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Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* House Republican Leader Tom Cross talked to Sun-Times columnist Steve Huntley about the upcoming campaign…

Polling in six battleground legislative districts in the northwest suburbs commissioned by Cross found the Democratic-led General Assembly earning only a 24 percent approval rating, with 62 percent of voters disapproving.

Blagojevich fared even worse at 20 percent approval vs. 76 percent disapproving. “Suburban voters are very aware of the lack of state government, that the Democratic leadership can’t do anything of substance,” Cross said.

* Huntley didn’t publish head-to-head numbers from the six districts, leading me to wonder how the individual GOP candidates are actually faring, despite the low approval numbers for the General Assembly….

In the once solidly Republican suburbs, the poll found only a 1-percentage-point advantage for Republicans on the generic ballot.

That doesn’t bode well, considering these were all once solidly GOP districts.

* The “Obama Factor” is undoubtedly helping Dems in those districts - four of which are GOP held and two that are represented by Dems Crespo and Froehlich…

“It’s going to be a very tough year with Obama, the hometown guy with lots of appeal, at the head of their ticket,” Cross acknowledged. “But I don’t know why the voters would reward the Democrats [in Springfield] with more members.”

The reason voters may “reward” House Democrats for the gridlock is that the House Dems have refused to cooperate with the most unpopular governor in modern Illinois history - a governor who is also facing possible indictments on federal corruption charges.

Huntley also doesn’t mention Cross’ work with Blagojevich on the capital plan, and Cross’ repeated attempts to tamp down impeachment talk, going all the way back to last year when GOP Rep. Mike Bost demanded Blagojevich’s impeachment.

Cross is penned in because his political godfather, Denny Hastert, helped put together the capital plan. So now Cross is forced to say he trusts the governor to follow through on his capital promises, when everybody knows that this is highly unlikely. He’s in a tough spot. Blaming Democrats for not getting along with the governor is not the best message he could have going into November.

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Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Poll: Blagojevich is least popular governor in nation

Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rod Blagojevich is now the least popular governor in the country, according to Rasmussen Reports…

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich continues to earn poor ratings from voters. This month, just 13% of Illinois voters give him good or excellent ratings, while 60% give him a poor rating. Blagojevich ranks as “Least Popular Governor” according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers.

[Emphasis added]

Another 26 percent rated his performance as “fair,” so using the traditional ratings method, we get 86 percent “negative”.

That compares to President Bush’s Illinois rating of 26 percent positive and 57 percent poor [with 17 percent saying he’s doing a “fair” job].

* Toplines are here.

* More from the poll…

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is currently cruising towards re-election in his home state. The Democrat leads Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg 61% to 27% in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in the Prairie State.

When “leaners” are included Durbin leads 63% to 28%.

The incumbent leads by over thirty points among both men and women in Illinois. Durbin is backed by 93% of Democrats and 19% of Republicans. Sauerberg’s support comes from just 68% of Republicans and 4% of Democrats. Among unaffiliated voters, Durbin leads 52% to 24%.

* Meanwhile, this is somewhat odd…

Senator Barack Obama leads John McCain 50% to 37% in his home state of Illinois, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state. When “leaners” are included, Obama leads 52% to 41%.

As in many states, Obama has a strong lead among women in Illinois, but not among men. He leads 55% to 35% among women, but just 43% to 40% among male voters. […]

Most (56%) Illinois voters see getting the troops home from Iraq as more important than winning the war while 35% disagree and think winning the war is more important.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) favor drilling in offshore oil wells to ease gas prices, while 32% are opposed. Forty-eight percent (48%) of voters think it is at least somewhat likely that gas prices will decline if this practice is allowed, while 41% find this outcome unlikely.

…Adding… Considering the president’s numbers, it’s not surprising that a Bush fundraiser for Aaron Schock will not include a public appearance…

President George W. Bush is coming to Peoria on July 25 for a fundraiser for state Rep. Aaron Schock, a candidate for the 18th Congressional District.

The $500-per-person event will be at a private residence. Couples will have the opportunity to take photos with the president for $4,600. No public appearance is planned.

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