Downstate Dem (John Simmons-D) quits Senate race (Illinois)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 7/10/03 | Scott Fornek

[LdSentinal]

Just seven weeks after he came from nowhere and declared, "I am in--no doubt," Downstate millionaire John Simmons again upended the U.S. Senate race Wednesday, folding his Democratic campaign and throwing his support to state Comptroller Dan Hynes.

"Dan's the man," Simmons said. "He'll do great for us."

The trial lawyer said he is pulling the plug to devote his energy to reopening a steel mill and to try to prevent a Democratic donnybrook from hurting the party's chances in 2004.

"The Democrats do not need a bloodbath in March," Simmons said. "It's not going to help us win in November."

The surprise move is an important boost for Hynes, who already has lined up the backing of southern Illinois political power Glenn Poshard and 71 of the 96 Downstate Democratic county chairmen in his quest to replace Republican Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

"The endorsement of the only Downstate candidate in this race is a significant addition to the overwhelming support Dan already has," said Chris Mather, Hynes' communications director.

Simmons' candidacy threatened to turn the Democratic side of the race upside down, leaving Hynes and the five other Chicago Democrats to fight it out in the city while Simmons picked up Downstate votes. His departure leaves investor M. Blair Hull as the only Democratic millionaire in the race.

Simmons, 35, a first-time candidate from Edwardsville, planned to spent $12 million to $15 million on the primary alone. He kicked off his candidacy in a May 22 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, saying he was ready to go "100 percent, 100 miles an hour" and would "have a blast doing it."

Simmons insisted he was not pulling the plug for lack of support. But he conceded that Hynes had already wrapped up some of the support from organized labor that Simmons had been hoping for.

Other announced or potential Democratic candidates include state Sen. Barack Obama, former Chicago School Board President Gery Chico, health care executive Joyce Washington and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

[Impy]

OMG I'm shocked. [/sarcasm]

[Support Free Republic]

We're On A Mission From God

Help us make our 3rd quarter fundraising goal in record time!

[fieldmarshaldj]

This is a disappointment, we need Hynes to be good and bloodied to face whomever we put up (assuming Hynes pull it off, and I think he will).

[Impy]

Hull and Obama should take care of that.

The others are also-rans imo.

[Theodore R.]

Have any Republicans yet announced for the race to succeed Fitzgerald? With the state of the GOP in IL, the party may decide to just forfeit the race.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Hull and Obama should take care of that."

---

I think we need to pray for Hull to buy his way to the RAT nomination. Have you ever seen a picture of Hull? Not only does he not "look Senatorial," he looks like a monkey's behind. (On the other hand, it seems to me that Hynes and Obama are fairly good-looking guys, but I'll ask my wife to make sure.) There's NO WAY that Hull can beat Jack Ryan. Even pro-choice women, pro-gun-control suburban will vote for someone who looks like Ryan over someone who looks like Hull. It may sound shallow, but having a good-looking young candidate instead of an ugly old one is worth at least 3% in the final vote. Do you think Jon Edwards could have beaten Lauch Faircloth if the two switched looks?

Another thing, we need to avoid guys with mustaches, at least white guys with mustaches. Every time they showed a white guy with a mustache on Election Night 2002, it was to say he had lost. And we all know that we haven't had a president with facial hair since William Howard Taft . . . .

[jagrmeister]

Once again, Democrats show themselves to be wimps. Indecisive and dishonest. Great qualities for leadership. If you say you're "in it- no doubt", go for it; don't come crawling out after a few weeks. Embarassing.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"Have any Republicans yet announced for the race to succeed Fitzgerald? With the state of the GOP in IL, the party may decide to just forfeit the race."

We would have done better with a dem the past 5 years given Fitzgerald's record. Remember when he first ran - they tried to paint him as some far out right wing gun nut? LOL We could only wish.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"We would have done better with a dem the past 5 years given Fitzgerald's record."

Uh, pardon ? Fitz is the best Senator that state has had since Dirksen. The RINO establishment has seen fit to run him out of office. We can thank a$$holes like LaHood for doing their dirty work for 'em, and if we lose the seat, we know exactly who is to blame.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yes, one of the leading GOP candidates is Jack Ryan, actress Jeri Ryan's ex-husband. Fortunately, he's got money to spend and seems reasonably Conservative. Unfortunately, his last name is Ryan.

[Impy]

Fitz has a few kinks ie ANWR and guns but he's conservative and importantly indepedent from the rino establishment.

He probably would've run again if they hadn't joined the rats in bashing him and despite the polls would have stood a better chance of winning than Repub running now.

[Impy]

Ryan.

Another rich guy named Andy McKenna. He seems conservative although some say he's Daley's friend.

Local Leftist columist Steve Neal (who boosted him versus Fitz) is bashing him as too conservative and in a recent column "bland"

http://www.suntimes.com/output/neal/cst-edt-neal09.html

Bashing from him is usually a good sign.

Dairy companany owner (good milk) Jim Oberweis who lost the 02 primary is running again. He messed up by dickering on abortion last time.

John Cox who I voted for in the 02 primary is also running again, he will soon get the "perennial candidate" tag.

Some Dr. named Chirinjeev Kathuria.

A retired Air Force General named John Borling might run also.

Ryan (another guy Neal liked but bashes now) is Rove's pick and will probably get the nod. I just wish he would change his name to Hitler or something. :p

[Impy]

Corzine doesn't look senatorial to me either. He looks like he should be a hollywood producer or Berkley Prof.

Hull is indeed ugly as rats should be. I only hope you're right about people voting for the better looking guy.



Poor mustached men. :( It's all Dewey's fault.

The only one who won in 02 I can think of is Dr. Gingrey in Georgia.

[Impy]

There they are ladies, the enemy. Judge for yourself. :p

[Theodore R.]

Do you think the people of IL are capable of absorbing another "Ryan" on the Republican side. "Ryan" is an Irish name, but don't the IL Irish vote 95 percent Democrat? Remember, Jack Reagan, father of a president, was originally a down-the-line Democrat. Or are the Irish now more open to interparty competition.

At any rate, IL (and AK) look like sure Democrat Senate pickups for 2002. That alone would put them back in charge unless some of the southern seats supposedly in play (Carolinas, GA, FL) wind up Republican.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"Uh, pardon ? Fitz is the best Senator that state has had since Dirksen. The RINO establishment has seen fit to run him out of office."

Funny, if you read his voting record you would think he WAS A RINO.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Aside from Daley, I don't think there's a single solitary Irish 'Rat in the IL delegation. This ain't the '60s anymore.

I would disagree on AK being a sure pickup for the 'Rats. Even a flawed Lisa Murkowski will beat Knowles unless she is crippled in the primary or a 3rd party candidate runs. A Knowles victory means giving the anti-Alaskan 'Rats one seat closer to control.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Funny, if you read his voting record you would think he WAS A RINO."

If you were looking at ANWR and nothing else, perhaps you would. This is why the term RINO is so abused. Fitzgerald actually gives a damn about cleaning up the corruption in the IL GOP, too bad the rest of them don't.

[Impy]

The Chicago Irish vote dem. Irish blood is very common. (I'm 1/8 myself) Outside of the city I'm sure most people of Irish blood don't vote rat.

People of both parties with Irish names tend to do well. There are many GOP state legislators with Irish names.