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I changed the headline, added a story and bumped this to the top so we can use it as the question of the day.

Use these stories as a jumping off point.

* ABC7

* Sun-Times

* Tribune

* Daily Herald

* SJ-R

Question: How did the two candidates do at last night’s debate?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:23 am

Comments

Great ‘reality TV’ ad from Topinka on this morning showing Rod stumbling trying to explain $1500 check.

Comment by bipartisan Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:19 am
Has Rod answered the question about taxes or anything else yet? how can he wina debate when he talks off talking points and answers no questions posed to him?

I am waiting to hear from the Topinka camp on the no bid contracts. I heard her on Don and Roma saying that everything is bid, but there may be extensions to lock in lower rates.

Rich, post the debate on youtube.

Governor Nix better have some answerd next time, it hopefully won’t be a debate between 10year olds.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:22 am
Well, well, well… you all know Rod beat depressed little Judy into the ground… seriously, she was wonderful… OK OK I can’t keep a straight face here! You know she was godawful, what is that mean old ’someone stole my milk’ look she has?

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:30 am
JBT’s commercial is priceless. It reinforces the fact that Rod accepting a $1500 check for a child’s birthday and doling out a job is indefensible. It also shows that the robot created by Team Blagojevich seems to short circuit when faced with tough questions. Looks like they better run Robo-vich into the shop for a tune up.

Comment by Hova Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:33 am
If the Democrats have a spine at all, they will get rid of the stained Blago.
How bout those Clowns with a Check? College Repub’s had a good one there!

Comment by Dawg Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:49 am
This second debate isn’t that about the time that Levine is suppose to be sentenced and spill the beans on Blago.The should get JBT a lot of mileage if he ain’t in jail.

Comment by DSOWNSTATE Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:52 am
I have a great idea! Why doesn’t Rod take the $1500 and pay some of the state’s backlogged Medicaid bills with it? Golly gee, but wouldn’t that be an idea?!

Comment by Angie Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 8:57 am
As we learned in 2004, debates are a waste of our time. Debates act as free ad time for candidates who say the exact same things during a debate as they do/would when they cut a commercial or commission a press release. Rod and his talking points get old real quick, and Judy’s sniping and acting like the token, “bitter” Republican is also growing old. However, Rod’s inability to come up with good quips or ideas when he is off-script is plain sad. He is too doctored by his advisors and if people can’t see that they should just accept four more years of ridiculous press statements and memorandums of understanding. But hey, I’m just a hard Republican, so what do I know?!

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:05 am
They both Suck….Rod sounds like one of those dolls that when you pull the string says the same things over and over again.

Judy Sounds like one of Marge Simpson’s sisters. and does a poor job at staying on the subject.

Comment by Wheres the leadership??? Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:11 am
There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this laughingstock of a governor of Illinois. But one does come to mind. “PUTZ”

Comment by Guy Fawkes Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:26 am
If I were toinka’s campaign I would not debate anymore. I thought that she was terrible. I didnt even know what she was saying half the time or the point that she was trying to make. Blago stayed on message and talked about tangible results that matter to people. All Topinka could do was whine and complain. Nothing new. Good job Rod!

Comment by Roomie Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:38 am
Why would she sit there and demand that she’s never done no-bid contracts when it’s that easy to prove she has? Can she even spell FOIA?

Comment by Snark Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:40 am
Since almost noone has answered the actual question, I will.

Not based on policy or like or dislike for either candidate it is hard to say that Blagojevich did not gain from that debate. If you look into polls it bascially shows that Blagojevich is not well liked but people are very skeptical about putting Topinka in charge.

At the debate, Topinka was not able to effectively attack on ethics and really when it came to policy she was not impressive and he was very good at sticking to his points and making it sound like he knew what he was talkimg about. So I can’t see the many people who were skeptical of Topinka going into the debate being any less skeptical, in fact they probably are more skeptical.

Comment by HANKSTER Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:42 am
Uh, The State Treasurer calls $ 1,500 FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Boy would I love having Judy making change at Kean Brothers Gas!

Comment by Pat Hickey Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:44 am
Why debate at all, the general public isn’t watching?

Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 9:46 am
Was there any discussion on here regarding the Suntimes/NBC5 poll? If not there should be.

Comment by Curious Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 10:01 am
The governor still has yet to answer the simple questions, “Where did the $1,500 check go? Into What account was it deposited? I really hope the press (or perhaps the Federal prosecuter) can force an answer to these questions.

Comment by one of the 35 Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 10:32 am
I listened to the Debate/bashing last night and found that at least Topinka attempted the questions with real answers….I don’t believe she was real effective and her use of words were, well lets just say not home run hitting……
However, Blaggs was not any better and even worse!
You could just tell that all answers were rehearsed and he never really answered questions just tried to attack Topinka…..not really trying to run on his record (which is smart on his part)…….Most of what Blaggs offered last night was a complete misled interpretation of what he has done or not done the last 4 years, put simply “HE LIED”,,,,, but we are used to that, now arn’t we!!!!
Can somebody say….”Progressive Party” !!!!

Comment by Big W Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 10:34 am
I keep reading that Judy herself voted in the leg. to forego pension funding one year. Can anyone tell me what year and what bill number that was? I want to see for myself. Miserable “debate.”

Comment by dekdem Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 10:41 am
I listened to the debates with a not politically active liberal 20-something woman. She didn’t like either candidate, but found the moderator particularly annoying.

I would say Rod won the debate with her when the parental notification issue came up.

Does this tell us more about my friend’s politics than the debate? Yes and no.

The debate was a success for Blagojevich in that he managed to polarize the audience around political issues.

Topinka failed to polarize the audience around corruption or Blagojevich’s personal failings.

Both candidates were trying too hard to say too much. Speaking too fast doesn’t sound good.

I wish Rich Whitney was included. I think he would have had a shot to sound more gubernatorial than Blago or Topinka since neither of them did well with their voices.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 10:46 am
Neither candidate deserves a vote after last night.

I don’t know if that means I’m not voting or voting for Whitney — but I’m certainly not voting for Blagojevich or Topinka.

Comment by Yvette Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 11:50 am
RE: $1500

Tax evasion will do you in Rod. Hope you declared the $1500 on your tax return.

Re: Debate. Who cares!

Comment by Al Capone Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 12:24 pm
Topinka has nothing to lose going into the debate. She made Blagojevich’s numerous scandals the focus of her charges. That is all she needed to do.

What the Democrats on this blog are complaining about is that she didn’t talk the issues they are concerned about. You see, Democrats don’t care about how corrupt the governor is. They don’t care how he sold jobs. They don’t care if he is the devil himself, as long as he tells them he favors Big Government and is committed to providing that Socialist Utopia they have been dreaming about all their lives.

As long as Blagojevich keeps saying that they can have something for nothing, Democrats don’t care what laws he breaks.

They just don’t get it. Blagojevich is the next George Ryan, and if he is re-elected, we get to see a sitting governor face trial. These people are nuts.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 1:21 pm
As was pointed out by “where’s the leadership” they both suck and as was also stated by a few before, nobody is paying attention anyway or cares. The winner’s last night were Whitney and McDonald’s who received free advertising on their new premium coffee courtesy of JBT who didn’t think to get the cup away from her face

Comment by GunGuy Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 2:15 pm
JBK hates Blago.
The Madigans hate Blago.
The Mayor hates Blago.
Dick Mell hates Blago.
I’m warming up to Blago.

Comment by Cousin Lymon Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 3:14 pm
does anyone know where to download lastnites debate. any help would be appreciated

Comment by downstate democ Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 5:27 pm
“downstate democ” you can download all of last night’s debate by going to this post.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 5:49 pm
I kept expecting something to happen like that scene in one of the Aliens films where the robot-disguised-as-a-human realizes that Ripley is onto something, so he then goes absolutely berserk. I was just waiting for Rod to lose it kinda like that. lol

Comment by Angie Tuesday, Oct 3, 06 @ 6:48 pm