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Jackson announces committee

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Illinois

The Congressman sure sounds like a candidate to me.

Sketching out an ambitious plan that he promised could change politics in Chicago, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said Wednesday “it’s more likely than not” that he would run for mayor next year.

In announcing that a committee would be formed to explore his chances, Jackson said there was a 75 percent chance that he would run in February, and he sought to position himself as the most viable alternative to Mayor Richard Daley.

To conduct a credible campaign, Jackson said it would take registering 100,000 new voters and raising between $4 million and $6 million. He also said he is working to recruit a slate of candidates for city clerk, city treasurer and about 15 City Council seats.

But this buried bit shows that the West Side won’t be on board.

At an unrelated news conference, Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) let loose on Jackson.

Carothers, who defeated a Jackson-backed aldermanic challenger in 2003, accused Jackson of being a do-nothing congressman with “an ego as big as this building” and aspiring to be “king of the world.”

The vitriolic broadside unnerved Daley, who was nearby. The mayor turned to Carothers and said, “Ike, give it a rest.”

Carothers is most famous for putting together a strong patronage army and steering people into well-paid government jobs for an area long neglected by the Machine.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:40 am

Comments

Yet another in a long line of political candidates who claim to have throngs of people calling/e-mailing/coming up to them and begging them to run. Who are these people (besides potential patronage hires)? I’ve never met one. Memo to candidates: The “little voices in your head” do not count.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 8:48 am
I honestly wish that the Mayor’s race coincided with the congressional races. This way, Jr. couldn’t or would’t risk his safe seat for frivolity. He won’t run but will use these coming weeks to bone up on his oratory skills. Blah blah blah.

Comment by John Lee Pettimore Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:04 am
If he would have any chance at all of winning a race against Daley Jackson would have to put together a strong coalition of African American and lakefront liberals. He is fairly popular among the lakefront, not where he would need to be but he is well liked. Among African Americans however there is a sure split with many leaders in the community opposed to Jackson. If he cant fix that his small chance of being a serious challenger to Daley becomes almost none.

Comment by HANKSTER Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:18 am
Kid Staples will reach out to Anti- Daley white ethnics, maybe not Frank Coconate, but other singularly anti-Daley aldermanic candidates. John Sommerville in the 19thWard is running as ‘the’ outsider, anit-Regular Organization, Progressive, Uber-Independent and would no doubt welcome Jackson’s help.

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:45 am
Hey Pat,
shouldn’t you be on lunchroom duty or something? Sommerville is a machine guy with a patronage job in th SA’s office. Not much of an independent or very progressive.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:53 am
I got a hall pass, Bill.

No John Sommerville is Independent, Progressive, Anti-Machine, Permanently Pressed, Wrinkle Free, and Itching for Real Honest-to Godness - No Kidding Reform and in blocks to through the Rascals Out! Watch the Man Go!

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:01 am
Hickey rumor has it, that you are running Somerville and Jackson campaigns.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:22 am
I will neither deny nor confirm such a fact.

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 11:27 am
“…a strong coalition of African American and lakefront liberals.”

Is setting the wayback machine to 1983 the best option given 20+ years of demographic change?

Comment by HappyToaster Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 2:35 pm
If any of you believe there is a large amount of white support out there for a “JR” campaign you are nuts. He got elected because of his name and his name will also keep him from ever achieving citywide or statewide office. Now if Barack Obama were running for Mayor then Daley would need to be concerned. Obama is perceived as a post racial candidate. “JR” is perceived as a racial candidate. While I am sure “JR” would get a large majority of the black vote I doubt it would be at more than the 65% level. There are just too many black folks out there who don’t approve of his dad or remember the way Mayor Washington viewed Rev. Jackson.

Outside divine intervention there is no chance “JR” would get a significant percentage of the white vote or hispanic votes. He is a one “racial” candidate and you can’t get elected here with that.

I expect Daley will poll 50% plus and avoid a runoff.

Comment by IrishPirate Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 3:20 pm
sommerville would be nuts to hook up with JR. Jr’s name is dirt in the 19th ward but I’m sure Rugai would love everyones help linking them. way to many black ward organizations and pols hate and I mean hate JR. stroger, Shaw, carouthers, terry peterson and beavers. these are big well organized machine groups. Daley wins four more years.

Comment by 19th ward hater Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 4:59 pm
I thought Pat Hickey got scared off this board or JJ (Joyce not Jackson) told him to not go on.

Comment by Pickles Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 4:59 pm
Jesse Jackson is hearing voices. There is no scientific evidence nor methods available for him to win his campaign.

Brian Hynes and the Vrdolyak money faction are behind Jackson.

Comment by Vincent F Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 5:01 pm
This is merely taking a page from the Reverend Senator Meek’s hymn book and greenmailing the mayor like the Reverend did with Blago over education funding. Look for this committee to fold as soon as a back-room “accomodation” has been reached.

Comment by Say what Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:03 pm
Crikey!

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 6:55 pm
Say what (or others) - What exactly does Jr want from Daley?

Jr., et al, all complain about a lack of investment in their neighborhoods and they make it sound like it is tax dollars when it is really private $. (Without private money, Millennium Park would be just sod on top of a garage.)

Is this just about Peotone? I thought Daley has said Peotone is OK as long as he gets a larger O’Hare.

Comment by RBD Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 9:31 pm
Here’s a good question: As mayor of Chicago, why would JJJr give a flying flip about Peotone? It’s a good issue for his congressional district, but a non-issue for the job he may be seeking…even though he has been a one trick pony on it his whole congressional career. There are not going to be too many jobs generated by this 5-terminal-one-runway-and-a-windsock airport, never mind that it is 25 to 55 miles away from his potential constituents who may be seeking jobs.

I drove by Mid America Airport a few months ago (the white elephant in the Metro East area, which some are predicting will be the similar fate of Peotone if it is built). It was nice to watch the tumbleweeds blow around.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:49 pm
He’s also going on a “listening tour” of all 50 wards. Has there ever been a potential candidate who has gone on a “listening tour” where “the people” told them NOT to run? Not likely.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 12:08 am
19th ward…beavers, shaw strong organizations? You gotta be kidding. Even carrothers and stroger will have to adjust once the next round of inditements surface.

Comment by anon Friday, Sep 8, 06 @ 7:21 am