Posted on 08/02/2004 4:28:25 PM PDT by ChuckK
CHICAGO -- The story of finding a replacement for former Illinois Republican U.S. Senate nominee Jack Ryan took yet another plot twist today as word began circulating that certain members of the GOP State Central Committee are seeking to woo former GOP presidential candidate and one-time United States ambassador to the United Nations, Alan Keyes, into the race.
Keyes, a conservative icon, is being sought after by certain party leaders and a bevy of grassroots conservative activists who are enthralled with Keyes' renowned oratory skills on issues of conscience, according to a source close to the situation.
Over the weekend, suggestions of Keyes, an African-American conservative Republican who does not live in Illinois, began circulating among the rank-and-file GOPers at a northwest suburban Republican picnic with a state central committee vote looming tomorrow.
While Keyes is a resident of Maryland with no identifiable ties to Illinois, the residency issue does not present a legal problem. According to the Article I, Sec. III of the United States Constitution, a candidate for United States Senate must only "...when elected, be an Inhabitant of the State for which he shall be chosen."
Further, some Republicans believe the example of Hillary Clinton's successful run for the U.S. Senate in New York in 2000 largely makes the potential of a "carpetbagger" charge against Keyes a minor issue.
Other Republicans say reaching outside of the state party's disarray is the only hope of presenting a contender to Barack Obama, given his newfound national stature.
"That's a candidacy that would energize the base," Kathy Valente, a grassroots activist said over the weekend.
Other conservative leaders organized Keyes for President campaigns in Illinois in 1996 and 2000 when Keyes challenged George W. Bush, Gary Bauer, and John McCain for the Republican nomination.
"Whoa . . . if Alan Keyes were to take on the challenge of Illinois and Barack Obama for us, the race would immediately become national, Keyes could raise national money against Obama and the debate between the two of them would be the clash of the Titans," Lee Newcom, former president of United Republican Fund, said on Monday.
Other Names in the Mix
John Cox, currently the GOP nominee for Cook County Recorder of Deeds and who has thrown his name into the fray as the possible Senate GOP replacement, said Sunday that he would be happy to support Keyes if he entered the race.
Liz Gorman, a Cook County Commissioner from the far southwest suburbs, may be wavering in her enthusiasm to take on the race. Gorman has been touted by former Cook County GOP Chairman Maureen Murphy among others but is reported to be having second thoughts about formally offering herself as a candidate on Tuesday.
As reported in other news sources, Gorman says that national Republican sources have promised her a $1 million match if she is able to raise $1 million herself. Gorman is reportedly close to former Chicago Democrat alderman-turned-Republican kingmaker Ed Vrdolyak.
Gorman's family business, Midlothian Dodge, located at 147th and Cicero Avenue, is in the middle of a lawsuit with Daimler-Chrysler, causing the auto dealer to close its doors in the Fall 2003.
State Central Committeeman for the 1st Congressional District Maureen Murphy was on conservative Tom Roeser's WLS radio program Sunday night stumping for the Gorman candidacy. While Murphy acknowledged the financial problems Liz and Gerald Gorman have encountered, Murphy said Gorman had made it through the party's vetting process and the Gormans were on the right side of the controversy, telling the radio audience "there are two sides to every story."
Up until Monday morning, Edwardsville-based lumber company millionaire Robert Plummer was seen as a serious candidate.
Plummer was promoted by downstate Central Committeeman last Friday. Plummer reportedly offered $5 million to help jump start a campaign, and those who are concerned about down ticket slots were excited that a Plummer candidacy would be helpful in legislative races in central and southern Illinois. However, IllinoisLeader.com learned today that Plummer has decided against offering himself up as a potential candidate.
Dairyman and investor Jim Oberweis of Aurora, who finished second to Jack Ryan in the March 2004 U.S. Senate primary, continues to face tough odds in gaining his party's confidence to pursue the senate race. Oberweis is the second choice of some committeemen and not on the list of others. Oberweis told IllinoisLeader.com that he would consider the race if he was promised support from the Republican National Committee.
Another name, reportedly being encouraged by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is retired WGN farming reporter, 70-year old Orien Samuelson. Samuelson's familiarity with farming issues and his long term popularity within rural communities gives him a potential leg up on the other unknowns for the important downstate vote.
And former POW General John Borling of Rockford also told IllinoisLeader.com last week that he, too, was open to the running against Obama although he received only 2 percent of the vote in the Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Other names are still circulating as well, such as GOP primary contender Chirinjeev Kathuria and a couple of lesser-known applicants.
© 2004 IllinoisLeader.com -- all rights reserved
a perfect reply.....and what a senator he would be.......
Surely you jest. Perhaps you should redefine the definition of "conservative".
I say.............GO FOR IT!!!!!!
Alan Keyes may be the one to throw Obama off kilter!
I would normally go for the more Bush candidate..the center-right candidate, not the rock-ribbed conservative like Keyes is.
But, at this point, give him a shot. He is a very smart guy, and though I don't agree with him always, he would be a great person to have on our side in the Senate.
At this late hour, he is the person with the ability to really crank up the attention on the campaign and bring national recognition. The other folks would not be able to do that as well even though they might have higher initial name recognition in Illinois.
Check it out....
Alan Keyes is too good of a man, too intelligent, too much of a patriot, too much a believer of the founding principles of this once great nation to get involved in the stench that is Chicago politics.
That aside, I would love to see him run.
When was the last time the Republicans had a serious, non-socialist black run for Senator?
Then again, we can all ask when did Illinois ever show that the majority of their blacks had the same qualities as Alan Keyes?
Alan Keyes...he would be a warm welcome in the Senate.
"It's a lost cause and we've run out of millionaire RINOs without deviant sexual urges in their past to run...
...so let's give Alan Keyes a call."
If I were Keyes, I tell them "thanks but no thanks".
If Keys wants to be the sacrifical lamb, fine. But lets be realistic, that's all he would be.
One vote opposed, not on ideological grounds but on the grounds that I don't like carpetbaggers, period.
"Whoa . . . if Alan Keyes were to take on the challenge of Illinois and Barack Obama for us, the race would immediately become national, Keyes could raise national money against Obama and the debate between the two of them would be the clash of the Titans," Lee Newcom, former president of United Republican Fund, said on Monday
Clash of the titans??? I have yet to see anyone seriously stand their ground in a debate against Keyes. They might try. They might not change their views. But in the end, they KNOW they just got spanked.
IMO Alan Keyes makes Bush look more like a liberal than a moderate. Boy talk about a STARK CONTRAST between Keyes and OsamaObama. I had wished Da Coach would have ran, but he would have ticked off too many politicians, with his straight from the hip/in your face style. But OHH how I'd love to see Keyes run for Senate. If its true, the Democrat spinmeisters just went into OT to come up with as many lies as possible. Unlike most politicians running for state senate, Keyes has been on the national and international stage, anything that would have been dug about, probably would have been done so by now.
Just where would Keyes be stronger than Obama??? Lets see....hmmmm....Character, Integrity, Knowledge, Wisdom, Experience.
Where would Obama be stronger??? Jesse Jackson Sr. and Jr. and their lying attack dogs. Richey Daley and his lying attack dogs. Hillary Clinton and her fat thighs and their lying attack dogs.
On truth and character and substance, Alan Keyes smokes Obama. On hype, distortion and lies, Obama smokes Keyes.....and crack.
Go Keyes Go, I need a REAL conservative to vote for.
It sure would be interesting to hear Keyes explain how he's not a carpetbagger but Hillary Clinton was.
Ditto!
I voted for him in the 2000 Republican Presidential Primary.
Geeze. If the whole point is to get national visibility against some Dem who's up for reelection, only to lose anyway, Keyes ought to run for the Senate again in Maryland. Even though he'd almost certainly lose again, he'd be front and center against mighty-midget Mikulski and give here a run for her money. He wouldn't have to move either - perfectly legit.
He's Roman Catholic (a real one - not a phony like Kerry).
And that pretty much sums up the illegitimacy of the Senate since the passing of the 17th amendment."
Agreed....as much as I love Alan, this is the sort of stunt I expect from the democrats. Alan also does not have the sort of name recognition that someone like Ditka has.
I think the repubs should stop worrying about Illinois and put their energies into other projects.
Oh, man! A Keyes/Obama debate would be great!
The carpetbagger problem may be minor for some but it is still major for me. Just one more example of the federalization of everything.
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