.
* 12:57 pm - The county-by-county results are now posted at the State Board of Elections’ website. Keep this on the down-low, but I’m hearing the SBE is unveiling a new site soon.
* 1:24 pm - AP…
Gov. Pat Quinn says there’s a “Grand Canyon” of difference between him and Republican Bill Brady. […]
The Democratic governor says he’s looking forward to a good contest with Brady before the November election. He says he hopes the two meet in lots of debates around the state.
* 1:39 pm - He’s out…
In a statement issued by Dillard’s campaign prior to a Chicago news conference, the Hinsdale lawmaker said “it was a “close” race but that he “will help Sen. Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the governor’s office in November.”
* 1:50 pm - From a press release…
State Senator Kirk Dillard today threw his support behind State Senator Bill Brady in the race for Governor, saying it was “close,” but that Brady had won the Illinois Republican Primary. “I will help Senator Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the Governor’s office in November,” Dillard said.
Dillard had waited until the Illinois State Board of Elections had reported the final totals in the February 2 Primary election had been counted before conceding because of the narrow margin of Brady’s lead. “It was a hard-fought race, and it was close: less than .0002 of a percent,” said Dillard. “But it is now clear to me that my friend and colleague Bill Brady has won the Illinois Republican Primary for Governor.”
Dillard went on to stress why he will aggressively campaign on Brady’s behalf. “As I’ve said countless times during the campaign, Illinois is a state in crisis. Pat Quinn cannot lead, and shows no urgency in putting people back to work.”
The State Senator from Hinsdale also thanked former Governor Jim Edgar for his support and the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters who backed his campaign during these last seven months. “I call on my supporters and the supporters of the other Republican candidates to join me in supporting Senator Bill Brady,” Dillard said.
Dillard also said he would continue to work hard as a state senator for the people of his district and all of Illinois. “I will continue to fight for the Republican principles of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. I will continue to fight for a balanced budget and new jobs. And I will continue to fight for a state government that works for the people, not the politicians.”
* 2:30 pm - From a press release…
STATEMENT FROM RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL STEELE ON ILLINOIS GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today on Illinois’ Republican gubernatorial primary:
“I extend my sincere congratulations to our Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate, state Senator Bill Brady. Both he and state Senator Kirk Dillard ran great, positive campaigns focused on the GOP principles of fiscal responsibility and controlling government spending, and I commend them both. Together with Senate candidate Mark Kirk, state Senator Brady will help lead the strongest Illinois Republican ticket in years. These candidates have put the Republican Party in an excellent position to compete in November talking about the issues that matter the most to Illinoisans. After Governor Quinn and Illinois Democrats mismanaged everything from the state’s economy to ending the culture of corruption, voters are ready for a new brand of leadership. With our alternative solutions for job creation and economic growth centered around lower taxes and less regulation, I am confident Republican candidates will prevail this fall.”
- Ahoy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:37 am:
Best thing Brady could do for the Republican party is to let Dillard be the nominee.
- wordslinger - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:51 am:
Dillard’s probably thinking: “Why exactly did I choose 100 votes as the magic number?”
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:53 am:
Why do Democrats insist on attacking Republicans as being too far Right?
Why not attack Brady on ineptitude?
Why not attack Kirk on being a slimy opportunist who is basically a jerk to people who aren’t in the media or Republican players?
- Captain Flume - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 11:58 am:
Re: Ahoy, etc.
First the dissing on Scott Cohen, now on Sen. Brady. It feels like political coercion to void the will of the electorate. The implication is the voters, en masse, are not intelligent enough to pick the candidates they want to see have a shot at being elected, or indeed not intelligent enough to actually elect someone that passes muster to some vague ideal (read Blagojevich here). We elect who we are and we are who we elect. So do people want to somehow circumvent the voters once again and try to shoehorn another candidate we have not elected down our throats? Is that democracy?
- Deep South - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:00 pm:
Let the fun begin.
- Lazy Intern - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:06 pm:
Regardless if we attack Brady for being too right or incompetent, Democrats should be happy with the news. This immensely helps Gov. Quinn and they need to start strategy meetings. They better win this election.
- 4 Percent - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:11 pm:
It’s a shame because SS Titanic Brady has now set sail. Game over….
I hate to have to say Gov. Quinn for four more years…
- El Conquistador - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:12 pm:
Great, the two worst candidates on both sides. Nobody wins in a game of losers.
- George - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:15 pm:
The DGA’s press release needs work. What is with the “Brady removed his name from legislation he sponsored that would allow”… stuff?
Its easier to just say: “Brady tried to hide the fact that he sponsored a bill to …” yada yada.
Nobody gets the “removed name from sponsorship” stuff…
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:19 pm:
Wow!
This means I will be able to vote for all my favored candidates and be out of the voting booth in under 5 seconds.
The last time something similar happened, one of the election judges thought I had a question for her and was shocked that I had already finished voting.
- Conservative Republican - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:21 pm:
The spin begins.
By the way, for your Democratic party acolytes, the reference to “some employers” would be religious institutional employers (Catholic hospitals, Jewish community centers, etc) who are being compelled by law to hire gays when their dcotrinal position is that homosexuality is immoral. Just thought I’d clarify that.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:25 pm:
CR…Great, Brady has the 700 Club vote sewn up.
- Levois - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:26 pm:
“Great, the two worst candidates on both sides. Nobody wins in a game of losers.”
All we need is a figure similar to Jesse Ventura and we have a real race. LOL
- TaxMeMore - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:28 pm:
Rich Whitney is still the Green Party candidate for Governor and it still takes 25,000 valid sigs in 90 days starting March 22 if someone wants to run as an independent. I’m thinking the time is really, really ripe.
- 10th Indy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:29 pm:
It would have been great to have 2 class acts named Kirk running to make life better for the people of Illinois. Neither Quinn nor Brady have the skill needed to set this State right.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:34 pm:
Ok, now we have a Brady/Plummer ticket on the Repub side.
Rich, If I may …
Dear Jerry Clarke,
Have Bill and Plummer go take lessons from a PR person on how to handle the press in a formal and informal setting. Make Plummer go over and over his “pat” answers - how and where to deliver them. As in Bull Durham, Plummer - “You’re gonna have to learn your clichés. You’re gonna have to study them, you’re gonna have to know them. They’re your friends. I know they are boring, write them down” After Plummer does all this, hide him until July 4th or so …you will thank me.
For Brady, take a hint from what happened to JBT, and do not let Brady get painted as the Right-Wing Whack Job, out of touch and bad for Illinois. Do this early and do this often; find the common ground for Bill and moderate voters and have him seen with Kirk upstate every chance you can get. Brady has his core and that is great, but he needs more independent voters to pull this thing off.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:35 pm:
Brady should start proclaiming that Illinois is bankrupted. He has nothing to lose. Put Quinn on the hot seat immediately and start the discussions over whether we can start considering Illinois a bankrupted government. Quinn would be forced to start discussing if Illinois should be considered bankrupted, and why it shouldn’t be after his time in office.
If these two won’t discuss solutions, then start forcing them to start discussing the problem. Force them to start defining how deep the fiscal hole is, what is the technical terms to discuss the hole, and force incumbants to start publically acknowledging the depths of the fiscal hole we are in. How can anyone discuss solving our problem, when no one has technically determined the severity of the problem?
Go with that for now. Brady needs to start this today. Not “broke”, not “in crisis”, go to the Big Dog Headline Making Word - “Illinois is bankrupted!”
Then he needs to shut up. Duct tape his mouth. Paint a smile where Brady’s mouth should be. Cut a little hole in it large enough for a straw and a Slim Fast. Make Brady wear sun glasses.
Then send Plummer on a raft full of hogs down the Sangamon River to New Orleans. After six hours, no journalist could stand the smell, and Jason would have a nice beard and a sun tan when he reaches Nachez. Call it the “Lincoln Campaign Tour of Pork”. Pray for rain.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:41 pm:
Willy-
I’d say hide Plummer until Nov. 4th or so.
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:42 pm:
It looks like come nov. we in this state agency won’t have to alter the letterhead, so we do have that going for us.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:43 pm:
If I may, for clarification;
===For Brady, take a hint from what happened to JBT, and do not let Brady get painted as the Right-Wing Whack Job, out of touch and bad for Illinois.===
Should read:
For Brady, take a hint from what happened to JBT, and do not let Brady get painted and defined in a bad light, and with Brady that would be as the Right-Wing Whack Job, out of touch and bad for Illinois.
Thanks.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:45 pm:
I am hoping by July 4th parades, Plummer would be palatable, not acceptable, but palatable with his Bull Durham answers.
The Kid can’t hide forever, but 4 months would be a good start.
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:46 pm:
typing a bit difficult today, OW?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:47 pm:
Doing “work” (writing) and hanging out here … constant typing.
- GA Watcher - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:51 pm:
Willy: Good ideas, but you’re too late.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:54 pm:
Mine is advice, never said it was timely at this point …
After the Chicago Tonight fiasco and the presser Brady had, along with the pet gas chamber, gay marriage constitutional amendment, and abortion … dunno WHEN would havew been a good time(?)
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 12:56 pm:
===“some employers” would be religious institutional employers (Catholic hospitals, Jewish community centers, etc) who are being compelled by law to hire gays when their dcotrinal position is that homosexuality is immoral===
And yet these same religious institutions serve gay people. And accept tax money from gay people.
If they don’t want to obey the law, they should stop accepting public money.
- PPHS - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:01 pm:
Whitney is a good man.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:06 pm:
More advice for Jerry…if you can, don’t let Brady near a microphone or the Secretary of the Senate with any more bills to introduce!
- Rob N - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:08 pm:
Several churches’ “doctrinal position” also used to claim marriages between white folks and black folks were somehow immoral.
How’d that work out?
I think there are also a few passages in Genesis about taking care of animals … can’t quite recall what the Good Book says about killing puppies in gas chambers though.
- Segatari - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:08 pm:
@Willy: JBT lost because she was a RINO candidate who really didn’t want to be governor pushed by a completely inept and incompetent state party chairman who thought he could win the nom for governor and found out besides being unable to get others elected he himself wasn’t electable either, not because she was painted as a conservative.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:13 pm:
JBT got “painted” … if you read what I typed, and even after clairifying it again to remove the aspect of what a reader might read as me posting that JBT was defined as a Right-Wing Whack Job, the premise is still the same…
Brady needs to define himself, and not be “defined” by others terms of who he is ….
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:16 pm:
Segatari, Topinka has been an active Republican probably longer than you’ve been alive. Man, I hate that stupid RINO term.
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:33 pm:
Segatari,
I bet you couldn’t say that backwards.
- 8th Grade Math Literate - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:36 pm:
My math says that difference is 0.1%. The error has been around since the election, when Brady said he was ahead by 1/100 percent.
- susie - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:40 pm:
I voted for Kirk Dillard and really wanted him to win this nomination. I do not think Bill Brady is smart enough to be Governor, and I think he has proven that more than once since Feb. 2 (and long before).
I don’t think Quinn has been a good Governor, though some of what he has done has been OK.
but I agree with Captain Flume, we should not circumvent the electorate. Not looking forward to the campaign at all.
- siriusly - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:43 pm:
Segregati - JBT lost because Blago took what people knew about her already: she was quirky. And he used his ill-gotten campaign $ to turn it into a negative and he amplified it. He did such a great job that he got 49% of the vote.
The Quinn / Brady election will more closely resemble Durbin / Salvi than it will the last gubernatorial election.
- shore - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:48 pm:
Memo to Rich Miller, when you run peter fitzgerald out of town and are a part of an incompetent visionless lifeless missionless Republican establishment you are not a Republican in good standing, sorry Judy, bye bye. Perhaps you should look at the fate of Beth Coulson, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Dede Scozoffava, Charlie Crist and now senator McCain and ethan my dad blew congress hastert and mckenna, and dillard and jim ryan. This is the Republican base telling Republican leaders what the american people told them in 2006-2008, we’ve had it with your failed leadership now take a hike so we can have people with new ideas.
America and the gop can’t get any worse than we can now and at least with new people we have the hope we can do better.
Also anytime you want me to skype a wttw show to you-let me know.
- shore - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:49 pm:
even my good pal Mark Kirk needed and deserved a little-remember where you come from.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:54 pm:
shore, what message did the Republican base send when it nominated her for comptroller this year? lol
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:55 pm:
“There’s a “Grand Canyon” of difference between me and Republican Bill Brady.”
No. That canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon, and it isn’t a canyon either. It is our fiscal debt.
Now look closer Governor. See that? Those little specks on the bottom of this hole are Illinoisans drowning in the debt you are governing over.
Please note that during this campaign, any references to canyons, pits, potholes, ocean bottoms, caves, caverns or any other bottomless geological formation should refer to this state’s credit rating, fiscal statement, or debt.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:57 pm:
what message did the Republican base send when it nominated her for comptroller this year?
“Pleeease Judy! Pleeease HEEEELLLP US! We’re tired of being LOOOOSERS!”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 1:57 pm:
siriusly,
You are right on mark. This is going to be a race based on who can define who as worse of their respective parties, and which vision of whose beliefs you want to align yourself.
JBT “define” strategy was all about “What is she thinking?”, personal images and what personality you may find more acceptable.
- 2010 - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:01 pm:
9 months.
Governor and Senator.
You have 9 months to convince me that you will get this state out of debt based a on thoughtful plan, you will decrease the jobless rate, and that this state will uphold the highest ethical standards and our politicians will not steal, cheat, or wheel & deal with my tax money.
Get ready, set, go!
- Secret Square - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:11 pm:
“You have 9 months to convince me…”
Actually, it’s now down to 8 months… less than that, since Election Day is Nov. 2 and it’s already March 5.
- sad south - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:13 pm:
ijust hope that me can start talking about the 17000 schoolteachers to loose thei jobs
- Cousin Ralph - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:16 pm:
Rich, the message the GOP voters sent to Judy, and everyone else, is that they appreciate her fiscal acumen and the way she handled the Treasurer’s office and will continue to support her when she runs for offices that play to her fiscal acumen. However, when she runs for an office in which she has significant influence over social issues, her views are not the same as theirs. Issues matter and that is why you want to match the candidates with the office that plays most to their strengths, not with the office that plays most to their personal ambitions. The GOP base likes Judy personally, and you are correct Rich, Judy has been a faithful and hard-working member of the Republican Party for many years.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:23 pm:
===However, when she runs for an office in which she has significant influence over social issues, her views are not the same as theirs.===
“So, what we need to do is send a message, forget you Judy! because …”
===The GOP base likes Judy personally, and you are correct Rich, Judy has been a faithful and hard-working member of the Republican Party for many years.====
“So, let’s sit on our hands and bring back Rod …who we have even LESS in common in social issues.”
This arguement is EXACTLY why MJM and the Dems LOVE the ILGOP… we will cut off our nose to spite our face, even if we like a candidate personally, and better than the Dem, we will STILL let that Repub candidate down, especially in a state we lag far behind in ID’d voters …
Now I feel better…
- just sayin' - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:26 pm:
Hide your dogs and cats.
- Segatari - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:32 pm:
@Miller: Being an active Republican takes a back seat to political ideology. Acting like Democrats these past several years has done major damage to the party because people do not vote for pretend Democrats. JBT getting the comptroller nod is pretty much a matter of the opposition either waited too long to start campaigning or didn’t campaign against her aggressively. I only saw a Jim Dodge ad the weekend before the primary. And I did not vote for JBT.
- Cousin Ralph - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
Sorry to post on a subject that particularly relevant to this post.
As for Brady and Plummer. I am gleeful that DEMs continue to delude themselves that the GOP ticket is weak and will be easily bested by Quinn. Few satisfactions sweeter than beating a smug, over-confident opponent. Had Dillard won by 193, the DEMs would be attacking him as: too socially conservative; too deep in the pockets of big business and wanting to trample the rights of tort victems and workers; too much of an insider who worked closely with the Celinis, both Janice and Bill, and too comfortable with the 2cd Amendment lobby. I will think of more, but I the point is made.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:34 pm:
===Had Dillard won by 193===
Had Dillard won, the Dems would be afraid that MJM would tank Quinn. Just sayin…
- D.P. Gumby - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:36 pm:
Ah, I love shore…makes me flash back to all the idealistic left-wing 1972 Dem Convention purists (like me) that pushed McGovern’s acceptance speech to 1.00 in the morning. It’s so cute and lovable to see their little idealistic fantasies crumble. Yet, it’s still better than all the negative “my opponent is a child-molester who killed his own mother” television ads that rule campaigns now-a-days.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:37 pm:
===Had Dillard won by 193===
===Had Dillard won, the Dems would be afraid that MJM would tank Quinn. Just sayin…===
True Dat, Rich! That is why today’s news is sweet music to Quinn.
MJM is at his best with a Repub Guv ….MJM is as disappointed as Dillard.
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:40 pm:
Cats and dogs…… living together.
- Cousin Ralph - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:48 pm:
O.W.
The base was told that we had to nominate Judy because Suburban Cook, the Collars, and socially moderate women would vote for her. It did’nt happen. Look at what happened when Lynn Martin ran for US Senate –same thing.
We always hear that if we just nominate fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates we will win much more often. Of course, we always hear that BEFORE the primary, but dont get much positive feedback AFTER the primary about our moderate candidates’ chances.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:49 pm:
===We always hear that if we just nominate fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates we will win much more often.===
You mean like Thompson and Edgar?
- Cousin Ralph - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:50 pm:
“MJM is as disappointed as Dillard!”
Waitress, I’ll have what O.W. is drinking.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:56 pm:
Brady and Judy have one thing in common that has more to do why Judy lost and Brady needs help than anything else ….
Neither got 50% plus one vote in their primary wins… that is a greater factor in things in IL than anything …
ALL …. All republicans need to remember what Roanld Reagan said, “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally — not a 20 percent traitor.”
You would think that “RINOs” and “Right-Wing Nut Jobs” could agree with that …both ways, two way street …
This message brought to you by the ILGOP “Kum Bay Ya” committee…
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
“Together with Senate candidate Mark Kirk, state Senator Brady will help lead the strongest Illinois Republican ticket in years.”
Sadly, that isn’t a lie. It is the strongest Republican ticket in two years.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:00 pm:
You think that MJM wants Quinn more than Dillard?
Rule #1 Never do anything to put the hous majority in jeoipardy.
Getting a Repub Guv to sign into law a tax increase voted on by HDems = inocualtion… vs. a Dem Guv. ASKING HDems to vote on a tax increase with no “boogeyman” to blame that isn’t a Dem = seats in jeopardy….
easy choice …
- Cousin Ralph - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:10 pm:
If what you are suggesting is that MJM believes that he could cut deals with and control Dillard, much like he and Mayor Daley were able to cut deals with and control George Ryan, but he cant control a Bill Brady, then the GOP did nominate the better candidate.
Edgar did not run as a social liberal. True he did not appeal to the pro-lifers, but he went out of his way to let everyone know that he did not drink alcohol and made a vigorous anti-drunk driving campaign and toughing dui laws a hallmark of his Sec. of State campaigns. He also did not embrace any of the planks of the gay rights movement. I am too young to speak authoritatively about Thompson although if memory serves, he first won running against Dan Walker, a bigger dud than the milk dud as a candidate. And, in 1976, just 4 years after Roe v Wade, the Pro-life movement was still in its early stages of organizing.
- Segatari - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:34 pm:
@Miller: >Had Dillard won, the Dems would be afraid that MJM would tank Quinn. Just sayin…
How? Because he endorsed Obama for president?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:37 pm:
Yeah. That’s it.
Are you new here?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:38 pm:
The question was who would MJM prefer - Quinn or Dillard … not Dillard over Brady, or Brady over Quinn …
It’s not about control … its about the MJM Proof …Do nothing to put the house majority in jeopardy … Brady as a foil, vs. working with Quinn, with no Repub “boogeyman” still favors a Repub guv for MJM, its just that the headaches of Edgar are returning as MJM thinks of dealing with Brady, for better or worse.
It’s the politics, not the policy.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:43 pm:
… and MJM, looking at the landscape, could make a case of a Quinn win easier over a Brady vs. a Dillard …Not saying Quinn WILL win, or even the favorite …
It’s just the politics.
- bwana - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 3:48 pm:
Mr.Schock the Mansion awaits you!!!
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 4:02 pm:
Today was a very good day for Pat Quinn. Despite a real meltdown for six weeks before the primary, he has to be considered the favorite to beat Brady, especially if he can quickly define the Republican nominee as unsuitable for Cook & the collar counties in the expensive Chicago media market.
Brady might want to staple his sleeve to Mark Kirk’s. It will be interesting to see how much Kirk wants to be photographed with the other guy on the top of the ticket.
- DuPager - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 4:58 pm:
When the colleges collapse in red ink this fall, when the tuition bills start coming in, when the early released prisoners get back to their occupations, and when Quinn’s running mate begins his defense at trial you guys won’t be so smug.
Dems took over this state in 2002 and they have ruined it.
Nationally the Dems will have their hands full defending what were supposed to be safe seats. There is only so much trial lawyer and union money to go around.
Get ready for Governor Brady and Senator Kirk.
- Legal Eagle - Friday, Mar 5, 10 @ 5:36 pm:
V Man- The idea of sending Plummer into exile with a trip down the Sangamon River to New Orleans on a raft full of hogs is interesting. But I am not sure about the “nice beard and a sun tan” comment-Does Jason shave yet?
But seriously, can Brady set aside far right social issues and convincingly focus his message on the finacial and emplyment crisis; ethics reform; and the need to end one party rule. Maybe.