Show me the names
Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Twitters…
The link leads to yet another story about more talk of a Downstate Democrat running for governor, without any clue as to who might ultimately be that candidate…
In preliminary discussions, among the potential names mentioned as a 2014 candidate is state Sen. Michael Frerichs, a Champaign Democrat, who’s preparing a bid for state treasurer. Phelps, who raised his profile during the guns debate, said he isn’t interested in higher office right now but didn’t fully rule out the possibility.
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, a Carbondale resident who showed she can win statewide support, says she’s seeking higher office, but most likely comptroller or attorney general. Her decision may rest on whether Madigan ultimately decides to run for governor.
State Sen. John Sullivan of Rushville, the assistant Senate majority leader, says he’s been asked about the possibility of a candidacy but wants to stay where he is.
“There’s been a little bit of discussion on that subject,” he said. “The gun issue has heightened that discussion.”
* Until I see a name, this is little more than a Downstate temper tantrum.
Look, petitions start going out in less than two months. A candidate would have to immediately set up a very big campaign network and raise tons of money. Running for governor ain’t easy. It’s a complicated process in a very large state.
* Related…
* Quinn to East St. Louis to announce last phase of bridge work
* Quinn says his organizing skills will lead him to re-election
* Meet Doug Truax, Dick Durbin’s potential 2014 opponent
* Johnson campaign committee changes name: The Urbana Republican’s campaign fund had been called “Friends of Tim Johnson.” Now it is known as “Middle Ground PAC,” and is listed as a leadership political action committee.
- Fed up - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 11:35 am:
How exactly has Sheila Simon shown she can win state wide support. She hasn’t won anything
- John Boch - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 11:47 am:
Frerichs or Phelps would be an order of magnitude better than Governor Irrelevant. Both are decent guys.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 11:47 am:
==Silver predicted in October 2010 that Republican Bill Brady had a 91-percent chance of swamping Quinn at the polls a month later. Quinn wound up eking out a 32,000-vote win over the state senator from Bloomington.==
Nate doesn’t miss often, and never when he has something in the 90% range. Quinn’s victory/Brady’s loss really was remarkable.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 11:49 am:
===Nate doesn’t miss often, and never when he has something in the 90% range.===
Garbage in, garbage out. There were just too many bad polls that didn’t include all the candidates’ names. The Tribune’s pollster was the first to show a tight race because he polled all the names. Almost nobody else did.
- Spliff - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:34 pm:
Rich take that back. How can you say the Trib got something right?
- dogboy - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
In theory a downstate governor candidate makes a great deal of sense. However, money, lack of name id will keep most potential downstaters out of the race. My guess is that some smart Democrat pol is going to be tabbed for the Lt. Gov. .Think battle tested Democratic Senators like Haine, Forby, Frerichs, Jacobs, and/ or Sullivan.
- Leatherneck - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:04 pm:
Any possibility that Rich Whitney might run again for the Green Party in 2014–especially if there’s no downstate Democratic candidate that steps forward for the primary?
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:13 pm:
This all seems like noise to make sure some downstate dem makes the ticket as lite gov.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
All signs point to Forby!
- Been There - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:25 pm:
===hink battle tested Democratic Senators like Haine, Forby, Frerichs, Jacobs, and/ or Sullivan.===
Everyone of these guys would spend the entire primary answering the question on how they reconcile themselves running with someone who is anti-gun. No matter if they team up with Quinn, Daley or Madigan.
- Deep South - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:46 pm:
There’s no way Forby can win statewide. And Simon has not proven she can win statewide support. I’m all for a “downstate” candidate, but it won’t be one of those two. Admittedly, no one comes to mind.
- A guy... - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 4:37 pm:
If all signs point to Forby, they must be done in Braille.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 5:14 pm:
==Any possibility that Rich Whitney might run again for the Green Party in 2014–especially if there’s no downstate Democratic candidate that steps forward for the primary?==
If he does, I will probably vote for him again. Position papers (actual policy essays) and honesty go a long way for me. From everything I know Whitney is a good guy and I like that I am able to examine his positions and ideas in depth that is usually greater than that of the people he has run against in the past. That’s not to say that Whitney is a good politician, because if he was some consultant would wean him off those kinds of things.
- A Casual Observer - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 7:14 pm:
Is there any chance that Sheila changes her mind and agrees to run for Lt. Governor with Pat for one more term? Now that Lisa has publicly stated that she is staying put on her safe little island as A.G., Sheila might have second thoughts and could reconsider running as L.G. in order to give Pat a strong downstate presence. That should would help him. Her last name represents name recognition and stands for integrity in government with both Republicans and Democrats.
- Just The Way It Is One - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 8:19 pm:
Interesting. Pat Quinn really does have to catch-up some with folks Downstate, despite his frustration the conceal and carry veto override defeat and the fact that his Base resides in Chicago and Cook County. Regardless, he will DEFinitely need some of those Voters to(no pun intended)”squeeze” over the Top again to win, come next year in the Primary and/or General Elections…!
- Excessively Rabid - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 9:28 pm:
Voting GOP this time irregardless. Even an insane Republican is better than this (Blago, Quinn, what’s the next item in this sequence?). Even if it’s Oberweis. Does George’s conviction rule him out?