The count goes on
Wednesday, Nov 3, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 5:15 pm - Gov. Pat Quinn’s lead over Bill Brady is now 16,210 votes.
* And more from the Tribune…
So while Brady is expressing hope publicly, behind-the-scenes the Republican faces are grim.
One prominent Republican, who asked not to be identified to avoid upsetting Brady, said the decisions on how to proceed were being made, in part, by the Republican Governors Association, which was reluctant to throw in the towel following its very large investment in the race. […]
In Republican-heavy DuPage County, for instance, there are 3,200 unaccounted absentee ballots. But DuPage County Election Commission Executive Director Robert Saar said of those he expects less than 100 will still come in to be tallied. […]
In Champaign County, where Brady was defeating Quinn by about 9,000 votes, County Clerk Mark Sheldon said while there are about 900 outstanding absentee ballots, he expects to receive and count only about 300.
Election officials elsewhere downstate and in the suburbs told a similar story, noting that a large portion of the absentee ballots still uncounted went out to military personnel and those traditionally have a low rate of return.
- George - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:20 pm:
Over
- Justin Boland - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:22 pm:
“the decisions on how to proceed were being made, in part, by the Republican Governors Association, which was reluctant to throw in the towel following its very large investment in the race.”
Rich, do you think we’ll ever have answers about where the actual funds for that “Very Large Investment” came from? Or is that a lost cause?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:24 pm:
“….to avoid upsetting Brady…..”
kind of makes you wonder what the guy would be like under the pressure of functioning as the chief executive of a state in big
financial trouble. we will never find out.
it is still interesting to me that down to the wire, the hotter it got, the cooler Quinn looked. he seems to thrive under pressure.
he looked happy and got better and better with each appearance.
- StreetervilleSnookie - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:25 pm:
So at the risk of being banned for life, I’d just like to thank you Rich and CapFax for being THE place to come to for insight and analysis of IL politics. You did an outstanding job of covering all the races this campaign season and I am now officially a CapFax addict. Thanks for a job well done.
- Him Say - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:25 pm:
Rich, what did I say that warranted deletion?
- Where there's Smoke - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:26 pm:
Kirk Dillard must be sick right about now, not at least from the irony.
- Tony - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:28 pm:
I can smell the coffee brewing… for pete’s sake don’t drag this out 2 more weeks.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:29 pm:
Robert Saar to Republican Governors Association: “Sorry fellas, we just can’t swing this one for ya.”
– MrJM
- JFL - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:31 pm:
The precincts are left to be counted in Chicago are all AfAm precincts. Add that to the at least 60-40 split the abs ballots are going to show in Cook county, it is time for Brady to bow out.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:32 pm:
If military ballots have such a low return rate, is there any way to improve the situation? Maybe with better technology, or something? I mean, regardless of which side it would benefit, and in this race I’m really not sure, it seems unsporting that the folks serving the nation don’t have an equal opportunity to vote.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:32 pm:
And the Lord did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and large chu…
- james - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:34 pm:
Thanks to Scott Lee Cohen for tearfully giving up his LG nomination. There was maybe a 2-week window where his entire personality changed and he momentarily lost his competitive drive, before he rediscovered it and jumped in to the Governor’s race to stay. Had he stubbornly remained PQ’s running mate, I can’t imagine that ticket prevailing.
- siriusly - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:37 pm:
The longer Brady waits the bigger Quinn’s margin gets. It’s going the wrong way Senator.
- Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:38 pm:
Upsetting Brady? Yes, he is upset. NO, he does not handle losing. He was a testy man after losing the primary in 2000. And, after he was appointed to replace Senator Maitland, he changed and turned from leaning right to the further right in his part. Those of us who are moderates in his district got the cold shoulder and so it goes to this day.
So, what ye sow shall ye reap, Senator Brady.
- DuPage Dave - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:38 pm:
Cermak- Miltary personnel are young people. Young people don’t vote. I think it’s as simple as that.
- Das Man - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:41 pm:
There is a fat lady singing somewhere, or at least warming up
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:50 pm:
DuPage Dave,
Yes, but apparently they’re motivated enough to request an absentee ballot. That does show more engagement than your average young person.
Besides, don’t all those recruitment ads indicate that military service will instantly take a slacker young person and turn them into an ultra-responsible adult? Are they lying?
- (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:53 pm:
It’s a lousy feeling waking up the morning after your candidate has lost an election by Brady putting off his concession his supports get to wake up twice to that lousy feeling.
- cassandra - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:57 pm:
The Republicans should call it a day and consider the positives. They have come a long way over the past four years, not entirely due to good planning
of course, but I thought Brady ran a pretty good campaign. His social views were always a liability. But they were his views and many share them. There will be other elections. In the long run, a gracious concession pretty soon would probably serve Republicans’ long-term interests best.
And the Democrats are going to have to fix the state budget. With all the headaches that entails.
- Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:58 pm:
TRA LA LA TRA LA LA TRA LA TRA LA TRA LA LA
Ahem. The Plus Sized Woman has sung!
- soccermom - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 5:59 pm:
Way to stay classy, Senator Brady.
It’s over. Concede and move on.
- Honest Abe - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:05 pm:
Somehow, if Dillard were the nominee rather than Brady, I think that Quinn would be packing his bags right now. Brady’s campaign was on cruise control for too long. Although Obama was unable to deliver for Alexi, I think that he did help get out the vote for Quinn.
The problem that I foresee is that Quinn cut so many deals to secure the nomination over Hynes and to outrun Brady that he cannot possibly govern effectively. He literally sold himself out to win. He looks to be a ceremonial figurehead at best. I doubt that he will be on the general election ballot in 2012 — his fellow Democrats will push him into retirement.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:06 pm:
@cermak_rd - The military made me what I am today: A coffee-junkie with arthritic knees.
– MrJM
- (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:08 pm:
=I doubt that he will be on the general election ballot in 2012=
I bet your right. It is a four year term.
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:13 pm:
Honest Abe: go ahead and keep your day job. Punditry is not your thing.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:14 pm:
Brady, forget about what Karl Rove told you. It was never a sure thing. Time to admit defeat and move on.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:16 pm:
Oh, and thanks Rich Miller, great election coverage!
- Tom Joad - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:19 pm:
As in many recounts, the loser cannot believe that he had lost. This is especially true when planning for the takeover of the office has gone on for weeks, with staffers referring to the candidate as already holding the title he sought.
Much like attending a movie, the suspension of disbelief goes on until reality sets in.
Brady will come to realize his situation once his advisors stop telling him what he wants to hear.
- Honest Abe - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:31 pm:
(618) Democrat:
You are correct — I meant 2014.
- joey bishop - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:35 pm:
Brady didn’t lose because of social issues. He lost because he was a mediocre candidate. A stronger downstate conservative, if there was one (think Schock in a few years), wins this going away. Dillard was mediocre as well. There’s no evidence he would have won.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:42 pm:
*peeks in* Is it safe to come out yet?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:45 pm:
Brady’s within his rights. There’s a certification process that will make it official. A lack of a concession speech doesn’t stop Quinn from doing his job.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:47 pm:
===wins this going away===
And so the Right revisionism begins.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:49 pm:
@joey bishop -
Even though I agree with you that somebody like Schock could be a formidable candidate, I think he has his sights set on a different path. Perhaps he runs against Durbin for Senate when his term is up. But, I digress from the subject . . .
I think we will know things for certain by the weekend. I’m willing to give Brady a couple more days, but if he continues to drag this out beyond, say, Monday, I think he starts to look like a sore loser. And, please don’t even suggest a recount.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:52 pm:
@Wordslinger:
There is such a thing as class. Brady should do the right thing soon. As I state above I think he deserves a few days to see more ballots be counted. But (based on my belief Quinn will still hold the lead) he should concede soon. He doesn’t need to wait for the certification.
- Cindy Lou - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 6:56 pm:
Quinn is over Brady by 19,102 a few minutes ago.
- Just The Way It Is One - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:06 pm:
Senator Brady–if it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck…PLEASE stop prolonging this agony for yourself, your supporters, and all good Land of Lincolners; a simple phone call to Quinn resolves this agony for all of us–hard to take, I’m sure, but this one’s just not gonna be a mere 190 votes apart–and with the call, ya won’t even have to suggest a beer at the Billy Goat Tavern…
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:09 pm:
New nickname: Sore Loser Bill.
Dems need to find some of those old signs the Republicans used to mock Al Gore in 2000 when he wouldn’t concede in Florida.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:12 pm:
I just saw on Chicago Tonight that there are still 30-35,000 absentee ballots not yet counted. Brady’s people are holding out until at least this Friday that there is a chance Brady can make up the difference. Quinn’s people might announce victory before the process is completed.
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:13 pm:
Joey, I want what you are smoking.
- washedmyhands - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:16 pm:
Further to the right & more conservative (R) would win and save the day? Pleeease….would someone wake up? I’m a gay Republican, and as I voted for Brady…I closed my eyes, hummed a happy tune, held my nose and tasted bile. I wish there was a party of fiscal constraint and rational on social issues. Fiscal conservatism is only doing so much to keep me voting (R).
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:24 pm:
Washed, as long as you give them your vote, they will never learn. I just hope the Tea Party stuff will purge the crazies.
- (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:29 pm:
@ joey bishop
If you guys can get a candidate that is even farther right and more consevative than Brady you could win this thing. Please work on that the next four years.
I’m pulling for ya man!
- Tony - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:29 pm:
It looks like a 19k difference with only 5 precincts. Still out in city.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:32 pm:
19k up … 5 more city precincts … Where are Brady’s votes … What is the number of votes that Jerry and Co. eill not chase … 19k might as well be 19 million ….
Count them all … but I hope reality is starting to set in.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:35 pm:
=Brady didn’t lose because of social issues.=
Just playing devil’s advocate, Joey: I haven’t analyzed the details, but it seemed as if Kirk was doing better downstate than Brady was for a while there. Based on that assumption being accurate, maybe downstate is more “live and let live” than some imagine.
Freedom, Joey…freedom.
- LakeCountyLarry - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:36 pm:
So it brings “fear” to tell Brady the truth?
Reveals still more about “who is this guy?” Definitely NOT the kinda guy Illinois voters want as our Chief Executive, and thank God, will not get. Governor Quinn, thanks for showing us so much as to who this guy REALLY is!
- Question - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:39 pm:
is is normal for the Governors race to have 25,000 more votes than the senate race?
- A.B. - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:43 pm:
Just saw pictures, Kirk and Giannoulias got together for drinks today.
- (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:45 pm:
@Question
It’s an election. There is no normal.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:45 pm:
Link, A.B?
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:47 pm:
Question: undervotes and confusion due to the two Senate votes
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
On the way home, I saw a big electronic billboard that read:”Thank You, Governor Brady.” (It’s a sign that the Brady campaign had been using for weeks.)
- MrJM - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:58 pm:
Brady shouldn’t throw in the towel until all of the Republican Governors Association’s money is gone. The voters of Illinois deserve nothing less.
In the spirit in which it’s intended,
– MrJM
- DuPage Dave - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:59 pm:
This just in….. Bill Brady appoints Jason Plummer to lead his transition team.
- 4 percent - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 7:59 pm:
Perhaps if the crack Brady team had spent more time putting together a GOTV effort than they did sitting around the campaign office and dividing up jobs in the new administration they might have prevailed.
Quinn GOTV: Obama call, Hynes call, regional ads, election day workers, union coordination, etc.
Brady: kick signs
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:01 pm:
Found a video, A.B. Rich, might be good for a “’screenplay’ of the day”. Just sayin.
- joey bishop - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:04 pm:
@BigMac
Brady and J.Ryan won the collars. Topinka in 2006 lost some of them and did much worse there overall. She is socially liberal.
Your theory is based more on fable than fact.
- Something Smells - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:05 pm:
Chicago corruption being what it is, I think a full scale recount and voter verification is in order. Don’t forget the Republicans got their absentee ballot out on time while the Democrats failed to do so. The votes may be there….they just need to come home to roost!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:09 pm:
Per the Trib: “I told him I want him to be a good senator,” Giannoulias said. “I hope he succeeds, I really genuinely do from the bottom of my heart.”
That was very kind…and very sweet. Mrs. Giannoulias, you obviously raised a good man.
- The Big Question - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:10 pm:
If Quinn Wins, will he actually put his own people in place or will he continue to rent Blagojevich’s? I suppose there is the newly passed recall provision if he doesn’t.
- Ignorant - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:19 pm:
What happens to the 44th IL District Senate seat when Brady concedes? What would have happened if he had won?
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:28 pm:
Joey, what theory? I just asked what you ere smoking. But since I mentioned it, Topinka ran a terrible Governor campaign.
- Park - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:32 pm:
I just can’t handle it….4 more years of this boob. What did we do to deserve this??
I’d trade the senate seat to AG in a minute. Be fun seeing him in Washington…gettin sick on the carpet at the Greek embassy reception, that sort of thing.
But Quinn. Four more years. Beholden to the unions. Afraid of MJM. Spineless but full time bluster. Unable to complete a simple sentence. I just can’t take it.
- (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:40 pm:
@park
Is that you Brady? Talk about a sore looser!
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:47 pm:
Ignorant: he keeps his seat since he isn’t up for reelection. If he had won, he would have had to resign, and a new person would have been appointed.
- Justica O ! - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:53 pm:
Now it is being reported that Brady is over 19,000 + votes down. This election is over. Brady needs to concede soon or risk looking like a desperate/sore loser.
- southofmasondixon - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:53 pm:
Hope Quinn has called Jim Ryan and thanked him. Ryan entered the primary and then didn’t really campaign. The only thing it accomplished was splitting the DuPage vote. If not for him or if Schillerstrom had left the race before the ballots were printed (remember, he received over 9,000 votes) , Dillard would be the Governor Elect and Quinn would be packing his bags!
- Cubs2010 - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 8:56 pm:
Oh man, here come the Chicago stole the election stuff. It is still just like The Untouchables up here, we can’t be trusted!
- LakeCountyLarry - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:01 pm:
Hey Justica…
There is no “looking” like Brady may soon risk looking like a “desperate/sore loser.” He already is.
- Park - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:03 pm:
No, just poor old me. C’mon, even up….senate seat for someone else in the G’s office. Good deal, right?
- ZC - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:11 pm:
Can we nominate someone in recent IL history who ran a really -good- campaign, but still lost? Rich maybe this could be a QOTD.
There’s a reflexive impulse, too easy I think, to label any loser as politically incompetent: “Oh, he / she just ran a terrible campaign.”
But, y’know, sometimes people run a great campaign, and they still lose. I wonder, as a side note, who might fit that bill from 2010.
- Ignorant - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:22 pm:
BigMac: Makes sense, thanks
- dinger - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:23 pm:
It’s not over yet ,this could go into a very close race -like it is now . Every one needs to make sure the right man takes over the state ,lot of money and time in this one ,not to be 100% sure
- Excessively Rabid - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:36 pm:
Every one needs to make sure the right man takes over the state
We knew that wouldn’t happen after the primary, didn’t we?
- crow04 - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:36 pm:
- washedmyhands
Welcome to the Libertarians
- ARGHH!!!!! - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:37 pm:
I just want to thank Jim Ryan for not realizing his time was past and insisting that he be annointed the Republican nomination, which stole the nomination from Kirk Dillard, and left us with this homophobic, woman-hating, puppy killing, idiot who the weeks after he ALREADY WON the primary decided he needed to be even more conservative. Brilliant.
- A.B. - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:40 pm:
Sorry no link. Friend on Facebook attended the get together and took pictures.
- A.B. - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:42 pm:
Take that back, Team Americas Blog has the pictures.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:45 pm:
Yesterday everyone was freaking out over exit polling, forgetting the early votes and mail votes cast before election day.
Today everyone wants the vote counting process to stop and Brady to concede. This while Melissa Bean wants the vote counting process to proceed while Walsh I’m sure wants it to stop.
So Brady is the sour grapes loser while Melissa Bean is the honorable wait and see until all the votes are counted person? What am I missing here?
If everyone wanted a one day election, then eliminate early voting, absentee and mail ballots that can be counted as late as 14 days after election day, assuming that they are timely post marked. We complicate the process, allow votes cast over a period of nearly a month to count, and then we moan and groan that we have to wait for the results 14 days after election day.
Let the process work to conclusion. Brady the Republican is entitled to that just like Bean the Democrat is.
Will the broken down State of Illinois suffer while waiting another 14 days? Is Quinn ready to pull a rabbit out of his sleeve that will solve all our problems? Madigan? Cullerton?
Perhaps we should start a conversation in the meantime about the accuracy of polling? Which polls were the most accurate? Which ones failed miserably? Are pollsters hired by political parties less accurate than independent polls?
Ask Dold about polling. Or Walsh. Or Quinn. The list lengthens with every passing moment.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:49 pm:
Not over yet? There’s 5 precincts left and Quinn is up 19,000. Sorry Republicans. Time for the GOP to toast the DC victories and finally cracking back into the statewides again and figure out who to put up against Durbin next.
But LOL at blaming the Brady loss on Chicago corruption. Yeah, because Cook County Dems desperately wanted Quinn to win but didn’t give a crap about the U.S. Senate or House races? Please.
That said, it’s too simplistic to JUST pin Brady’s loss on being too conservative or too downstate or even being too flawed a candidate/ candidate package with Plummer (i.e. giving Quinn the fodder for the Glee ad). Brady also JUST WASN’T KNOWN. He’d only been statewide on the ballot for GOP primaries unlike his fellow conservative Downstater Rutherford who did just fine in the collars. Also, the Chicago media had never even heard of him until primary night and barely got to know him ever other than him not wanting to release his returns and not being willing to say what he’d cut.
Similarly, Alexi despite being the Obama friend and treasurer was not really that known as he’d only been around four years in a not-that-high-profile office so he didn’t have as much credibility attacking Kirk or withstanding the longer-known Kirk’s criticisms of him.
Really these races were mirror images in a way…
The key for Quinn winning was negatively defining Bill Brady as the rich guy who doesn’t pay taxes in EVERY SINGLE AD and while people thought Quinn was kind of a doofus and were unhappy about the direction of the state, nothing Brady did in the campaign made enough voters dislike Quinn enough to take a chance on him the way Kirk succeeded in making enough people dislike Alexi and Quinn made enough people dislike Brady, the little they knew of him.
Alexi and Brady were both the rich guys who didn’t pay any federal taxes and that fact (hammered endlessly in the campaign ads against them and also hammered for hypocrisy - Alexi for wanting to raise taxes and Brady for wanting to give rich people tax cuts) was probably enough to cost them the election in both cases.
- ZC - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 9:57 pm:
Gotta agree with Louis Atsaves here. Let the process run its course. It *was* a freakishly close election (*just* 16,000 votes!)
It won’t be long until Brady concedes. And if a slightly lengthier process quiets the, “Democrats stole the election” crowd, I’m all for it.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 10:03 pm:
Yes Rich, the wing nuts are going into their spin.
While we can enjoy the congressional wins and the few state victories this year, The Dems will have their enjoyment in two years when their remap wipes out numerous Republican congressional and state legislative districts and forces many quality GOP incumbents to run against each other.
Our only hope was for a Republican to win the Governor’s Office and try to force some type of compromise. This hope was dashed when we nominated wing nut pure Bill Brady.
I can’t lay this bad nomination solely on the door of our extreme brethren - too many upstate candidates; however, this election reinforces what reasonable folks have been saying for years, an extreme conservative can’t win in Illinois.
- Anon Again - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 10:04 pm:
I do not know which side is more shocked by the govs race both thought brady was a lock the ds had started to pact and the rs were ready to move in it was as exciting as a Bears game
- BigMac - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 10:07 pm:
ZC, 19,102 now, but I agree. This can go as long as Senator Brady wants it to (or until the State Board certifies it).
Louis, not many are calling for the counting to stop. Some have called on Brady to accept the inevitable, but no one is trying to force this thing to end. The difference between Brady and Bean is Bean actually has a (long) shot. Brady has no shot.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 10:14 pm:
The process will run its course whether Brady concedes or not. The absentee votes will still be counted. The election will still take two weeks to be certified.
But in the meantime, Brady has an Illinois Senate session tomorrow. Will he go? Or is he gonna sit around and wait to see if 20,000 absentee Brady ballots magically materialize?
- Legal Eagle - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 10:15 pm:
Lou A: I think comparatively the Wals-Bean vote is a little closer with potential votes coming from pro Bean Cook precincts; but it is over for her regardless. Brady is also defeated. Walsh’s win was somewhat of a surprise. Regardless of his ultra conservative social positions (Not sure he even believes some of the stuff he says), he ran a great campaign. Bean apparently thought she could simply campaign by mail and avoid working the District. I hope Joe does well.
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 10:58 pm:
Louis Atsaves, no one has said the counting should stop. Simply saying it’s obvious Brady lost and has no hope of changing that fact. Non-sore losers concede all the time before all the ballots are counted. Most of the losers did last night.
And a shout out to Quinn is in order. Congratulations on your re-election Governor.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 11:03 pm:
Sun Times now lists 100% of precincts reporting. Quinn has an almost 20,000 vote lead. There are not enough absentee, provisional, and military ballots out there to change the outcome is there?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 11:20 pm:
New Drinking Game:
Every time a new poster (ex. AGHHH) posts about Jim Ryan, 4 way DuPage Candidates, Kirk Dillard, et al …you have to do a shot.
The bottom line is Brady won, he won with ground troops with a perfect storm. If Dillard was so great, he would have found 1 more vote a precint, if he has a ground game … Brady for got that lesson.
Enough with Dillard. His campaign was awful, like Brady’s Campaign Staff/Transition Team Leaders. Win with a field operation, then you don’t have these issues. That goes for Dillard in February and Brady this week … jeez!
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 11:22 pm:
Concede, don’t concede, who cares? A concession is not legally binding.
The more interesting question would be how does a party get the best general election candidates out of the primary? This year, that was definitely an issue.
- Obamarama - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 11:40 pm:
===Win with a field operation, then you don’t have these issues.===
Couldn’t agree more.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 11:46 pm:
===Win with a field operation, then you don’t have these issues.===
You can have the best field operation ever, but if your candidate can’t connect with the voters and the opponent can, you are sunk.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Nov 3, 10 @ 11:52 pm:
Example: Halvorson connected with people in 2008 she was all over the dstrict and people liked her, while Ozinga was clearly not a people person. Two years go by, Halvorson is in the district frequently, but primarily for small meetings in controlled settings. She loses the voter connection. A handsome young guy with a good personality makes the connection as Halvorson loses it, he wins by the same margin Halvorson did. Halvorson’s ground game was as good as Kinzinger’s, maybe better, but Kinzinger made the connection and Halvorson lost it.
- Sore loser? - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 12:00 am:
Speaking of sore losers, has Melissa Bean conceded yet?
- Democrap - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 12:11 am:
From above: If Quinn Wins, will he actually put his own people in place or will he continue to rent Blagojevich’s? I suppose there is the newly passed recall provision if he doesn’t.
Quinn lacks the necessary male specific equipment to address this question. He must be in political hock up to his bald dome to have pulled this off, so we will be saddled with worthless Chicago patronage till 2014. The air in Springfield will rival the fowl stench of Beardstown!
- frustrated GOP - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 12:17 am:
Hey, GOP, guess what the moderates won. wow, novel concept. and how did the ultra conservative do? Wow, get a clue. Dillard should have pushed for a recount, today would have been a whole different story. Not only would he have won, we might have had time to help out a few more House and Senate races. again, the IlGOP can’t fully capitalize on the huge shift in US politics.
- Ritab - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 12:27 am:
“it was as exciting as a Bears game”
—————————————
what an apt analogy to compare the governor election to a Bears game–particularly this last game with the Washington Redskins, which, by most accounts, was one of the most poorly played NFL games in recent years, on both sides of the ball. That game was ugly in the first half and then became comically bad for the rest of game–and ultimately after each side had screwed up repeatedly and sometimes in ways that defied belief, it came down to the Redskins clanking a field goal off the goalpost giving the Bears yet another shot to win….and still, they threw an interception on the last drive, depriving them of the victory.
I’ll leave it to someone much smarter than me to compare fumble to fumble from the campaign to the game, but there is something about the analogy of winning ugly that caught my eye.
Moral of the story, both sides played poorly in the game and the campaign, unfortunately rules in both dictated that one side must win.
- wishing we had a third party - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 12:56 am:
- frustrated GOP
primary recounts are at the expense of the candidate, and I doubt he had the cash
- frustrated GOP - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 4:57 am:
I’m just saying someone with a few more moderated views would have won. The GOP never wins statewide with that side of the party, it’s not that type of state.
- someonehastosayit - Thursday, Nov 4, 10 @ 6:49 am:
Pot Calling Kettle asked: “The more interesting question would be how does a party get the best general election candidates out of the primary? This year, that was definitely an issue.”
Instant Runoff Voting is the answer. This year the Republicans had a candidate that 80% of their most loyal members (primary voters) voted against. With IRV the Dems never would have had Blago. I can’t see Topinka getting the nod when she did with IRV.