Illinois Democrats might be tempted to cross over in March

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Jan 25, 2012 | By MARK BROWN nuary 25, 2012

[KeyLargo]

Illinois Democrats might be tempted to cross over in March

By MARK BROWN mbrown@suntimes.com January 25, 2012 9:56PM

Updated: January 26, 2012 2:15AM

As someone who normally votes for Democrats, I’ve been following the battle for the Republican presidential nomination with a mixture of detachment and indifference.

I figured I didn’t have any say in the matter, so until it’s over, why worry about whether Republicans pick Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul, Tweedledee or Tweedledeedee.

We’d know soon enough, it seemed, and probably well before the campaign trail reached Illinois on March 20. In recent days, though, I’ve started having second thoughts.

Depending on what happens in Florida on Tuesday, there’s now a growing possibility the GOP nomination will still be in doubt by the Illinois primary. That raises an interesting question: What if Illinois Democrats, looking at a scarcity of interesting races in their own primary, were to pull a Republican ballot instead and help their neighbors across the political divide settle on a candidate to run against Barack Obama?

Yes, I know, that would be wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. But would it be SO wrong? I’m not so sure.

If you’re a Democrat, it’s at least worth rolling around in your head for a while, although as I say, perhaps a bit premature before we get the results from Florida.

[KeyLargo]

Chicago Sun-Times liberal columnist encourages all Illinois Democrats to do an 'Operation Chaos' on Republicans.

[Yo-Yo]

Crossover Dems is how we ended up with Dole, IMHO.

[muawiyah]

The Columnist makes a claim that's simply not true when he says "As someone who normally votes for Democrats".

That's NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR anywhere anymore, It betrays a deep seated psycho-social maladmustment profound proportions.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

As someone who normally votes for Democrats,

Oxymoron.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Dems would just love to have Volcano Newt to run against.

[LucianOfSamasota]

I was under the impression that Dim’s have always voted in Republican primaries; for motives of producing a ‘weak’ opponent, or a less conservative alternative should the ‘good guys’ inadvertently win. This fits the Dim motto of ‘vote early, vote often’ as well.

I thought that Rush made his suggestion to ‘level’ the field, not to create a new opportunistic advantage.

[KeyLargo]

“The Columnist makes a claim that’s simply not true when he says “As someone who normally votes for Democrats”.

That’s NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR anywhere anymore, It betrays a deep seated psycho-social maladmustment profound proportions.”

Describes exactly the editorial boards of dead tree media including the Sun-Times, AKA: “The Slimes”.

[Oldpuppymax]

At least this lib reporter admits what we all know anyhow!

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I favor closed primaries. But we don’t have one and, if the nomination is decided by the time the Illinois primary comes around, there’s no point to going to the polls. Unless — I decide to take a Democratic ballot and vote for Debbie Halvorson against Jesse Jackson Jr. Yes, I might just do that, as should any other Republicans in the 2nd CD.

[Yulee]

That's already been done in New Hampshire(with success) and South Carolina (unsuccessful).

Since the Democrat candidate has already been ordained, selected, anointed, and crowned, any Democrat can change their registration and vote for who they think would be the weakest candidate against Obama.

If we really get a conservative candidate after all is said and done, that candidate will probably win in a landslide.

[sick1]

I wish - instead I think it was just pent up party momentum and favoritism.

Also, my guess is that Bob Dole is a great guy. When he’s off the leash he’s very funny. Many leaders were likely just loyal to him beyond what their politics should have justified.