SurveyUSA poll shows four-way tie for Dems (Primary), Ryan in lead for GOP (Illinois Senate Race)

Illinois Leader ^ | 01/18/03 | SurveyUSA

[Pubbie]

Illinois Senate Primary *Ping*!

[Chi-townChief]

Looks like we have a big decision coming up : to vote in the Republican primary for senator or cross over and help out the rats with their presidential candidate choice.

[Pubbie]

Vote in the Senate Primary - The Presidential Primary will be over after Iowa, SC, and New Hampshire.

[supercat]

Don't the Illinois Republicans realize the name "Ryan" is poison? They may as well nominate Fredrick Stalin or Robert Hitler.

[supercat]

He's good looking, charitable person, with loads of money, and he's conservative.

I appreciate all that. But I still think the name "Ryan" is apt to put him at an undue disadvantage. Perhaps the intervening years have dampened voter's hatred for the name "Ryan", but I suspect strongly Jim Ryan's name cost him at least 5 percentage points and am afraid Jack's name might still cost him a couple.

[Pubbie]

Don't be silly, Jack Ryan looks nothing like George Ryan - and Jack has more than enough money to make sure people don't confuse the two.

[JohnnyZ]

In 2002, voters were mad at Governor Ryan and his corrupt administration. Republicans had had a lock on the governor's seat for a long time and it was time to throw the bums out. When the GOP nominated Jim Ryan, he was up against it because he was "part of the mess in Springfield", part of the GOP establishment. Kinda like Chandler in Kentucky. I'm sure a few people were confused, since it was the same name and the same office, but they were probably gonna vote against the Republican anyway.

2004 brings a different office, no incumbent 'Ryan', and a very non-establishment Jack Ryan who is radically different from the others. I don't think it'll be an issue for the voting public.

[wylenetheconservative]

Cross over and vote in the RAT primary for Obama. GO OBAMA GO! He may be the only one we can beat in a RAT state.

[Clintonfatigued]

As a statewide officeholder, Dan Hynes should be a shoo-in on the 'Rat side. The fact he's struggling indicates he might not be as strong in the general election as everyone thought. Perhaps Jack Ryan can even beat him.

[Pubbie]

I'm surprised about how well Blair Hull is doing.

He could very well be in the lead in 2 weeks.

[supercat]

2004 brings a different office, no incumbent 'Ryan', and a very non-establishment Jack Ryan who is radically different from the others. I don't think it'll be an issue for the voting public.

You may be right. The fact that it's a different office may help things. I just know that for me the name 'Ryan' stirs up a certain visceral reaction and would suspect I'm not alone in that.

[Kuksool]

In March, I will be voting in the RAT primary for Obama. I seriously doubt the blue collar people of Downstate will vote for an ally of Jesse Jackson.

[Clintonfatigued]

Good for you!

[JohnnyZ]

The fact he's struggling indicates he might not be as strong in the general election as everyone thought.

AHEM! Please leave me out of this "everyone"!

Some pitiful daddy's boy, give me a break!

[wylenetheconservative]

Good luck. I hope Obama can get the nomination. The GOP may not be able to beat even him, but he gives us the best chance. I don't think we can beat a white Democrat in IL anymore if he/she is well funded. Remember, Fitzgeral barely beat Carol Mostly-Fraud. Chicago and its suburbs are so liberal now that the GOP has to run the table outside of Metro Chicago in order to win. All hard core Republicans should be out voting for Obama. He is our only chance at holding this seat.

[Impy]

I don't think I could bring myself to vote in the rat primary.

Great news if Obama or Hull beat Hynes though.

[AuH2ORepublican]

If Hull is tied for the lead this early in the game, I think he's going to buy himself the RAT nomination, which would set up a Jack Ryan victory in November. I'd rather have Hull be the nominee than Obama, since Obama (i) has a résumé that could fool suburban voters, (ii) could mobilize the black vote and (iii) is a good-looking guy, unlike the chipmunk-looking Hull. Johnny, please put up side-by-side pictures of Hull and Jack Ryan so that everyone can see the choice suburban women would be facing.

Illinois Republicans should forget about the RAT primaries and make sure that Jack Ryan is the GOP nominee. None of the other guys would stand a chance in November.