Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

LaHood for guv?

Posted in:

Illinois

GOP Congressman Ray LaHood will reportedly announce the formation of an exploratory committee for governor tomorrow. Stay tuned.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 4:27 pm

Comments

WOW.

HOW can he appeal to anyone north of Joliet (or 10 miles out of Peoria for that matter)?

I am with Zorn for now…L. Madigan.

Comment by Bo Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 4:52 pm
Elucidating post, sir, as usual. LaHood(who happens to be my US Rep) is personas non grata among conservatives, and has, by his membership in the Kirk-led liberal Tuesday Group, somewhat declared war on the Speaker. His virulent antics and votes against the “rules change”(the rules change was later reversed, at Kirk’s urging) have not endeared him to the party machine. Kirk continues to enjoy generally amicable relations with the Speaker, chiefly because he does not share LaHood’s inclination for ad hominem jeremiads.

Comment by AmyEAllen Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 5:12 pm
LaHood has a reputation as a conciliator in Washington, but some of the comments he has made in Illinois have rubbed people the wrong way. He was the only republican elected in 1994 who didn’t sign the Contract for America and many conservative leaders in Washington do not think highly of him… many lobbyists, however, do.

He’s been a pretty decent constituent service guy and he has helped Illinois conservatives in Washington by supporting their nominations to government positions in the Bush Administration. This could, ostensibly, mitigate some of the ire that would most likely come from the right.

Finally, the congressional delegation from Illinois has been one of the few bright spots in the IL GOP. They’ve been doing fine. They are still considered among state political watchers as simply guys who bring home the bacon (not even Hastert gets his due among these party folk)…They don’t have much in the way of patronage (Governor as King) some old hats ignore them. But since the demise of the state party we have seen these guys — especially the Speaker — assert themselves more forcefully. In sum, a La Hood candidacy is a mixed bag.

Comment by Greg Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 6:53 pm
I predicted a couple years ago that Ray LaHood would be running for governor in ‘06; after all, he’s built himself up in the House, sitting on Select Intelligence and Appropriations and has enjoyed sizable reelection victories. All the while, he has been working hard to portray himself as the voice of reason and moderation among Illinois Republicans. Furthermore, now would probably be the best time for him to do it…with Rod not faring so well in opinion circles in so-called “downstate”, even among Democrats (I prefer to recognize that there is a difference between Central Illinois and Southern Illinois).

I think it is wrong to underestimate Ray LaHood. For purposes of full disclosure, he is my representative in the House; however I am a Democrat and have not voted for him. But, I think he believes his moderate, non-dogmatic approach to politics will be attractive to the Illinois electorate. And I think he might be right. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Comment by Jason Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 7:03 pm
I like Ray and he would make a great Gov. But he will get clock cleaned in the primary by the right wing of the GOP. Just go the Illinoisleader.com and read what those freaks think of him. My advise to Ray would be to stay in Washington where he is loved by his district. He is my congressman by the way.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 7:17 pm
I hear some of Madigan’s people will be involved.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 11, 05 @ 7:32 pm
Am I the only one who thinks it will be “payback” for his clamoring to get a primary challenger to Fitzgerald? And then LaHood’s guy finished 4th?

He was more on target with Crane, but should have been telling that to Crane privately after 2002.

Ironically, he will suffer the same fate as Fitzgerald, for the same reason. Failure to keep & build support in the state will doom him.

Will he need to give up his house seat to run? Can he run in the primary for both gov & his house seat?

Comment by Pat Collins Wednesday, Jan 12, 05 @ 10:27 am
I hope he runs… I think it would make for an exciting capaign. By the way, I’ve heard from a number of people that Manny Flores (1st Ward Chicago Alderman) is looking into running against Jesse White in the primary for Secretary of State; has anyone else heard that?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 12, 05 @ 9:01 pm
Run Manny Run. Jesse is reportedly not all there these days anyway, and the SOS Office has never been more user-unfriendly. But, how the hell is he going to beat that organization? The Governor is Jesse’s only natural enemy, and Blago pissed off every organization out there.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 12, 05 @ 10:40 pm
No way anyone takes out Jessie White in a primary. Unless he gets caught with his hand in a cookie jar, Jessie will be SOS as long as he wants. Between his reservoir of goodwill & the inertia of incumbancy, he’s just not beatable.

Comment by Pat Collins Thursday, Jan 13, 05 @ 8:08 am
I heard that Manny might run.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Jan 16, 05 @ 3:57 pm
Flores is a mile wide and an inch deep. If he ever ran for anything other than alderman he’d be exposed for the shallow, easily corruptible goof that he is. He only beat a back bencher like Granato because he cut deals with every thug in and around the 1st ward. His deals are coming home to roost. Just wait for the golden boy to run for anything else, a lot of skeletons are going to come tumbling out of that closet.

Jesse White has nothing to worry about.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 28, 05 @ 10:57 am