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Handicap the Republican lieutenant governor’s primary battle.
Rauschenberger, Birkett, Wegman, Kathuria, Cole and this guy, who I’ve never heard of.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 4:44 am
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Buoyed by former supporters fed up with ‘$ell Outs,’ watch for the tepid Wegman to run right up the middle besting Birkett and Ruschenberger.
Comment by The Colonel Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 5:18 am
Buoyed by former supporters fed up with ‘$ell Outs,’ watch for the tepid Wegman to run right up the middle besting Birkett and Rauschenberger.
Comment by The Colonel Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 5:18 am
I think it was a mistake for Rauschenberger to run as the Lt. Gov with Gidwitz. It would have made more sense if Gidwitz ran as Lt. Gov, but he’s got the money, of course. This move means Rauschy could lose his Senate seat.
The Wegman factor does create a problem since some Kane County voters will spread their votes around, helping Birkett edge Rauschy.
Comment by dumpdaley Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 6:33 am
Birkett will win because Judy will win.
By the way, is any Republican running for Comptroller?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 6:38 am
Bruckner is an attorney from, Carroll County, I believe it is, who doesn’t have the cleanest recor. I don’t remember the complete facts right now, it’s still early in the day.
I think it’ll be Birkett, followed by Rauschey or Wegman. I don’t think Cole stands a chance and Bruckner should have stayed on the porch. Just my thoughts.
Comment by Tessa Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 6:43 am
No one has filed as a GOPer for Comptroller yet.
Comment by AngryJolietan Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 7:34 am
Birkett wins.
Rauschenberger always flops.
Comment by Anon Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 7:38 am
Joe Birkett will attract regular guy Democrat voters. He’s a solid man.
Comment by Pat Hickey Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 8:02 am
The unknown is from Thomson, Illinois, and is running because he wants the prison opened.
I’ve been told that the extent of his campaign was mailing out petitions to all the GOP committeemen, but that can’t be right, because someone I know obviously talked to him.
Comment by Cal Skinner Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 8:34 am
Wegman ia a bored millionaire “wanna-be” who will take the chairs away from all state workers, since Wegman is running on her record as a File Clerk. Remember her answers to Bernie’s questions, she has zero vision on being LG and really is clueless to what the duties of LG entail. Wegman is not qualified and the more she campaigns now, the more silly Wegman is going to look.
Birkett is going to win because: Name recognition, appearance as a front-runner, state-wide aparatus to tap into for election day.
Comment by Wegman's Folly Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 8:47 am
birkett wins judy wins
judy wins the general election.
losers rep jay hoffman his close friend blagojevich is gone and speaker madigan doesn’t like hoffman.
Comment by ron Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 9:15 am
Bruckner had his law license suspended for something or another awhile back, and Cole only filed 500 signatures (or so I’m told). He’ll be challeneged, and the only 3 people on the ballot will be Wegman, Birkett, and Rauschenberger.
If name recognition factors in, Birkett and Rauschenberger could more or less split the vote, and then you could have Wegman slipping in with 1/3 of the vote based on her ballot position (first), and the fact that she is the only female running.
Comment by Right Wing Republican Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 9:16 am
1. Who is Cole?
2. Ballot position doesn’t mean much for Lt. Gov. — especially with only three candidates.
2. Birkett will win.
Comment by Observing Democrat Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 10:05 am
Wow, that Wegman koolaid is strong… Birkett will win by at least 10 points
Comment by takethehighroad Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 10:05 am
Birkett is the winner.
Rauschenberger is already fading.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 10:23 am
Due to all his cool signs, chickens, and write-in votes, Poe sneaks in.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 11:19 am
Rauschenberger will win.
Birkett always flops….not to mention he’s heavily in debt from his last election and he’s getting no deals from Judy. Weird that he even accepted the nomination. Maybe when he loses, he’ll give as good of a speech as he did when Madigan beat him.
Comment by Johnny Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 11:23 am
Off-topic, but am I the only one who laughed when I read the Tribune headline to the right that says “Defective Zamboni sends 7 to hospitals”?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 11:32 am
I met Bruckner in Elgin in October. He seems to have very mainstream views and a keen wit…. unfortunately he is asthetically unpleasing (body odor, hair unkept, wrinkled suit etc). I don’t think he even has enough signatures to file. When he contacted me 3 weeks ago in a letter, it said he had 2000 signatures and would pay for every signature I got… I declined…
Comment by Lovie's Leather Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 11:36 am
Assuming Rauschenberger gets his signed petitions in today with the necessary 5,000 valid signatures, Rauschenberger will be the next GOP candidate for Lt. Governor in November. You have to remember, Birkett brings some baggage with him (although perhaps not deservedly so) with that Jeanine Nicarico case. This was about the little girl that was murdered and supposedly Joe Birkett was involved in putting the wrong two guys in prison over it. I like Joe Birkett. I only wish he had run for Attorney-General. Being tied to Judy can be a curse as well as a blessing. Not everybody is smitten with Judy out here. She threw Jack Ryan a concrete anchor when he asked for a life preserver. Judy looks out for Judy. I like her but not for my state governor. I want somebody who looks out for me before themselves or their career. Eisendrath will cancell votes from Democrats that were going to crossover to Judy if Edwin Eisendrath had not decided to run. Edwin Eisendrath now serves as a viable alternative for those Democrats (and there are many) who refuse to cast their votes for Blagojevich again. Bill Brady or Oberweis still stand a chance. Brady is the more likely winner between the two of them though. Gidwitz still has a chance if he gets some better commercials going for himself and comes across as sincere. He is a bright guy that simply lacks name recognition. He could surprise us all depending on how much he is willing to spend to plaster his name and face across the state in the next 3 months. He has to come across as having middle class values inspite of his enormous wealth. With the right public relations people, he could still do it. He still has to address and explain his relationship with the Evergreen Terrace Apartment issue in Joliet, Illinois or he will be lucky to get more than a couple of hundred votes from Will County.
Comment by Beowulf Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 12:01 pm
Who cares about the Lt. Gov. race. I saw Clarence Clemons has just filed to run against Mattie Hunter in the 3rd Senate. Is Springsteen going to help out that campaign?
Comment by Anon-mouse Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 1:56 pm
Re: Anon-mouse
“When the change was made uptown and the big man joined the band…”
Comment by Tony @ The Apartment Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 2:46 pm
Birkett wins, Sandy Wegman goes nowhere.
There’s more to the Wegman story, she’s part of that North Kane County (heavy Elgin) Republican bloc that the rest of the party can’t stand. She & Dave Rickert (Treasurer) were both looking to make a move in the 2006 primary, but Dave’s term as Treasurer is up in 2006, so he had to stick to that (otherwise he has to go back into the private sector and really go to work for a living). Sandy’s midterm in 2006, so she was free to make a run at Lt. Guv.
With the Settlers Hill landfill closing in mid 2006, that’s a nice hole in Kane County budget for 2006 that they just got done papering over. Now, GASB 45 kicks in for the next (2006-2007) budget year (and just wait for that one), and this primary is Sandy’s only shot for a bigger & better future. Otherwise, as another poster points out, it’s back to being a dead end File Clerk for Sandy.
Watch for little Davie Rickert to pull some similar type of stunt in 2008, when he’s midterm.
Comment by Kane In Crisis Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 3:23 pm
I also met Lawrence Bruckner at an LI event in Elgin. WOW! I agree with the above post… unkept hair, odor, and wrinked suit definitely won’t go good for him.
I was also contacted asking to get petitions, a decline as well. I do know that some CR groups got signatures just in an effort to raise $20 or so.
I say that we need a Lt. Governor that can count (taken from Bruck’s site):
As Lt. Governor, I envision four responsibilities:
* 1. Execute the duties assigned by the Governor and General Assembly.
* 2. Build a responsible and responsive Republican Party.
* 3. Reduce waste and enhance productivity.
* 4. Be a liaison for people who have problems with State Government.
* 5. Recruit a “freedom fighter†to become a “waste watcher†in your area.
Comment by Jeff Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 3:28 pm
Carole Pankau has filed for Comptroller for the GOPers.
Comment by AngryJolietan Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 3:29 pm
No one has yet to file for Treasurer… Come on Brady, you still got an hour! LOL
Comment by Jeff Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 3:42 pm
Well maybe the website just isn’t updated… SJR says “State Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, filed for treasurer today and formally unveiled her campaign during a Statehouse news conference”
Comment by Jeff Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 3:45 pm
Joe Birkett should win this with little trouble. Rauschy gets a distant second and the rest if they make it, get very little support. I wonder if double E, i mean “Edwin” will announce a running mate to help with the primary voters???
Comment by scoot Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 3:52 pm
What a great QOTD. It took all day to handicap this one.
Can you just see BrickheadJoe’s reaction when he sees that little bitty 2nd floor office he “wins” if the voters fall for this stunt. My guess is if he ever takes a tour of the statehouse, he will campaign against himself. Steve Whinenburger will see this as a step up and win the nominations
All the GOPs (as in MOPEs) lose to Quinn.
Comment by Reddbyrd Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 4:24 pm
So in order, its Wegman, Cole (so to be knocked off for filing 3 pages of signatures), Birkett, Bruckner (anyone care to wager how many signatures he has?), and Rauschenberger.
I see an all-female Republican ticket (except for that guy running for AG). What a hoot.
Comment by Right Wing Republican Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 4:57 pm
Radogno filed at 4:00pm today followed by Andy Martin for Governor!
Comment by Jeff Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 6:50 pm
Also in: Raymond Poe filed for Representative today at 1:47pm
Comment by Jeff Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 6:52 pm
To right wing republican in your enthusiasm to fill out the ticket you missed the next Secretary of State, Dan Rutherford. Senator Rutherford from Chenoa, if I read correctly, turned in close to 50,000 signatures. He will lead the Republican ticket in votes and beat Jesse White in November.
Comment by muletown Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 7:27 pm
Is Jon Zahm running Wegman’s campaign?
Comment by Blog Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 7:49 pm
Turned in close to 50,000 sigs? I thought the turn-in limit was 10k?
Comment by Jeff Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 9:59 pm
Well, if you want more info on whatever Bruckner did (he’s been disciplined twice), hop on over to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission’s website at www.iardc.org/lawyersearch.asp I’d post the results myself, but there’s no way to get a good URL
Comment by Webguy Monday, Dec 19, 05 @ 10:00 pm
Jeff-You are correct on the turn in amount. Senator Rutherford did have that many signatures total I believe. The fact is Senator Rutherford will be the strongest campainger of either slate. Mr. White, if he remembers where the rest of the state is will have to get out in the open and defend his 8 of less than outstanding leadership. His tumbling team may not be the only ones taking a tumble in 2006
Comment by muletown Tuesday, Dec 20, 05 @ 5:00 am
Who are the guru’s running each of these campaigns? Birkett? Wegman?
That will tell a lot. Wegman’s site gives no information what-so-ever.
Comment by Aunt Glabby Wednesday, Dec 21, 05 @ 5:51 am