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* No surprise here. JJJ says he’d take the Obama Senate seat if asked…
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. would accept an appointment to the Senate if Barack Obama wins the presidency and leaves Gov. Rod Blagojevich with a vacancy to fill.
“I wouldn’t say no if asked,” said the Illinois Democrat, who serves as a national co-chairman for Obama’s campaign. In the past, he has declined to speculate on Obama Senate succession scenarios.
Gov. Blagojevich is not a huge fan of the congressman, so I’m not sure if this’ll happen.
* Stu Rothenberg reports on a new poll. Republican freshman incumbent Peter Roskam is way ahead of Jill Morgenthaler in the 6th District race….
According to a July 20-22 survey by Public Opinion Strategies for the congressman’s campaign, Roskam leads Democrat Jill Morgenthaler 59 percent to 29 percent in a general election match up. Roskam also appears to be well-liked, enjoying 59 percent favorable to 20 percent unfavorable personal ratings in the survey.
Obama is expected to do very well in the 6th District at the top of the ticket, and is winning it by 8 points, 49 percent to 41 percent, over Sen. John McCain (R). In 2004, President Bush won the district with 53 percent over Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
Last cycle, Roskam won the open seat 51 percent to 49 percent over Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth, in one of the most competitive and most expensive House races in the country. Roskam was an obvious target this cycle because of the closeness of his 2006 race. But Morgenthaler’s candidacy has disappointed. She finished June with $278,000 in the bank, compared to $1.2 million for Roskam.
Very little advertising has been done there, so this isn’t hugely surprising. Roskam’s 59 percent, however, is somewhat surprising considering how tight the race was in ‘06.
And the money is less of a problem if the national Dems jump in with both feet. The lack of any apparent Obama coattails right now also isn’t hugely surprising. If that happens, we’ll see it later.
But, obviously, the best time to win this seat for the Democrats was two years ago, when it was open.
* Meanwhile, Chicago Magazine has a somewhat positive profile of Jim Oberweis in its latest edition…
“He just has this confidence that—I don’t know where it comes from or how he maintains it—goes beyond confidence, just outright knowledge that he can make a difference,” says his daughter Trish Oberweis, an associate professor of criminal justice at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
“I don’t believe I would be a normal, average individual legislator,” says Oberweis, who is tall and lumbering, with a slight paunch and a tendency to rap his hand against the table when making a point. “I have a history of making some things happen where people said it was impossible.” […]
It’s unclear whether Oberweis gets discouraged. Patrick Joyce, the executive vice president of Oberweis’s investment firm since 1994, who referred to his former boss as a “visionary,” says, “Maybe a lesser person would’ve stopped . . . but I think his inner desire is so strong that he continues to move forward.” Each of Oberweis’s five children spoke of their father’s unshakable faith in himself, and Oberweis often referenced his entrepreneur’s resilience in bouncing back from blows personal and professional. “Every human being has their breaking point, and I don’t know where that would be for my dad,” Trish Oberweis tells me. “He’s human, so I’m sure it’s out there, but I don’t see it at this point.”
Oberweis resists saying where his breaking point is. The mounting losses and the public sneers do hurt him, Trish Oberweis says, but he seems to view them less as signs than as additional obstacles on his path to inevitable political office. “There was a guy about 130 or 150 years ago who had several losses before he won,” he says. “I can’t quite remember his name, but he went on to become the president of the United States. His first name was Abraham. What was his last name again?”
That’s a bit much.
* I’m really not sure why the Steve Sauerberg US Senate campaign decided to put this video online, but you should definitely take a look anyway, just for snicks…
* Related…
* Halvorson takes on health care
* Cell-Phone Users Pose Problems for ‘08 Polls
* Manzullo, GOP Friends, to Keep Talking to Themselves?
* LA Times: In study, evidence of liberal-bias bias - Cable talking heads accuse broadcast networks of liberal bias — but a think tank finds that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Barack Obama than on John McCain in recent weeks.
* DCCC Money Could Tip the Balance in Races at the Wire
* “Men In Caves“
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 8:51 am
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Sauerberg - the camera’s over here, man.
Comment by Tony Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 9:00 am
Oberweiss is to Abrham Lincoln like a cows ear is to a silk purse.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 9:05 am
Tony, don’t you understand? He’s got a room full of veterans and servicemen/women that he’s addressing! It’s so obvious
That’s a pretty pathetic “ad”, and that’s coming from someone that will probably vote for him (I’m on a kick of voting against most/all incumbents; it’s my personal form of term limits as they’re supposed to be implemented).
Comment by schroedk Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 9:22 am
Isn’t that the music from Jurassic Park??
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 9:35 am
anyone remember those commercials from 2002…the guy who ran against birkett in the primary…cant remember his name-didnt he do something along those lines, only much more professionally produced and, you know, intentionally done in satire
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 10:05 am
While we can appreciate the tragedy that effected the Defrancesco family due to their lack of health insurance, and no one should question the sincerity of Halvorson’s commitment to providing health care, her solution doesn’t accomplish what she says it will accomplish. We already know that political solutions cannot address our individual health care needs.
Instead of focusing on politics, she needs to let those who have invested their lives into health care, do what they do best. $4 generics have trumped tax-payer funded government pharmaceutical programs. A free market trumps a government regulated one. Instead of demonizing health care providers and finger pointing at profitable operations, we need to recognize that we all value our health and have the capacity to empathize and act without government interventions. By allowing the experts to allocate the proper level of health care to all, we will find a better solution than the obsolete one touted by Democrats like Halvorson.
Being a sufferer doesn’t give you knowledge to correctly end the suffering. Wanting a solution doesn’t give you insight to the best solution. Halvorson and others are grasping at solutions that sound right to their political ears, rather than allowing a solution to be found by the experts.
We live in the 21st Century, not in the old one size fits all 20th Century. We are supposed to reach beyond traditional politics and discover better solutions within our society. Parroting obsolete industrial age political solutions in order to get votes and political power is disingenuous.
Tears may get votes, but they don’t find solutions. Sincerity doesn’t trump facts, one of which is that Halvorson is wrong.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 10:12 am
If Rep. Jackson becomes a U.S. senator, who would win the special election, to replace Jackson, in the U.S. House? I think that St. Sen. Meeks would run.
Comment by PhilCollins Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 10:29 am
“There was a guy about 130 or 150 years ago who had several losses before he won,” he says. “I can’t quite remember his name, but he went on to become the president of the United States. His first name was Abraham. What was his last name again?”
Wow. That might be the quote of the cycle. Not only for the laughably absurd way it aggrandizes Oberweis, but for its embarrassing forced coyness.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 10:43 am
Cut Sauerberg some slack. He is an enthusiastic campaigner who genuinely believes in the platform he is running on. He is not polished, slick and he didn’t go to “candidate school.” I actually admire him for plugging along day in and day out against a formidable candidate, often using his own money.
Unlike the last person the GOP ran for that seat, who was a publicity hound who was in it only for himself, Sauerberg is the exact opposite. Sauerberg genuinely wants to makes things better in government.
Right wing or left wing, we do need more folks like him in government. Folks who are passionate enough to care no matter how nerdy they come off.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:07 am
I really don’t understand why people enjoy hating on Sauerberg so much. He’s working his butt off with very limited resources, a party that hasn’t and won’t do anything for him, and a collection of Republicans in Illinois who would prefer to whine and moan about everything instead of actually stepping up and helping with anything.
The video isn’t bad at all. The sentiment is honorable, and putting more videos online addresses the criticism of the campaign for not doing enough online. Sure the delivery wasn’t perfect and the quality isn’t the best, but at least they’re putting out something that has Steve looking slightly more senatorial.
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:20 am
IMHO - There’s no way JJJ gets the Senate seat in a million years. He’s actively tearing down a candidate from his own party trying to take a House seat from the Republicans. He never pays DCCC dues. He’s not a team player, and he’s too divisive down state (and in Chicago.) Its always all about him.
BTW - since we seem to need to get this on the record, if asked, I too would accept and serve in the Senate. Anyone else? Vanillaman? Ghost? Rich?
Comment by ChiTownGuy Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:21 am
I would not accept.
I would not serve if appointed.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:24 am
actually, i’ve heard sauerberg speak and all he does is talk about how he went to campaign and candidate school…some medical thing…
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:25 am
Totally unrelated Rich…but can you post the vid of the Sox brawl from yesterday?
Comment by IlaughatOzzieGuillen Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:36 am
We’ve seen the mid-term appointment games in Illinois, many times over. Typically the departing hero handpicks his successor… and it’s usually a relative. However, I don’t think Michelle Obama is on the list of considerations. But since our Governor gets a real kick out of his powers and authority, it is unlikely he’ll let this go by without flexing some of his own superhero might. Afterall, he has an opportunity to do something for the people, here. If Obama first offered Blago a visible, national position through which to advance the good people of our nation, the Blago-offer to JJJ might occur. Otherwise we are more likely to see Blago advance someone who has already shown respect and personal loyalty, someone who can be trusted to advance his very important agenda. However,that list is not long and I believe he is soon retiring.
Comment by Simple Man Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:40 am
I think I have better odds of winning the mega jackpot, twice, in a row, then being appointed; but I would serve.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:42 am
IlaughatOzzieGuillen, I have no knowledge of any game played yesterday.
That is all.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:48 am
Does anyone seriously believe that JJJ (or Durbin, for that matter) represents the views of a majority of Illinoians? No argument that he does so in his congressional district, but that’s why we HAVE congressional districts in the first place. Why does it always seem to have to be one extreme or the other? Can’t we have a moderate D or R senator to represent our (majority!!!) view?
I know, wishful, naive thinking …
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:49 am
BTW - since we seem to need to get this on the record, if asked, I too would accept and serve in the Senate. Anyone else? Vanillaman? Ghost? Rich?
If drafted, I would serve in our military. If asked to serve in public office, I would also do my civic duty. And unlike the current occupant in our senate seat, I would first learn my job responsibilities and demonstrate an ability to be a great senator before trying to run for the White House.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:52 am
VM,
I agree with you wholeheartedly, but most presidential candidates are in it out of personal ambition.
The only two presidents I can think of in this century how ran in order to do what they thought was right for the country were Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. And I’m not entirely certain about Reagan’s motives. A Jimmy Carter only comes once in a century. Too bad he was well-meaning but just in way over his head. Conversely, Obama’s in it for himself AND in way over his head. We’re really going to be in a mess if he wins. Look at our state after 6 years of the photogenic, populist but incompetent Blago. Now, think of that fiasco on a national scale. What a nightmare.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 11:58 am
HAHAHAHAHA!
That video is mediocre, but not really funny until 5-10 seconds in you realize it’s the Jurassic Park theme song. That catapults it into one of the funniest political ads/videos ever. Way to honor our troops battling those velociraptors and T-Rex’s. Star Wars or Indiana Jones would have been too obvious I guess.
Comment by Sacks Romana Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 12:14 pm
JJJ doesn’t need to worry about taking Obama’s seat. Obama will retain it.
Comment by Just My Opinion Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 12:21 pm
Anon’s 11:20 post states that the IL GOP won’t help Sauerberg. Chairman McKenna persuaded Sauerberg to run. McKenna and Randy Pollard (president of the IL GOP county chairman association) endorsed Sauerberg, before the primary. Why won’t they help him?
Comment by PhilCollins Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 12:30 pm
Dodgson! We got Dodgson here!
Comment by Mr. P Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 12:41 pm
Oberweiss being compared to Lincoln?
What’s next Blago being compared to Truman or to King Leonidas of Sparta holding off the Madigan led hordes?
There is not a lack of mean spirited ego maniacs in local politics, but Oberweiss seems to exist in a category all his own.
As for Triple J Jackson for Senate that would be an interesting way to give the GOP a potential Senate pickup in 2012. He got electeth because of his father’s name and he shall be held backeth because of his father’s name. I’m not sure he could win statewide.
Comment by IrishPirate Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 2:16 pm
I meant 2010 for the Senate election after the coronation of St. Barack of Hyde Park. Assuming he wins of course. I think he will, but time will tell.
Comment by IrishPirate Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 2:46 pm
No, IrishPirate, Obama’s Senate seat isn’t up for election in 2012. Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, in 2004, so the next election, for that seat, will be in 2010. Which Republicans would run? I think that St. Sen. Dan Cronin, St. Sen. Kirk Dillard, and/or St. Sen. Frank Watson would run. All of them will be elected to four-year terms, this year, so they could run for a higher office, in 2010, without leaving their state senate seats.
Comment by PhilCollins Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 2:48 pm
Sauerberg’s piece is good. There’s far too little thanks to our troops for their service, sacrifice and accomplishments in the surge. Durbin disgraced himself and gave encouragement to our enemies with his shameful comments about our troops. I’m glad to see Sauerberg drawing a sharp contrast.
Comment by Bruce Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 3:26 pm
Never forget that Roskam is the guy who accused disabled Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth of favoring a “cut and run” strategy in Iraq. What a guy! What a human being! He may be “well liked” by some, but he is on the permanent bad list with anybody that has a heart.
Comment by District Resident Monday, Aug 4, 08 @ 6:46 pm