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* It almost seems as if the Chicago media is attempting to will a Downstate Democrat into the governor’s race. As I’ve pointed out twice before, stories keep appearing about a mythical candidate who could sweep in and take all those Downstate counties away from Pat Quinn and Bill Daley without actually naming somebody who is willing and able to run.

Another one popped up last night...

One new name as a possible Democratic contender is state Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria), who has a strong labor backing.

I called Sen. Koehler yesterday and he laughed and laughed. No way is he running for governor.

Just to be on the safe side, I also called Sen. Mike Frerichs last night. Frerichs was mentioned in an AP story as a possible candidate. He ain’t running for governor, either.

* And now we have a new twist…

State Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, also had been considering a bid for attorney general. Raoul, who has been a Senate Democratic negotiator on major issues including pension changes and concealed carry legislation, appeared to rule out lower offices but left open the possibility of a run for governor.

“I had a pretty good fundraising quarter, and I think the work that I’ve done allows me the opportunity to reflect on my options,” Raoul told the Tribune.

Sen. Raoul seemed surprised to find out this morning that his name had been floated. He said he’d think about it for a day, so he didn’t exactly give me a strong indication that he’d be running for governor this time around.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:28 am

Comments

That’s too bad. I would vote for Dave Koehler in a heart beat!

Comment by Spliff Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:37 am
Chicago media people are just bored.

Comment by Cassiopeia Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:38 am
A thought …

AG, S.O.S. and Comptroller seem to be lacking any sizzle come 2014, given the incumbents, and two Chicago Dems running for Governor gives people south of I-80 no reason to grab a paper and … care … what is written in the Chicago papers, so why not add a 3rd candidate, and if that 3rd “candidate” happens to be someone from downstate, or adds a twist outside white males in their later years, why not push that agenda?

I would comment further, but between the MJM conspriacy to help Lisa run for governor, the SSM push, and this idea of throwing …anyone else … in the mix for governor, my tinfoil hat fell off and landed on my plate crushing my Cannoli…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:38 am
I know he’s not “downstate”, but I wonder if Jack Franks is giving any thoughts to a run.

Comment by LincolnLounger Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:40 am
I think Sen. Raoul should think about it some more. Unlike many state legislators, he seems less persuaded by the idea that middle class state retirees should pay for the sins of legislatures past through a drastic cola reduction that is probably unconstitutional anyway. Taking this position in the face of powerful opposition within not only the business community but his own party takes some spine. This is encouraging in light of the other likely candidates, all of whom so far come from a vintage same-old mold in both parties.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:44 am
I don’t agree that it’s “tinfoil hat” worthy to suggest a third candidate, given the right circumstances. Raoul raised a lot of money, has (or should have been) working on building a statewide campaign and is a well-regarded legislator. Quinn won the primary largely because of the black vote, so having possibly the strongest-ever black candidate for governor would, at the least, turn the primary into a very interesting race.

The Koehler and Frierichs stuff is just jcaused by ournalistic boredom.

Comment by Snucka Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:47 am
**I know he’s not “downstate”, but I wonder if Jack Franks is giving any thoughts to a run.**

Of course he has thought of it… he always thinks of running statewide. But do tell what constituency Franks brings to the table? What is his path to a Dem primary victory? It simply isn’t there.

Comment by dave Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:48 am
Here’s an amateur perspective: to grossly oversimplify , there are about four blocs in the Dem primary. There’s the “Vallas vote” in the north side and Cook suburbs, there can be the African-American vote with the right candidate, and then there is the “Lipinski vote.” And last there is the “Poshard vote” which has been known to team up with the Lipinski vote.

The problem is to win with Downstate strategy you need the other candidates to split the vote just so. And it also helps to -be- Glenn Poshard. Otherwise I expect in a crowded field for Downstate to play a major role but it’s more the candidate from anywhere who really campaigns for it, like Blagojevich in 2002.

And yes if he had the fire in the belly for it, the money and the cards fell right, Kwame Raoul might be the candidate who has the potential to fuse the Vallas vote and the AFrican American vote, which as Obama showed is damn hard to stop. Keep working those phones today Senator…

Comment by ZC Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 9:55 am
Quinn vs. Daley…man, that has an old and tired feel to it. A pair of aging, white bald guys whose names have been engrained in Illinois politics for decades. Both have more political liabilities than assets. Neither has any chance of exciting the Democratic base.

This race screams out for a fresh face…I just don’t know who it is. It’s getting late, too late to put together any kind of legit challenge. In order to have any chance, a third candidate would have to have a go-to, natural base…so a black, female, or downstate candidate makes sense.

Problem is, if a third candidate from anyone of those groups does jump in, the math gets scrambled again. Say Kwame runs, then Sheila Simon will see an opening as the only woman and only downstater in a four way race. But I don’t see how any incumbent loses a four way primary, not even Pat Quinn.

My guess, Quinn beats Daley head-to-head; Credible, “fresh-face” third candidate beats Quinn and Daley; Quinn wins war of attrition in four-way race.

Comment by Frank Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:06 am
How would Sheila Simon fair against Quinn and Daley?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:10 am
Raoul has an interesting resume. Child of immigrants. Former prosecutor, but strong on protecting the rights of the accused. Pension reform leader. Young compared to the other two guys in the race. Kind of cool in person. Hmmm — he probably wouldn’t win this round, but it’s an opportunity to introduce himself statewide.

State Senator Raoul was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 30, 1964, to Haitian-born immigrants Janin Raoul, M.D. and Marie Therese Raoul Senator Raoul has served the people of the 13th Legislative District since November 6, 2004. Raoul, who is a lifelong resident of the Hyde Park/Kenwood area, was tapped to fill the vacancy left by former State Senator Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate.

A leading progressive voice in the Illinois Senate, Raoul has allowed real life experiences to shape his legislative philosophy. Since his arrival in Springfield, Raoul has championed legislation on criminal justice reform including the recent historic legislation that abolishes the death penalty , legislation creating the Torture Inquiry Commission and legislation promoting diversion programs for non-violent offenders.. He also championed legislation aimed at breaking the code of silence by deterring intimidation of those who cooperate with law enforcement officers.

As chairman of the Senate’s Pension and Investment Committee, Sen. Raoul has fought hard for pension ethics reform and has led efforts to expand opportunities for minority and women-owned financial service firms and ridding the State’s pension systems of corruption. As chairman of the Senate’s Redistricting Committee, Sen. Raoul introduced legislation that created the Illinois Voting Rights Act to protect racial and language minorities in the legislative redistricting process. In addition, Raoul serves as Vice-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee and a member of the Judiciary and Financial Institutions Committees.

Raoul has supported efforts to create and retain jobs in the State of Illinois including convention center reforms and a multibillion dollars capital bill. He has been the chief sponsor of legislation to extend the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit to companies in order to retain and create jobs in our state. He recently championed the effort to pass comprehensive workers compensation reform that will save Illinois employers in excess of half a billion dollars.

As chairman of the Senate’s Pension and Investment Committee, Sen. Raoul has fought hard for pension ethics reform and has led efforts to expand opportunities for minority and women-owned financial service firms and ridding the State’s pension systems of corruption. As chairman of the Senate’s Redistricting Committee, Sen. Raoul introduced legislation that created the Illinois Voting Rights Act to protect racial and language minorities in the legislative redistricting process. In addition, Raoul serves as Vice-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee and a member of the Judiciary and Financial Institutions Committees.

When not serving in Springfield, Raoul serves as a partner with the law firm of Quarles & Brady. Raoul previously served as a prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and as in house counsel for the City Colleges of Chicago.

Raoul is a graduate of DePaul University (B.A., Political Science) and the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is a resident of the Hyde Park community in Chicago where he lives with his wife Kali and his two children Che (13) and Mizan (11).

Comment by Interesting Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:18 am
I heard some downstate guy with the initials RM is considering a gov run with a cute dog as his campaign manager. Details at 10pm.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:19 am
And no I don’t work for Raoul. I just went over to his website, saw his bio, and thought I would save everybody a google.

Comment by Interesting Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:19 am
I’m sure if Raoul runs, Burris will offer himself as a stalking horse for the right price.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:28 am
If only Manar wasn’t a freshman….

Comment by Under Influenced Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:32 am
I heard a guy on WBEZ this morning saying that if Kwame should run or gov, and that if he does, it’s bad news for Quinn because he needs the black vote. I think that’s probably right.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:40 am
word, is there space left on the mausoleum?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 10:51 am
–word, is there space left on the mausoleum?–

Always room for paying customers, AA.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:06 am
Is the 13th Senate district downstate now?

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:13 am
Adding…There are three constituency groups that really matter in a Democratic Primary, particularly in a relatively low-turn out nonpresidential year: African-Americans, liberals, and labor.

Quinn has traditionally done well with black voters — but that ends if an African American candidate gets in the race. Quinn has an edge over Daley among liberals, though his support is far from enthusiastic. Labor has ample reason to distrust both.

The more I think of it, the more both should fear a Kwame candidacy. He’s certainly is not perfect, but he has the ability to appeal to all three of those constituency groups in a way neither Quinn or Daley can. He’s a black, Hyde Park liberal who has sided with labor on pension reform. And he can play off his natural Barack connections. Very dangerous.

Comment by Frank Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 11:16 am
I’ve met Kwame several times and like him personally very much. But I don’t think he’s ready for prime-time. I think he’d be better served by staying in the senate for a bit and letting the substance catch up with the hype.

Comment by ChicagoR Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 12:03 pm
Kwame is a nice guy. He does stumble over his words quite often but I would guess his bio would make him an attractive Lt Gov candidate for either Daley or Quinn.

Comment by Ouch Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:10 pm
what happened to the green party and Whitney?(sp?)

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:14 pm
Most everything produces talk but really very few things produce action.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 1:29 pm
>> Kwame is a nice guy. He does stumble over his words quite often

Comment by ZC Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 4:44 pm
Sorry, typing difficulty. Well, we know THAT disqualifies one to be Governor of Illinois …

Comment by ZC Tuesday, Jul 16, 13 @ 4:46 pm
Interesting-

Yes you do.

Comment by Lobo y Olla Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:48 am