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I would suppose that any interest they could generate couldn’t hurt, but the Tribune’s headline wasn’t all that helpful to the GOP: State Republicans grasp a straw poll…
Illinois Republicans are trying to rejuvenate interest in their party by considering a non-binding presidential straw poll that would be held at this summer’s state fair if a Democratic-backed plan to move up next year’s primary date succeeds.
The move by the state GOP comes as top Republicans have begun aligning themselves with various presidential campaigns, reflecting the hurried race for the White House that formally begins with the Iowa caucuses in January.
“We’re in the early stages of trying to put something together,” state GOP Chairman Andy McKenna said. “The whole notion of a Republican [presidential] primary in Illinois is helpful in terms of what we’re trying to do, in helping Republicans think about why they’re Republicans in the first place.”
And I think this next part is exactly right…
But some believe Obama would face little challenge in a favorite-son bid to win Illinois delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating convention. Instead, the focus in Illinois might be on a GOP presidential field seeking the state’s Republican nominating delegates.
Also in the story is the revelation that House GOP Leader Tom Cross will serve as Rudy Giulianni’s state campaign chairman. Rep. Jim Durkin has already signed onto the McCain campaign, bringing several legislators with him.
Anyway, what do you think of this straw poll idea?
* Meanwhile…
DuPage County Republican leaders plan to meet April 15 to vote in state Sen. Dan Cronin as the new county GOP chairman, said the current chief, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, Monday.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 8:41 am
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I like the idea!
The Illinois Democratic Presidential primary is over. So, there would be no news to report from there. But networks will still invest in it to satisfy their pro-Obama media coverage. As a result, networks will report on anything else of interest politically that night, and a Republican straw vote for president would be covered.
It is a good idea.
A better idea is to start promoting the Illinois GOP as a party with a “Guarantee” that any nominated candidate would not be allowed to run for re-election if unethical or illegal conduct becomes a source of problems. They need to start developing an Anti-Blagojevich-Reform party image. A campaign promoting a “GOP Guarantee” would be a great start to building trust in a party currently unworthy of it.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 9:38 am
Given the Democratic Party rules for delegate selection, which mandate proportional allocation, Obama will still face challengers in Illinois, since they should be able to pare off a significant number of delegates in each Congressional District (particularly Senator Clinton, a native of this state). So if these Republicans want to debate how to arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, it is of little concern to me, since I am convinced that whoever prevails at their convention will be giving a concession speech fairly early on Election Night, 2008.
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 9:48 am
“A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows.” — O. Henry
Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 10:10 am
I don’t know what the purpose of a straw poll is. But if this helps to strengthen the state GOP then I guess it’s no problem.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 10:23 am
We saw how the Republicans (Shimkus) can be relied upon to break their vows when the spirit moves them.
Comment by i d Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 10:49 am
Srawpoll, Jawpoll
The only thing that will save the GOP (as in MOPE) is to push BrickheadJoe to the forefront as the man to beat in 10.
Ignore the fact he is a two time loser statewide.
Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 11:08 am
I am not opposed to it. However, if Carrie Underwood is performing on stage at the same time…..
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 11:12 am
Do any of the presidential candidates get the Oberweis treatment (i.e. extra straws?)
Comment by Outsider Looking In Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 11:14 am
This seems to me to be an example of the GOP leadership not knowing its voter base. That base will not be motivated to travel any distance to attend a rally in the August heat the way Democrat activists and union members can be made to by their leadership.
Comment by Anonymoose Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 7:30 pm
Anonymoose, when your leadership “makes” you do something, is that really leadership or is that rather dictatorship?
Comment by Long Time Reader; First Time Poster Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 10:51 pm
What a lame idea. The couple of hundred Repubs who have been attending recent Republican Days at the Fair can’t do much to fix the GOP by filling out some scraps of paper for a meaningless vote.
The news this summer will be that thousands of Democrats came to Democrat Day to hear Obama (and Clinton?), and a few hundred (at most) Republicans stopped by on Republican Day to get ready for the next sound thrashing.
I don’t even know why McKenna is still around. He doesn’t even seem to like the job of Party chair, and he clearly has no clue what he’s doing.
Comment by GOP'er Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 10:58 pm
[…] Repubs hope to generate more interestI would suppose that any interest they could generate couldn’t hurt, but the Tribune’s headline wasn’t all that helpful to the GOP: State Republicans grasp a straw poll… Illinois Republicans are trying to rejuvenate interest in their … […]
Pingback by Your Guide To Cash And Happiness » Blog Archive » Repubs hope to generate more interest Tuesday, Mar 27, 07 @ 11:26 pm
McKenna has an impossible job at the moment and is as good a guy as the IL GOP has. Do you think the three before him did a whole lot better?
Comment by T.J. Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 10:19 am