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Round-UP: Elections 2010

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Illinois

[posted by Mike Murray]

* Sen. Burris Not Ruling Out Senate Race

Illinois Sen. Roland Burris announced last month that he would not run to retain his Senate seat next year, but in his first television interview since making that decision, Burris told ABC News he could change his mind.[…]

“You never say never,” Burris told ABC News in a “Subway Series” interview for the ABC News program “Top Line.” The “Subway Series,” which debuts on Monday, features interviews with senators and other political leaders on board the Capitol Hill subway.

“What I’m still hearing,” Burris said, is “people from all over the country and they are saying, ‘Don’t give up that seat.’”

In the name of God- why won’t this guy just go away?!?! A less electable candidate could not exist. But he is good for a laugh though: ‘from people all over the country’ - LOL, classic!

And perhaps more importantly, why is ABC News even giving Burris the air time? Must have been a slow news month.

* Press Release: Giannoulias endorsed by working families of UNITE HERE, UFCW, UA and Illinois

* So far, no GOP challengers for two key state offices

Attorney General Lisa Madigan lost a Republican opponent this past week when DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett said he wouldn’t run against the two-term Democratic incumbent.

“It has become clear to my advisors and me that it will be virtually impossible to compete financially with Lisa Madigan,” Birkett said in a statement. “It would be wrong for me to run and to ask people to contribute to a race that that is virtually unwinnable under the circumstances.”

Observers say the same could be true about a race against White, who in 2006 got almost twice as many votes as his opponent, state Sen. Dan Rutherford. And in 2002, White won every county in Illinois.

“They’ve got some problems, it seems to me, with recruiting against those two,” said John Jackson, a political scientist with Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

* And We’re … Not Off to the Races

* Jack Franks Not Being Mentioned for Governor

State Comptroller Tom Hynes announced he was going to take on an “indecisive” Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic Party primary election Thursday.

In the ABC-TV Six O’clock News report of Hynes’ candidacy, McHenry County State Representative Jack Franks’ name was not mentioned.

African-American Metro-East State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr., was mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate.

As I have observed before, being ignored is one of the worst things that can happen to a politician.

* Joyce may jump for lt. gov.

The February 2010 ballot may feature several names familiar to Southland residents, including state Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago) who is considering a run for lieutenant governor.[…]

Joyce also has not ruled out a run for the 3rd Congressional District, which would stack him against U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) in February’s primary. But raising money under federal guidelines is tough and time consuming.

Lieutenant governor is appealing, Joyce said, because it offers a platform to address issues. Gov. Pat Quinn used the post to support military families and advance environmental causes.

“As lieutenant governor, you have the freedom to pick your policy issues,” Joyce said. “I also think whoever the governor is could use a good person working with the legislature.”

* Peoria native will seek Illinois comptroller post

Raja Krishnamoorthi, 36, currently of Hoffman Estates, on Friday announced his intention to seek the state comptroller’s post in the 2010 primary.

No one else has officially announced plans to run for comptroller.

Current Comptroller Dan Hynes, also a Democrat, is running for governor next year.

Krishnamoorthi proposes publishing all state contracts online, “so citizens know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent and help deter some pay-to-play politics that arose in the past.”

* Word on the Street: Healthy discussion in Peoria? Maybe not

Raja Krishnamoorthi served as a volunteer adviser to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Before that, he was a senior adviser in his general election campaign for Senate and even before that worked on Obama’s 2000 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Now, Krishnamoorthi is working on his own campaign - for Illinois comptroller. He requested a brief meet up with Obama. He got it.

Krishnamoorthi said mostly the two chatted it up about his family, wife and kids.

“I was overwhelmed by the moment. He was just such a personable, affable individual,” Krishnamoorthi said.

* Bernard Schoenburg: Two poised to make run for state treasurer

KIP KIRKPATRICK, 37, of Winnetka formed a campaign committee in early June, and by the end of that month, had raised nearly $513,000, including a $100,000 loan to himself.[…]

The current Democratic state treasurer, ALEXI GIANNOULIAS, is running for U.S. Senate. His chief of staff, former state Rep. ROBIN KELLY, D-Matteson, has long said she’d run for treasurer when Giannoulias announced for another office. She’s formally kicking off her campaign Monday with events in Chicago, Normal and Peoria. Kelly went to college and graduate school in Peoria and lived there for 17 years.

Kirkpatrick is making his race official this weekend via a video to supporters, according to his campaign manager, Springfield native BRENDAN HOSTETLER, a former House Democratic staff member who is now a lobbyist living in Chicago.

Hostetler said Kirkpatrick, a partner at Water Street Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm, is making his “first foray into politics.”

* DeLay seeks 99th District House seat

Kent DeLay, a Democrat who got less than 40 percent of the vote trying to unseat state Rep. Raymond Poe, R-Springfield, in 2008, is making another run for the 99th District Illinois House seat.

“I deal with real-life issues that affect people every day, and I just don’t see things changing,” said DeLay in an interview. “I truly believe that I can make a difference in representing people in this district.”

DeLay, 44, is formally announcing his campaign at 11 a.m. today at his home, 1330 S. Lowell Ave. in Springfield.

* Jan Schakowsky endorses Julie Hamos
(YouTube Video)

* Schakowsky Endorses Hamos; Mark Kirk on Downstate Tour; Keller Grudglingly Admits Investigation Caused Him Not to Seek Re-election

* Morning Fix: Dodd Rises Again (Or Not) [10th District Poll]

Seals Far Ahead in IL-10 Survey: Dan Seals, the Democratic nominee against Rep. Mark Kirk (R) in 2006 and 2008, holds a wide lead in the 2010 Democratic primary, according to a survey done for his campaign and obtained by the Fix. Seals takes 63 percent of the vote compared to to just eight percent for state Rep. Julie Hamos and two percent for attorney Elliot Richardson in a hypothetical Democratic primary matchup. The survey, which was conducted by Anzalone-Liszt Research for Seals campaign, also showed Seals — not surprisingly — as by far the best known candidate in the Democratic race with 83 percent name identification. Hamos, who won the endorsement of Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) last Friday, has a meager 18 percent name identification. And, roughly two-thirds of voters agreed with the statement that Seals had earned the right to a third run for the seat while 23 percent said it was time to give someone new a chance. With Kirk leaving the 10th to run for Senate, Democrats have a very good chance of taking over this North Shore district.

* Here is the polling memo for the above mentioned 10th district poll

* Durbin pushes foe’s brother for U.S. bench

In a press release on Friday afternoon, Mr. Durbin, a Democrat, urged President Barack Obama to nominate Thomas Durkin, a civil litigator and partner at Mayer Brown here.

Mr. Durkin, who was not available for comment, certainly appears qualified. A former federal prosecutor, the DePaul University graduate recently received awards from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Justice.

What’s interesting, though, is that Mr. Durkin is the brother of state Rep. Jim Durkin, a Republican who lost to Sen. Durbin in 2002. Above and beyond that, Rep. Durkin headed the Illinois campaign of GOP presidential nominee John McCain, who of course lost last year to Chicago Democrat Barack Obama, who now will decide whether or not to select Tom Durkin for the bench.

posted by Mike Murray
Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 10:26 am

Comments

Would rather see Joyce run against Lipinski. I can’t believe the Lil’ Lipper is gonna get another free pass.

Maybe the Big Lipper cut a deal with Madigan, the Daleys, and the other big shots in that district to get Joyce out of the Congressional race by lining them all up to support Joyce for LG.

Comment by Eli Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 10:54 am
Former Treasurer Topinka should run against Rep. Lipinski. She probably can’t win, statewide, since she got 38%, in Nov. 2006. However, she might be elected to Congress, since she’s popular, in her area.

Comment by Conservative Veteran Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:00 am
Speaking of Durbin, over the weekend I noticed he has decided to skip “town hall meetings” re: Health Care reform. Now that is a show of character.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:18 am
Anon - are you saying that wanting to avoid the screamers, the shouters and the irrational GOP health insurance scare tactics shows a lack of character?

Comment by Deep South Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:29 am
===State Comptroller Tom Hynes===

Freudian slip there Mike?

Comment by Obamarama Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:31 am
–Speaking of Durbin, over the weekend I noticed he has decided to skip “town hall meetings” re: Health Care reform. Now that is a show of character.–

What’s the matter Anon, were you hoping to star in your own Mort Downey/Geraldo/Jerry Springer freak show?

Since no one taught those folks how to read, they should have at least taught them basic manners.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:38 am
===Freudian slip there Mike?===

Not Mike’s line Obamarama. More likely it’s Cal showing his age.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:48 am
If there is no African American candidate on the Dem side for the Senate primary race, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Burris got back in the race. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the African American voters in Cook County and other areas state gave him a primary victory. African American voters are extremely important in Democratic primaries and if they turn out in large numbers to protect the “black” Senate seat, they could put Roland through–caring more about the symbolism than who holds the seat. Now, Burris against Kirk, I’m not so sure. The WH and the party would likely feel they had to support Burris if he won.So a lot would depend on the economy.It would certainly be entertaining if the Illinois Dems, in a tough midterm election, were
forced into backing Todd Stroger and Roland Burris as major standard-bearers for the Dem way of government in Illinois.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:00 pm
Most of Jim Durkin’s family are Democrats.

Comment by GA Watcher Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:07 pm
Gee after all that pie and shoe throwing and yelling at Bush and other Republicans the Democrats have decided we all need to shut up and sit down.

Comment by DnSttsAnon Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:20 pm
I’m kinda suprised Julie didn’t ask Jan to wait a while until deeper into the campaign to give her endorsement. The 10th district is a considerably different degee of left leaning than the 9th— far less Progressive. For every dollar of fundraisng Hamos may hope to pick up from Jan’s endorsement she is likely to lose an equal amount BECAUSE of Jan. Very interesting.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:24 pm
Unfortunately, most of the 7 names selected by Sen. Durbin are undistinguished. While he nominated a diverse group, only two of them are distinguished federal court practitioners. One, a senator’s son-in-law, has reportedly never tried a case. A diverse group of outstanding lawyers could have been chosen; it wasn’t.

Sen. Durbin has failed this time to live up to the distinguished record of judges set by former senators Percy, Stevenson, Simon, and (mostly) Fitzgerald.

Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:30 pm
–…and shoe throwing”

–Gee after all that pie and shoe throwing and yelling at Bush and other Republicans the Democrats have decided we all need to shut up and sit down.–

I think the dude you who threw the shoe was an Iraqui journalist, doubt if he was a Dem.

Left or Right fringe, it’s irresponsible and narcissistic to abuse free speech with hysterical outbursts in a public forum.

It’s proposed legislation, for crying out loud. If it’s so bad, a reasoned opposition could obviously run to victory on it next year and overturn it. A republic and a democracy, remember?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:30 pm
I thought our Pat, the accidental reform governor, was going to put all the state contracts on line.
Oh well.

If Krishnamoorthi makes a credible case that he would actually do this, and the proposed database contains enough information that interested citizens could police state contractors for conflict of interest and fraud….I’ll vote for him.

But you know, it’s Illinois, and we’ve had so many reform politicians that the term is meaningless any more.

But he’s young (there are far too many elderly hacks in the upper echelons of state government and in state politics) and so I’ll be interested in hearing more if he pursues his campaign.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:38 pm
Hey DnSttsAnon:

It appears that you are saying that since the Dems did it, it’s OK for the Repubs to do it? Is that right? So if the Dems are for pro-choice, the Repubs should be, too. Is that what you’re saying. Just askin’.

Comment by Deep South Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:56 pm
Conservative vet….I normally agree with what you post but I totally disagree with your thoughts on JBT running for Congress. She has huge name id and benefits tremendously from blago’s troubles. If she runs for Comptroller in 2010 her numbers will look far more like her 2002 numbers when she got 56% (and was the last goper elected statewide) of the vote than in 06 when she lost to blago by 10%. (Unless Raja or David Miller or some other relatively unknown candidate can raise 4-5 million dollars.)

Comment by party of one Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 1:19 pm
Burris Aide: Hey boss…. I’ve got bad news. We’ve only received seven letters from people asking you to run to retain your seat, and only three of them are from Illinois!
Burris: Where are the other four from?
Aide: Uh…. one from California, one from Arkansas, and the other from Vermont. Why?
Burris: People from all over the country are supporting me!
Aide: …. boss, that’s crazy, even for you.

Comment by TJ Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 2:07 pm
Obamarama- LOL did not see that but it could be…u’d have to ask it writer… Cal Skinner

Anonymous @ 11:18 am - With a comment that ridiculous it’s no wonder u did not reveal your identity.

Burris has no cash and $400,000 in debt. The only thing bigger then his ego is his failure to accomplish anything as a U.S. Senator.

Maybe he would have a shot if every black voter came out to vote for him. (Never going to happen)

Even then it would be close because the white vote is not divided. But I reject the notion that ALL blacks will vote for him just because he is black. The guy is a huge tool and I am sure black voters can see that as well as whites can.

The point is that I have a better chance of winning the Democratic primary then Burris, and I do not meet the constitutional age requirement to serve in the U.S. Senate.

This is all moot anyway, because Burris himself admitted that he has no political future. The man just likes to hear himself talk.

Comment by Mike Murray Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 2:14 pm
Ok… so I was wrong, Burris and I have the same chance of winning the Dem Primary for U.S Senate. And that chance is a big fat goose egg. Nada. Zilch. 0

Comment by Mike Murray Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 2:18 pm
I think the dude you who threw the shoe was an Iraqui journalist, doubt if he was a Dem.

Dem’s sure enjoyed the hell out of it.

Is it ok, I am sure that there are plenty of people upset that the Government is taking over another 40% of our economy but no I don’t think it’s ok, I do think there is a double standard as usual.

Comment by DnSttsAnon Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 2:28 pm
Burris is claiming possible interest just to keep the dollars coming from lobbyists in Washington, who send all incumbents some number of dollars. Roland still sits on some Congressional committees, and the lobbying interests that go before those committees want to keep him happy for the next 16 months that he will be there.

Comment by Capitol View Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 2:31 pm
===the Government is taking over another 40% of our economy===

I must’ve missed that little news snippet in the extensive morning shorts this morning.

Comment by Obamarama Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 2:36 pm
Actually, it looks as though Cheryle Jackson is going to run–although she sure is taking her time– so that makes a Burris run far less likely if not impossible. I wonder if the WH would provide covert support against Alexi. Is Alexi’s Bright Start and family bank baggage heavier than Cheryle’s sint working for our Blago. And, perhaps more important, which could beat Mark Kirk. Don’t forget the Blago trial will be taking place next summer, not long before the election.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 3:11 pm
Rep. Kirk will lose the primary to Eric Wallace. Wallace agrees with most of the republican platform, unlike Kirk.

Comment by Conservative Veteran Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 3:14 pm
Can someone tell me how Cheryl Jackson is going to raise the amount of money it will take to win the Dem Primary? This is a total EGO play.

Comment by Bardo2 Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 3:25 pm
If it’s Cheryle (or even Alexi) against Wallace then the Dems have nothing to fear. Illinois is a blue, blue state and Wallace can’t win in the general.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 4:08 pm
Don’t underestimate the Jackson clan’s ability to raise money on a national level. If she wants to run, the money will appear.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 4:13 pm
I think I speak for most everyone when I say “Please Roland - don’t”

Comment by Stones Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 4:17 pm
Plutocrat:

Are you referring to Sandi Jackson or Cheryle Jackson? If you are referring to Cheryle, I am not aware that she was related to the Jesse clan.

Please elaborate…..

Comment by Joe in the Know Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 4:49 pm
And Cheryle Jackson announced that she is running for Senate. Read about it here:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/08/head-of-chicago-urban-league-running-for-us-senate.html

Comment by Joe in the Know Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 4:53 pm
I did not think it was possible, but Burris’s chances for a primary victory just got worse.

So I guess he is in the negative % chance now. LOL

Comment by Mike Murray Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 4:56 pm
Anon 11:18am,

If Sen. Durbin is “not” holding town halls why did he just have a meeting today with small business owners re insurance reform? They’re constituents too.

Sheesh.

Comment by Rob_N Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 5:10 pm
“Con Vet”,

Conservatives had a straw poll in central Illinois the last few days during a meeting and Dr. Wallace came in last (actually, Rep. Kirk came in dead last by virtue of zero votes).

A potentially self-funder named Pat Hughes took the top prize.

Comment by Rob_N Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 5:22 pm
Cheryle Jackson’s new campaign website:

http://www.cheryleforsenate.com/

“I See You. I Hear You.” is an interesting campaign slogan. Is she planning to run as the anti-Helen Keller?

Also, what does this mean in regards to her views on terrorist surveillance programs?

Comment by Suburban Republican Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 5:45 pm
Eric Wallace who? I thought we were done with Alan Keyes imitators

Comment by Harry Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 8:23 pm
Bardo2,
{Can someone tell me how Cheryl Jackson is going to raise the amount of money it will take to win the Dem Primary? This is a total EGO play.}

Jackson will (does) have the support (overt and/or covert) of Mike Madigan, and the apparatus he controls.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:21 pm
–Is it ok, I am sure that there are plenty of people upset that the –Government is taking over another 40% of our economy but no I don’t think it’s ok, I do think there is a double standard as usual.–

The prototypical Angry White Man, who somehow thinks he has a raw deal living in the United States.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 8:34 am
JT- I was thinking along the same lines. “People from all over the country” can say one thing, people in this state seem to be saying something different.

Comment by Lou Grant Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 10:06 am