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* UPDATED x2 - Obama calls Hynes * Obama not so subtly weighs in

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Illinois

*** UPDATE 1 *** Dan Hynes’ campaign manager just said Obama called Hynes as well and didn’t ask Hynes to concede.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From Hynes spokesman Matt McGrath…

While I would never pretend to speak for the President, it was a warm call, wherein he indicated that he understood our position that every vote should be counted.

[ *** End of Updates *** ]

* President Obama tried to force Dan Hynes’ hand today. No luck yet, though…

President Barack Obama called Gov. Pat Quinn to congratulate him on his win in the Democratic primary, even though back in Illinois opponent Dan Hynes has not conceded yet.

News of the phone call, which came at a White House press briefing, puts added pressure on Hynes, who is mulling his options as he trails Quinn by about 7,100 votes. […]

In the Democratic governor’s contest, Hynes is staying out of the public eye so far today.

“We are still in the same posture as last night, taking a look this morning at where things stand,” Hynes spokesman Matt McGrath said. “We’re not prepared to declare victory or concede until all the votes are counted.”

* Mayor Daley called for unity, but wouldn’t say whether Hynes should concede…

“I lost an election to Harold Washington in 1983, and the next day I had breakfast with Harold, and I supported him. Just like a basketball or football game, it’s over with, then you support the individual” he said.

But Daley refused to say that Comptroller Dan Hynes should concede to Gov. Pat Quinn and help strengthen the Democratic push to hold onto the governor’s mansion.
“I don’t know. It’s real close,” the mayor said. “I don’t know all the — I haven’t seen the end result.”

* More from Hynes…

“I don’t really want to get into the campaign’s mood, other than tired after a long night,” said Hynes spokesman Matt McGrath. “For the time being, we are waiting for every vote to be counted, and that will be our posture for the foreseeable future.”

Thom Serafin, a Chicago political strategist who has advised both Republicans and Democrats in the past, said the feeling on the ground is that Quinn will probably narrowly escape with a win, but that Hynes could mount a recount.

“Dan Hynes has a determination to make on proceeding with any kind of discovery,” he said. “He probably should do it with how close it is.”

* The latest results as of 1:46 pm…

llinois - 11118 of 11215 Precincts Reporting - 99%
Quinn , Pat (i) Dem 451,871 50%
Hynes , Daniel Dem 444,779 50%

* What’s left to count in Cook County…

There’s also about 800 provisional ballots that need to be verified and at least 1,000 absentee ballots to be counted. The absentee ballots had to be postmarked Monday, but have two weeks to arrive at county offices.

Around 7,000 total absentee ballots were sent out, and about 3,700 already have been counted.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 1:50 pm

Comments

The longer Hynes holds out the more damage he does to himself especially now with the Obama call and Daley’s veiled referenced to how he acted after losing.

Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 1:54 pm
So, he’s down by 7000, and there are 5100 yet to be counted.

If he gets them ALL, he’s still down 1900.

I know it sucks to lose, but time to fess up, you lost.

Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 1:59 pm
If Hynes keeps this up too long, he will reinforce the image of a negative cutthroat campaigner. His personality isn’t very warm, so he needs to watch his image.

Comment by ouch Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:03 pm
I doubt if you could raise the money for a recount with this margin.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:03 pm
In all honesty Hynes will make the decision when it’s right for him. He is not a child and does need to be told what to do here. He strikes me as someone who is reasonable and fair. People ought to just back up and give him some time and space on this.

I appreciate that it is customary to concede right away, but so he doesn’t? Who’s affected by it? No one really. The world is not going to come to an end. It’s a symoblic gesture, but at the end of the day, who cares?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:04 pm
Hynes is not doing himself any favors. If it’s 700 instead of 7000 — okay, he might have a point.

But 7000 is large enough to make it look like he’s incapable of dealing with a loss — which is the last thing we need at this point. Recount the GOP gov race — fine. It’s close. But this is 10X more of a spread than the GOP race.

This makes him a whiner. The time clock for a tough but graceful concession is ticking down.

Comment by Macbeth Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:06 pm
So does this mean that all election day and early voting votes have been counted?

Comment by Red Ranger Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:08 pm
During last years Dem primary season Obama’s team repeatedly “subltly” pressured Hillary to drop out. The Hillary supporters and PUMAs the Obama faction offended will never forget it. If the Democratic party wants the rifts and anger created in the Quinn/Hynes race to heal and congeal into a united party for November, they better let nature take its course and tread on Hynes and his voters gingerly and carefully right now. Trying to force a concession is a very silly thing for them to do, considering how close the election was.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:08 pm
One thing being ignored is that some downstate counties do not count absentee ballot until the next day, so those are not in the initial totals. No way to know how many but since Hynes won downstate it will definitely help him some.

Comment by Observer Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:09 pm
“You know, the Old Man says ‘Maybe he should walk away’, and when the Old Man say ‘maybe you should walk away,’ you run!”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:12 pm
Everyone said Hillary Clinton was toast if she didn’t end her campaign early — nobody will remember if Hynes holds off conceding for day — well, they’ll remember but it won’t be a big deal.

Go Brady! The last thing Quinn needs is a qualified moderate like Dillard.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:13 pm
Oswego Willy, your post illustrates exactly what is wrong with the democratic party in Illinois, chicago and the county of cook: mob mentality.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:15 pm
Responsa, the Hillary situation was much different that this one. She actually had a chance to win the nomination and then there’s that matter of the DNC meeting and bad decisions. the anger exists to this day with many supporters.

but i do agree that these things must be handled delicately. I like the Mayor’s approach. and, surprisingly, I feel sorry for Dan with the public nature of Obama’s call to Quinn. yes it’s true that Dan attached himself to Obama in kind of a weird way, but
the Obama call has to sting badly for Dan and he must hurt
mightily. i feel sorry for him.

but not sorry enough to stop saying, it’s over Dan, concede.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:16 pm
I thought it was subtle, but an effective, quote for this development …

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:17 pm
I know this race is important to the Dems but this is the one place I find fault with Obama. He doesn’t need to weigh in on every little skirmish that happens out here. He can’t be all things to all situations. It’s stuff like this that makes it look like he can’t focus on the big issues because he is preoccupied with trivia. Let these guys work this out and if Hynes steps on it in his handling of the situation then it reflects bad on him. I think more people are concerned about what happens to the fiscal situation from now until November than cares what day Hynes concedes.

Comment by Irish Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:25 pm
Daley pumped up a pretty good vote for Hynes in the 11th. Maybe he should sit down with Quinn too.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:25 pm
Will the cash tsunami that Obama and co. will be sending to Illinois from Washington to bolster our Pat’s campaign benefit us taxpayers I wonder. Maybe even help Pat find his way to making his regressive middle class tax increase more progressive and Pat more electable. Or will Democratic “campaign contributors” and their contractor cronies be the main beneficiaries.

Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:26 pm
“yes it’s true that Dan attached himself to Obama in kind of a weird way, but
the Obama call has to sting badly for Dan and he must hurt mightily.”

I don’t agree with any of that, and I don’t get any sense that Hynes is personalizing any of this to that extent or that portrayl. he shouldn’t be.

I do think that Hynes was held and is still being held to a higher standard than Quinn. Quinn behaved poorly and was the worst of the two of them. In fact I don’t think Hynes behaved poorly at all nor do I think he is now.

Given the circumstances of this race, I can appreciate that he wants to take some time in considering his next steps.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:27 pm
Hynes is done politically so he might as well ask for a recount, same philosophy as the Harold commercial. I still remember after he lost to Obama in the Senate primary, Hynes stating something to the effect that with all the money that has to be raised it isn’t worth.

Comment by Jimmy Joe Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:29 pm
cassandra, it’s really nice to believe that the GOP campaign contributors and their contractor cronies are never beneficiaries of the GOP - it’s also nice to believe in tooth fairies and leprechauns. Believe me - the cash tsunami will not be flowing to Dems ONLY.

Comment by babs Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:41 pm
oh the fits of pique of the Hynes set! it turns out privilege does have responsibilities.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 3:41 pm
Who cares if or when Hynes concedes?

It didn’t stop Quinn from declaring victory, and Hynes pledged to support Quinn if things didn’t go his way.

Whether you supported Hynes or not, anyone who’s been involved in politics at all should be able to appreciate how heart-wrenching it is to come in second by such a close margin.

It sucks.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 3:51 pm