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Giannoulias says he’s open to Senate appointment

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Illinois
Obama

* Let’s fisk this Trib story, shall we?

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias told the Chicago Tribune editorial board that he has started to raise money for a possible run for governor in 2010, but that he’d know within the next “two to six months” if he will pursue the office.

Two months would be OK, but six? The primary is early February of 2010 - about 14 months from now. Petitions will hit the streets in, what, August? Six months is too long to wait.

Just two years into his first term as treasurer, Giannoulias said he’s raising money to explore a bid, “though not as aggressively as I probably should be.”

I dunno about that. He raised quite a bit of money during the first six months of the year, and he has a big “young professionals” event tonight.

Giannoulias also said that staff within Blagojevich’s office have “reached out” to him as a possible candidate to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, though a Blagojevich spokesman said the governor has not contacted Giannoulias directly.

Giannoulias said he’s not pushing for the seat, but if it’s offered he’d have to take a “very, very hard look,” at the opportunity to work in Washington D.C. alongside his close friend Obama.

Alexi’s name is rarely mentioned for this seat by the DC types, and I’m not sure why that is. Just yesterday, the Politico trumpeted its top five “frontrunners,” which included Lisa Madigan. The reason for appointing her?

Selecting the popular attorney general, a rising star in Illinois political circles, would take Blagojevich’s biggest rival out of the gubernatorial picture – and she’d also be in strong position to hold the seat in 2010.

Much the same could be said of Giannoulias.

* Anyway back to the Trib story…

“If anybody tells you they know what [Blagojevich is] going to do, I just think that’s probably inaccurate,” Giannoulias said. “I think he changes his mind left and right, so I don’t think anybody has any idea what he’s going to do, who he’s going to pick.”

Amen to that, brother. Amen to that.

* Speaking of reading the governor’s mind, a friend of mine yesterday suggested that perhaps Blagojevich might try to appoint Secretary of State Jesse White. If and when White turns him down, Blagojevich could then say, “Hey, I tried to appoint a black person, but he said ‘No,’ so now I’m gonna appoint someone else.”

It’s as good a theory as any, I suppose, but I wouldn’t crawl too far into RRB’s head if I were you.

* You really should listen to US Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s pitch to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board. You can find it at this link. Scroll down a bit.

* Related…

* Zorn: There are better ways to replace a senator

* Birkett considers statewide run in 2010

* NEW: Politico: The Obama seat

* NEW: American Prospect: Emil Jones not so safe after all

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 9:08 am

Comments

“Giannoulias said he’s raising money to explore a bid”

If he’s raising state cash (for re-elect to Treas or a run for Guv) that would have to be distinct from raising Federal cash… So if his state account is large, his heart’s not set on Washington.

And he’s probably comparing his fundraising efforts to Blago’s when he says “not as aggressively”… then again, it’s probably more ethical.

Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 9:51 am
===So if his state account is large, his heart’s not set on Washington.===

Why open a federal account before he’s even appointed? Talk about presumptuous.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 9:53 am
I would think Blago would want as many primary opponents as possible if he were to run again, however, if Alexi got Obama’s support he would take away Blago’s black support. Hmmm, so much for Rod to ponder-so little time left.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 9:53 am
Joe Birkett is looking at another statewide bid? He reminds me of the tire treads that litter the highway, having fallen off a truck. It was once an important part of the machine, but having exhausted its usefulness, it falls to the wayside, spent. Or it stays in the road posing a danger to others.

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 10:02 am
Jackson Jr.’s tireless efforts on behalf of himself (a Jackson Trademark) harkens the adage:
“anyone who wants it THAT BAD doesn’t deserve it”

Comment by You Go Boy Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 10:28 am
Here are my top five for the Obama seat:

Brent Hassert (was just unseated by Madigan’s candidate)
Jim Oberweis (best possibility for a state-wide office-holder less popular than the Gov.)
Emil Jones (Madigan doesn’t like him and he could easily become less popular than the Gov. - a double whammy)
Mike Madigan (surprises everyone and gets him out of town)
Bill (clearly the most deserving of the seat based on his mostly consistent loyalty, low-key campaign, and broad support)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 10:39 am
Thank you, Pot!
Somehow I just don’t see Pres-elect Obama becoming involved in a primary fight for Gov. of Illinois. Why would he bother to lower himself into the morass especially against a democratic incumbent. If he wants to help Alexi he
can give him a job to tide Alexi over until he grows up.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 10:47 am
I hope that Birkett won’t run, statewide, in 2010.
Too many Illinois Republicans ran for statewide office, lost, and ran in a second statewide campaign, thinking that the first campaign would help them win the second race. However, those candidates usually lost the second race. In 1996 and ’98, Al Salvi ran statewide races and lost both of them. In 2002, ’04, and ’06, Jim Oberweis ran statewide campaigns and lost all of them. In 2002 and ’06 Joe Birkett ran statewide campaigns and lost both of them. In 2004 and ’06, Steve Rauschenberger ran statewide campaigns and lost both of them. If Birkett runs, statewide, in 2010, he’ll lose again. Congresswoman Biggert should retire, and he should run for her seat.

Comment by Phil Collins Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 10:56 am
Why open a federal account before he’s even appointed?

While federal law prohibits transferring unlimited money from a state campaign fund to a federal account, there’s no restriction in the other direction.

A candidate could raise a million dollars observing federal restrictions ($2,300 limit, no corporate contributions) in a federal campaign committee and then transfer the whole million to a state campaign committee.

Or do I misunderstand state or federal law in this matter?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:00 am
===If he wants to help Alexi he
can give him a job to tide Alexi over until he grows up. ===

Bill’s starting to get fired up about his appointment, I see. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:00 am
Sadly, this needs to be nipped in the bud. Joe Birkett … please … do the party a favor … just stop. Just Stop. You were appointed DuPage SA, as a repub, in a repub county, and you have a good job if you would just stay there 5 minutes and focus on it, that would help the party more than another bid. You have been re-elected, just stay put for a change.

Someone made a good point the other day here, you are turning into Oberweis, but unlike Oberweis, you got appointed to a real safe job, so you get to stay “relevent” as a current elected official.

You have some strong negatives; you have lost statewide twice, and the one time you ran statewide on your own, you were less that gracious, and still are less than gracious to the winner. You lost. Get over it

By being less than gracious, your second negative appears - you are a Madigan target, even if its to prove a point. The cry in the precincts will be “Vote for Lisa, our Dem state rep candidate, and whoever is running against Birkett.” Don’t believe me, work a precinct against a Madigan guy, they know exactly who needs to win what.

The third you knonw … never admitting that Cruz was innocent is just an albatross. Again, just admitting something, this time that you are wrong, would be the difference. But being less than gracious, being a Madigan target, and being so stubborn, makes repubs like me to wish you well… in DuPage.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:03 am
By mid-November, this entire “Obama replacement” game jumped the shark.

Anyone allowing themselves to be place on this long list of wanna-bes is lowering their political stock price.

My suggestion for anyone else taking media questions on whether they would accept a Blagojevich appointment to the US Senate should do whatever they can to avoid being lumped into this group.

JJJ has turned it into a farce as our farcical governor coos and struts his newfound newsworthiness. Jackson has the most to lose now that he has invested so much publically into this appointment. When Blagojevich turns him down, Junior is going to look like such a second-fiddle.

And Jackson shouldn’t want it anyway! Whoever runs against him in two years can remind voters how Jackson is given Congressional seats without earning them. Not only does Jackson get the “Appointed Senator Curse”, he ends up running as an insider Obama-mini-me, open to any agitations Obama’s administration could be opened to by that time.

Stay off this list!

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:13 am
I am shocked that people keep taking about Giannoulias as being a creditable candidate for Governor when he doesn’t have the experience or credentials to run for this position. I think all are forgetting about the little fact that “experience” is necessary to hold the top executive public office of this state. You don’t get experience by befriending the President-Elect or having family in the banking business.

Comment by Northside Blogger Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:31 am
===I am shocked that people keep taking about Giannoulias as being a creditable candidate for Governor when he doesn’t have the experience or credentials to run for this position.===

LOL.

Where have I heard that line before?

Oh, yeah. That’s right. Now I remember.

Just sayin’.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:34 am
A huge part of being an effective governor (maybe the whole deal) is managing people and relationships and providing direction. The day-to-day ops are (or should be) taken care of by all of the managers (appointees and career).

Experience? George Ryan was very experienced…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:44 am
If Blago doesn’t make his selection soon, I would not be surprise if he isn’t around , or in a position to make that selection!

Is there any chance Fitz will be acting before 1/20/09. Speculation on my part, but , I have this feeling something is going to happen very soon!!!!!

Comment by MOON Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 11:51 am
Rich,

Don’t blur the differences: President-Elect = self-made, successful, leader who has accomplished great feats only few can speak of; vs. Giannoulias = twenty something with little work experience other than family bank in low level office position; no accomplishments other than riding Obama’s coat tails to Treasurer’s Office;

Comment by Northside Blogger Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 12:37 pm
Probably the biggest reason for the delayed appointment is increased national media coverage. The longer the delay, the more coverage.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 12:39 pm
Pot, I kinda like that appoint Oberweis idea. Then Blags can say he’s being bi-partisan, while in truth the goal is to make sure that from the next election forward, the seat remains in Dem hands for all eternity!

Comment by HoosierDaddy Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 1:59 pm
The appointment of White makes since than the Governor makes two appointments. Satisfies the African American community and gets to appoint Sec. of State Jay Hoffman a long time House Democratic ally. Makes since.

Comment by Happy Gillmore Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 9:21 pm