* To say this is a big boost would just be too obvious, so I’ll just skip that and go right to the story…
Mayor Daley today endorsed the runner-up in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor — State Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) — in the political sweepstakes to replace Chicago pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen. […]
“There’s only one winner in the lieutenant governor’s position and that’s Art Turner. He won second [place],” the mayor
“If you run for public office and the person [in first place] drops out before the election or even after the election, the person who [finished] second moves automatically up. If you forfeit a game, [your opponent] wins the game.”
Reporters reminded Daley that his conclusion is true in sports, but not necessarily in politics. The State Democratic Central Committee has the final say.
“Well, what would you do if not?” he said. “Art Turner is No. 2. No. 1 dropped out. He withdrew. Sure, you automatically move [up]. He put his name and his career on the line in a public way no one else has done . … Whether you voted for him or not, he came in second place.”
* Meanwhile, Rasmussen released the rest of its polling yesterday. Here are some of the responses…
* How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
33% Strongly approve
23% Somewhat approve
19% Somewhat disapprove
35% Strongly disapprove
0% Not sure
* How would you rate the job Pat Quinn has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
10% Strongly approve
33% Somewhat approve
28% Somewhat disapprove
27% Strongly disapprove
2% Not sure
* In terms of how you will vote how important is Alexi Giannoulias’s involvement in the Broadway Bank?
30% Very important
26% Somewhat important
24% Not very important
8% Not at all important
11% Not sure
* Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?
35% Strongly favor
18% Somewhat favor
8% Somewhat oppose
37% Strongly oppose
2% Not sure
* When it comes to health care decisions, who do you fear the most: the federal government or private insurance companies?
41% Federal government
49% Private insurance companies
9% Not sure
* Regardless of how Congress is doing overall, does your local representative in Congress deserve to be reelected?
39% Yes
32% No
29% Not sure
* Generally speaking, would it better for the country if most incumbents in Congress were reelected this November or if most of them were defeated?
27% Better if most incumbents were reelected
58% Better if most incumbents were defeated
16% Not sure
* Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party movement?
37% Favorable
40% Unfavorable
23% Not sure
* Do you consider yourself a part of the Tea Party Movement?
13% Yes
68% No
19% Not sure
* A year from today, will the U.S. economy be stronger than it is now, or weaker?
46% Stronger
32% Weaker
16% About the same
6% Not sure
* Is it possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job?
26% Yes
56% No
18% Not sure
Except for Quinn, these are more positive numbers for the Democratic majority than in other states Rasmussen has polled. At least the ones I’ve seen. Then again, that ain’t saying much.
By the way, in the crosstabs, 32 percent of Republicans said they considered themselves a part of the tea party movement, while just 4 percent of the Democrats said so. 73 percent of Republicans and just 15 percent of Democrats had a favorable opinion of the tea partiers.
* The Alexi Giannoulias campaign has been challenging Mark Kirk to release his tax returns since early February. Kirk finally did so yesterday after issuing a press release that attempted to turn the tables…
Mark Kirk’s U.S. Senate campaign today announced the five-term congressman and Navy veteran would make available his personal income tax returns dating back to 1999. In the spirit of transparency, the Kirk campaign requested Mr. Giannoulias release all documents related to Michael “Jaws” Giorango, insider bank loans and Bright Start College Savings Fund.
But reporters weren’t allowed to copy the documents and the campaign wouldn’t send them to the reporters…
Unlike Giannoulias, who provided copes of his tax returns to the press, Kirk allowed a lower level of access to his.
Reporters were required to travel to Kirk’s office in Northbrook for a peek at his returns and were not allowed to make copies.
- George - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:35 am:
Typo?
Barack Obama:
33% Strongly approve
23% Somewhat approve
19% Somewhat disapprove
35% Strongly disapprove
0% Not sure
= 110%
- George - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:38 am:
Also - what the heck is a question like this?
When it comes to health care decisions, who do you fear the most: the federal government or private insurance companies?
Talk about a slanted question. I am surprised they didn’t ask about the proposed death panels.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:39 am:
Any crosstabs on independents and Tea Party?
Looks like the movement isn’t catching on here — except perhaps to split the GOPS….
BTW 53% Favor health care looks pretty good.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:41 am:
===Any crosstabs on independents and Tea Party?===
Favorable 37, Unfavorable 39, No opinion 23.
Part of 10, Not part of 72, Not sure 18.
- Responsa - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:44 am:
When you click over to the Rasmussen site and compare question 4 responses with question 3 responses it gets rather interesting.
- Matt - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:47 am:
RICH: THIS ADDS UP TO 110%.
====* How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
33% Strongly approve
23% Somewhat approve
19% Somewhat disapprove
35% Strongly disapprove
0% Not sure====
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:50 am:
Yes, that’s already been mentioned in comments. I’m checking.
- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:54 am:
Doesn’t Daley tend to stay neutral on stuff to avoid egg on his face? Why the change in policy? Could Daley be pandering for the Black pols in preparation for next year’s election?
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:55 am:
56% say the Broadway Bank scandal will impact their vote in the Senate race….
That’s before the paid media blitz to drive home the issue.
Very very bad news for Alexi.
And I think Kirk was embarassed to release his taxes. Here he is with all his education, all his experience and he makes a fraction of what Alexi earns…
Except, of course, Alexi didn’t “earn” a dime of his fortune.
- Red Ranger - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:55 am:
56% of people believe Broadway Bank is important to their vote for Alexi; thats a problem. That number will only go up as the story grows and is on the tv every night.
- MOON - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 10:57 am:
Polls can be misleading. Come election day the voter must choose between 2 people. Even though one may have a high disapproval percentage you must also look at the other persons disapproval numbers. It is quite possible for over 50% to not approve ones job performance and still end up voting for that person given the other candidates record.
- Matt - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:05 am:
Sorry. Missed George’s comment.
- Jim - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:08 am:
Daley is running for re-election, he can now pander to the black vote, this is pretty easy to see.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:10 am:
It’s a no-brainer endorsement for Daley; he goes with a popular Chicago guy that all the Chicago committee members are backing.
- Moving to Oklahoma - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:30 am:
== Reporters were required to travel to Kirk’s office in Northbrook for a peek at his returns and were not allowed to make copies. ==
Wonderful. Nothing more typical than a politician that wants to claim transparency and then make the media jump through 15 hoops to get the information. Kirk is a joke.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:32 am:
===
And I think Kirk was embarassed to release his taxes.
===
That’s silly. He’s a public servant, who could have leveraged his knowledge and public service experience by switching over to the private sector at anytime during his career to make buckets of $$ there–but he didn’t.
Voters should be thankful we still have folks who are that committed to public service in Illinois when it’s becoming more and more difficult to find people with his background who are willing to run.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:45 am:
Yes, it is interesting, Responsa. And other goods news is that 10 and 11 didn’t hurt either.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 11:51 am:
I stand by what I said yesterday. The lead is probably based on an emotional response, not logic.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 12:06 pm:
OK Senator Brady - this is your working environment. Please notice that it is NOT Center-Right!
Now start speaking the language these respondants speak or you will fry in November. Illinois is what it is, not what you hope it is.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 12:10 pm:
I am also glad that Daley understands why Turner should be given the nomination. This embarrassing farce of a political game being played here only damages an already damaged Democratic Party.
The last time this game was played, Roland Burris ended up winning, and Jesse Jackson Jr. ended up losing. This silly game has gone too long to look accidental. If Turner doesn’t get it, whoever does is going to be looked upon as another Roland Burris.
Daley is right.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 12:35 pm:
Daley is wrong. Using his logic, Jim Oberwies would have assumed the GOP nomination for Senate in 2004. It doesn’t work that way, this isn’t the Miss America pageant afterall, this is politics.
Speaking of politics, as others have mentioned, it doesn’t hurt the Mayor to be viewed as supporting Art Turner’s candidacy. It puts him on the same side as Bobby Rush, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Danny Davis.
The Democratic State Central Committee will decide the nomination. If Daley wants to run for Committeeman and push for a change in the rules, he should feel free to do so. Until then, this is just Daley playing politics for his own purposes.
Art Turner will no doubt take comfort in the Mayor’s words, but he should know he’s only being used to further the Mayor’s political goals.
- Illinois voter - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 12:36 pm:
I agree with Carl Nyberg. Why is Daley suddenly interested in the Lt. Gov nomination? Doesn’t he have more important issues to deal with?
- Retired - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 12:36 pm:
57% of those polled believe incumbents should be voted out of office come November! Maybe there is hope yet.
- OneMan - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 12:45 pm:
== Daley is wrong. Using his logic, Jim Oberwies would have assumed the GOP nomination for Senate in 2004. It doesn’t work that way, this isn’t the Miss America pageant afterall, this is politics. ==
In hindsight, Jim Oberweis should have taken the slot, makes a lot more sense than Alan Keyes did…
- siriusly - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:05 pm:
The timing of Daley’s comments does give Turner some momentum I think.
- fed up - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:07 pm:
Does Quinn have a son or Daughter just give them the slot thats how things are done in Ill.
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:09 pm:
“Except for Quinn, these are more positive numbers for the Democratic majority than in other states Rasmussen has polled.”
indeed quinn appears to be a bit of a drag on the democratic ticket, with his 33 percent tax increase ‘n’ all, so the il dems ought to junk him now and replace him with hynes?
that’s how the il dems tend to think about things during elections.
- Vandalia - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:30 pm:
Dale is wrong. There is a part of Illinois outside of Chicago and every now and then it would be nice to have some form of representation from the Democrats. I am a life long Dem who gets tired of feeling like I am supposed to vote for the Chicago candidate but the favor doesnt seem to be returned. Make the ticket balanced geographically.
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:50 pm:
if you consider daley’s agenda (as others have pointed out)daley isn’t wrong. daley is the mayor of a majority-minority city, of which blacks are significant voters. daley doesn’t care about the rest of the state because he doesn’t need to.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:53 pm:
WCW: have you no shame? November is a long way out from early March…GIVE IT UP ALREADY!!
If one adds Quinns first two categories, 43% of Illinoians approve at least somewhat of his performance…any incumbant pol these days would be pleased with that %…
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:54 pm:
now you have a direct line into Daley’s thoughts WCW? You need to get a day job lady…
- Brennan - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:54 pm:
10 and 11 are interesting. My district member is good. Everyone else’s should go.
- ZC - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 1:58 pm:
73% of Illinois residents have no idea how much Broadway Bank will or will not influence their vote for US Senate, seven months from now.
It might be a factor. It might also be Elian Gonzalez, redux. Remember that sad little Cuban boy who filled up the national headlines in early 2000? By November 2000 he was an asterisk except for in some (admittedly important) Cuban-American communities in Florida.
We just don’t know how much of a factor Broadway bank will or will not be come November. And neither do the IL voters. These poll questions that ask you, SEVEN MONTHS OUT, what -will- or will not be a factor on influencing your vote, have to be taken with a huge grain of salt.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 2:20 pm:
===
daley doesn’t care about the rest of the state because he doesn’t need to.
===
Dear Lord. Is that you streamining your own values, WCW? And a smiley face, too.
- The REAL Anonymous fka as Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 2:21 pm:
Sorry. That was me.
- Red Ranger - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 2:24 pm:
@ ZC: I would agree with you if Alexi hadn’t made such a big deal about his banking experience when he ran for State Treasurer. Its easy to argue that he has had 2 jobs in his life; State Treasurer and VP of Broadway Bank. His performance during both of those jobs contain a lot of ammo for mail pieces and tv ads
- Responsa - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 2:24 pm:
==We just don’t know how much of a factor Broadway bank will or will not be==
Well if the issue’s going to disappear so as to not be a factor in Nov. it better disappear soon. Just today the Trib has 2 stories which mention Broadway Bank.
1. FDIC shopping Broadway plus Amcore and a few other banks.
2. Boston Blackie’s owners, Gianis son and father, arrested escaping to Canada. One of the kited checks involved in the scandal was on Broadway Bank.
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 2:30 pm:
daley is for daley, we all know that. so now turner has daley and madigan. whether or not it is the right thing to do, who is going to buck those two on the state central committee?
- Will County Woman - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 2:57 pm:
LL, you just need to understand that pols like daley and madigan are all about business and the business of winning. as such they are correct not to let emotions and sentimentalities muddy their agendas. like them or not, you have to admit that they are very effective at handling their business (aka winning).
- Chicago Tried and True - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 3:04 pm:
Daley is right. Whoever comes in second should be the nominee to replace the nominee who can’t serve. Everybody remembers how Daley insisted that Forrest Claypool replace John Stroger on the ‘06 ballot when Stroger had a stroke, right? Oh wait, Daley insisted on Todd Stroger. Never mind…..
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 3:39 pm:
Times have changed. This is NOT the year to play political games. Give it to Turner based on his second place showing. The Democrats need credibility after the Roland Burris debacle.
I don’t care if Caspar the Friendly Ghost came in second place, in 2010, voters are sick of the political games that gave them Keyes and Burris. This is no normal year. Whatever used to work - now doesn’t.
Daley is right because he has the nose for the political truffle. Be grateful someone does!
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Mar 11, 10 @ 4:02 pm:
WCW: I love how you state the obvious and completely ignore the second part of my post…I have been in the political arena for decades and do not need to be instructed by an outsider that has nothing to learn…Thanks very much for not defending your position (again).