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Political remainders

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Obama
Durbin

* Way down the ballot in Cook County and Chicago was a non-binding referendum question asking whether voters wanted the power to recall elected officials, and which explicitly mentioned the governor…

“Shall the Illinois Constitution be amended to establish a recall process for the office of Governor and other statewide elected officials?”

Chicago results…

YES 494,916 (63.63%)

NO 282,910 (36.37%)

Suburban Cook results…

YES 581,400 (63.14%)
NO 339,420 (36.86%)

Some might call that a referendum on Blagojevich himself.

* Speaking of the governor…

All eyes are on Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich now that he gets to pick who will replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate because the Democrat is headed to the White House.

Blagojevich plans to talk about the newly open Senate seat Wednesday afternoon.

I wonder how that presser is gonna go.

[The section in this post about the constitutional convention referendum was removed because as some commenters rightly pointed out, the AP has mixed up the results. Sorry about that.]

* Obama’s Illinois victory, county by county…

* Bush vs. Kerry, 2004…

* Obama vs. Keyes, 2004…

* Dick Durbin’s 2008 victory map…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:23 pm

Comments

Looking at the Obama map…

Does I-70 follow the Mason-Dixon line?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:30 pm
Whats up with Durbin losing 3 counties? Quite the slacker. He should think of another line of work.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:31 pm
“Some might call that a referendum on Blagojevich himself.”

Woohoo! 36% - He just goes higher and higher!

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:31 pm
Rich, would Rod also name Congressional replacements should Rahm, Jesse, Jan, et al. . .assume different positions come January?

Comment by wndycty Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:37 pm
Not a single suburban or downstate county approved the referendum.

That surprized me…and Chicago approved it I think.

Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:38 pm
The Cook /City con con numbers aren’t right. Those are the recall numbers plugged into the wrong chart I think. The state was 68% against.

Comment by Cruncher Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:46 pm
name Congressional replacements should Rahm, Jesse, Jan, et al. . .assume different positions come January

No, there is an election when that happens, like for when Hastert resigned. So imagine the SCRAMBLING to see who WILL get an appointment, so that they can scramble to get ready for the special election.

I think our host will get no post election vacation this year.

Comment by Pat Collins Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 1:54 pm
NBC just reported that Rahm is accepting the chief of staff position with Obama.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:06 pm
Rich con con LOST in Chicago 53-47 %, not sure what numbers you are looking at?? It was a bad idea the con convention. Look we sent guys down there years ago for the last convention AND THEY ARE STILL THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by ivoted4judy Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:08 pm
Is anyone else wondering how the Senate GOP could possibly choose Radogno…she has a pro-choice, pro-gay voting record and that caucus is very conservative.

Comment by GOP Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:10 pm
Radagno is way too liberal for the Sen GOPers…but who will they choose??

Comment by downstater Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:13 pm
There are no appointments to Congress. There has to be a special election. It’s not like Obama’s Senate seat.

Comment by suburbs Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:14 pm
WOW Chicago/Cook really wanted a con-con? Where’s the discrepancy with the rest of the state.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Rich, the AP is wrong.

City of Chicago went 43 YES/57 NO on the ConCon, according to the board of elections’ website.

Suburban Cook County went 35 YES/65 NO, according to the Cook County Clerk’s website.

Just a lurker, but one who was surprised and had to check.

Comment by Vote Watcher Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:17 pm
Cruncher is right. The Cook and Chicago ConCon numbers reported here are wrong.

Comment by Mr. Ethics Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:18 pm
Fox News is also reporting that Rahm has accepted CoS. Now there will be a scramble for his seat. I think Fritchey might be the front-runner.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:19 pm
Rich must have been “Sleep Posting” - He had a dream! Ambien can do that to you.

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:20 pm
take a look at the suburban judicial races. Dems are doing better and better with each year in these suburban races. tells you how deep the shift in party voting is going.

Comment by Amy Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:21 pm
Con Con Votes:

City of Chicago
298,208 - YES
395,821 - NO

Cook County (outside Chicago)
280,174 - YES
511,932 - NO

It WAS NOT downstate tht defeated this measure. Simple math and knowing that the population base is in Cook County would make your scenario impossible. You can’t come out of Cook County down 400,00 votes and “make up” about 2 million votes downstate.

Comment by 4% Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:24 pm
Thanks. Fixed.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:24 pm
===Radagno is way too liberal for the Sen GOPers===

She’s been moving to the right for the past couple/three years or so.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:26 pm
====Rahm has accepted CoS. Now there will be a scramble for his seat==== Cullerton once ran for that seat back in the 90’s. I know he has his sites on the Senate prez position but it would have to be enticing to him going to Washington with Obama and Rahm. If he falls short for senate prez he might take a run.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:28 pm
The Mason Dixon Line, if extended west, I believe runs about 1000 yards south of Springfield.

Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 5:19 pm
It’s too bad people don’t pay attention to the job or lack thereof that Durbin has done. Congress’ approval rating is lower than Bush’s yet the 2nd Democrat in the Senate cruises to reelection.

Comment by OurMagician Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 6:15 pm
I see many people running for the Rahm/Rod/Rosty seat if available.

Cullerton, Harris, Feigenholtz, Tunney, Fritchey. Maybe even Lisa?

Would be a great race. And quick enough to keep all the skeletons hidden.

Comment by 2cool4school Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 7:07 pm
I going to save a copy of the Durbin election map for the next time a talk radio listener says Durbin is too liberal for Illinois and doesn’t represent our values. Isn’t that the talking point they’ve been repeating for the last six years?

Comment by Will Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 11:22 pm
Q: Does I-70 follow the Mason-Dixon line?

A: No, residents in Central and So. IL (i.e., outside of the 51st State Wannabe) know that casting a ballot for anyone not a Chicago politician is always the better choice.

Comment by Alison Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 7:56 am
GO WAYNE COUNTY!

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 9:06 am