Posted on 07/14/2004 7:45:12 AM PDT by Valin
We may know by the end of today whether Iron Mike will be candidate Mike. Former Bears coach Mike Ditka is deciding whether to replace republican Jack Ryan in the race for U.S. Senate.
Mike Ditka is in the midst of the decision making process. He has been meeting with family members and republican leaders. Tuesday night he met with Judy Baar Topinka, the G.O.P. Chairwoman for the state. And afterwards Ditka called it a great meeting.
Still, though, he has not made a decision. But that could happen as early as today.
"I think I rub a lot of people wrong which I've done my whole life and I think I could do a good job for them," Ditka told ABC7 News.
He is not ruling it out. In fact, Mike Ditka is on the brink of making a decision that would put him in a whole new game -- politics. Ditka is a conservative republican and when asked about his qualifications for senator he responded this way.
"At least I have a name and I have a name for honesty and integrity. I believe that. So what else are you going to run on," Ditka said.
There is already a website dedicated to encouraging the football hall of famer to go for it. And outgoing republican senator Peter Fitzgerald who is retiring said yesterday that Ditka has common sense and could help the Republican Party. Plus he has name recognition and if he runs, Ditka plans to use his own money for the campaign.
"If I decided to run, I would do it -- use every means I had," Ditka said.
The former tight end has a history of winning but right now there are plenty of challenges for Illinois republicans, especially this late in the game. Ditka's response?
"If you don't get in the game, then you're going to be on the sideline the rest of your life," Ditka said.
So once again, officially Mike Ditka has not yet made a decision. As for the democratic side of the house, democratic candidate Barack Obama says that he would welcome a debate with Ditka on the issues.
DA GOP!
Fox Sports reported that he would announce his candidacy during a 9:30 CDT news conference.
According to this post, he just walked out of a meeting with GOP leaders, not a very good sign.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1171184/posts
(looking at clock) it's alomst 10:00 AM
Isn't it already 9:30 CDT?
NEWS FLASH: Ditka storms out of meeting (angered over Drudge story)
I'd pay good money to see him tackle Leaky Leahy or the Swimmer on the floor of the Senate. Priceless!
This morning in downtown Chicago, Mike Ditka left a secret meeting with IL GOP decision makers, angered about the media being tipped off.
Sounds like someone screwed up. Either that or there are some games being played. Could be the "moderates" in the Ill. GOP don't want him to run.
I'd vote for him because he'd call a spade a spade and never back down.
His tete-a-tetes with Leaky Leahy would be classics...and the Dems would long for the days of Cheney.
I do hear he's soft on guns, though.
Could you imagine him and Herman Cain from Georgia tag teaming against the mush heads? The social club that is the senate would never ever be the same :-)
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