CNS poll: Kerry has a big lead in Illinois But outside Chicago, state is Bush land

pjstar.com ^ | March 13, 2004 | DOUG FINKE

[KQQL]

Poll: Ryan, Obama hold Senate leads

SPRINGFIELD - The front-runners in the Republican and Democratic races for U.S. Senate from Illinois registered more than twice the support of their nearest challengers in a poll done for Copley News Service.

In the Democratic race, state Sen. Barack Obama of Chicago had 37 percent, while his nearest rival, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, had 18 percent, and Chicago investor Blair Hull was backed by 16 percent. Filling out the field, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas had 8 percent, former Chicago Board of Education President Gery Chico had 5 percent, health-care consultant Joyce Washington and radio talk-show host Nancy Skinner each had 1 percent, and 14 percent were undecided.

On the Republican side, Wilmette investor-turned-teacher Jack Ryan had a commanding lead with 45 percent, with businessman Andy McKenna of Glenview at 12 percent, Jim Oberweis of Aurora at 11 percent and state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin at 7 percent. Retired Maj. Gen. John Borling of Rockford had 4 percent, former state Rep. Jonathan Wright of Lincoln had 2 percent, entrepreneur Chirinjeev Kathuria of Oak Brook had 1 percent and retiree Norm Hill of Grayslake didn't show up on the chart. Eighteen percent were undecided.

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http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/b2ehrf25la5.html

[Prodigal Son]

Americans want to follow the Spaniards into oblivion?

What's up with Americans?

Kerry should be run out of town in tar and feathers.

Why are Americans supporting him?

[KQQL]

@

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

"Illinois is a Democrat-leaning state," Coker said. "Republicans have not carried it since Ronald Reagan.

Not true, in 1988, George #41 easily carried Illinois over another loser from Massachusetts.

[KQQL]

@

[jwalsh07]

[Kuksool]

These poll numbers by IL region are very similar to the 2002 Governor race. They reflect the basic partisan breakdown in IL.

[teletech]

I just received an 8X10 autographed picture of our First Lady and our President along with a request for a contribution. The request for money was to fund the President's Illinois campaign and I sent them a check immediately! Anyone else get the same photo today?

[KQQL]

Looks that way in the blue states

[AuH2ORepublican]

I don't think Democrats will exactly be crowing over Kerry polling at 47% among registered voters in Illinois after a couple of months of nothing but positive coverage for Kerry and nothing but bad coverage for Bush. Bush's strong performance in the poll in Downstate and fairly strong performance in the Collar Counties makes me believe that Illinois may be competitive in the fall, and if so it would be terrible news for the Democrats. If Bush carries Illinois, it means that he won a 400+ electoral vote landslide (450+ if he also carries California). For Kerry to get to 270 electoral votes, he needs to be able to afford to take Illinois for granted and concentrate on Ohio, Florida and Missouri.

[Trust but Verify]

My ugly, fat, liberal sister lives in the Land 'O Lincoln. I can't stand her and refuse to have anything to do with her and her mental illness. I heard through a family member that she beleives McDonald's is responsible for obesity in the US. She also blames Bush for everything that's wrong in her life, including the fact she isn't employed. At the same time, she glories in the fact that she can stay at home with her kids while collecting extension after extension of unemployment. She has no intention of getting a job until she runs out of UE compensation.

[mystery-ak]

Im in central Il and once again, Chicago decides for the whole state....

[Prodigal Son]

Looks like that way in the United States.

Many Freepers are anti-Bush. IN other words, pro- Al Qaeda, pro- Kerry.

How do you explain that away?

Conservatives- long time Freepers. Pro- al Qaeda.

What are we going to do? If this doesn't change, in November Spain will look like 'real men' compared to Americans.

[HostileTerritory]

Your response is predicated on Bush picking up ALL undecided voters in this poll, which is a pretty tall order for an incumbent.

[raloxk]

No surprise.

Illinois should seperate from Cook county. I think of the 9 DEM congressional memebers in IL, only one comes from outside Chicago, Lane Evans and when he retires that seat will be a toss-up.

[BillyBoy]

>> Illinois is a Democrat-leaning state," Coker said. "Republicans have not carried it since Ronald Reagan <<

Ummm...here's some post-Reagan federal elections

1988 Presidential Election - IL
Bush/Quayle Republican 2,310,939 votes 50.69%
Dukakis/Bentsen Democrat 2,215,940 votes 48.60%

1998 Senate Election - IL
Peter G. Fitzgerald Republican 1,790,041 52%
Carol Moseley Braun Democrat 1,610,496 47%
Don Torgenson Reform 74,704 1%

And if you talk about Republican carrying Illinois statewide in state elections, they've had at least one candidate do so in every election year, including during the Dem landslide in 2002 (although the Dems failed to carry a single statewide office during the GOP sweep of 1994)

IL is very middle of the road. If it wasn't for corrupt RINOs and incompentant party "leaders", you wouldn't see RATs running every office.

[squidly]

I continue to be baffled as to why people believe Kerry would do a better job on economic issues than Dubya. What makes them think this?

[HostileTerritory]

Jerry Costello represents a district based in East St. Louis (not much of a population center any more) and the Mississippi Valley.

Lane Evans' district was gerrymandered to be safe for Democrats. It didn't used to be that way.

[COEXERJ145]

One must also factor in all the votes that Boss Daley will generate from the residents of Chicago's cemeteries.