No, Keyes isn't their best pick, because Keyes has never lived there and he isn't a legitimate pick. It's a stupid call because it's inviting in a carpetbagger. If Keyes goes through with this he'll drop from one of my all time favorite conservatives to a complete loser scumbag. He has no right to run for Senate in Illinois.
Again, IDEALLY, a person in state is usually best. But this is a desperate situation. The IL GOP did what they felt the circumstances required. Now, they've made their pick, and we'll just have to accept it. It would be best to back them up on this, and not make a win any harder by harping on this irrelevant issue.
I certainly 'feel your pain' up there in Illinois, I'm a UIUC grad, had to watch Lynn Martin crash and burn in 1990 vs paul simon. she was no great alternative, being somewhat RINO on abortion etc. It's tragic that liberals would get a free pass in that once great state.
Keyes is the Illinois GOP's 3rd try. They could have and should have done better in getting a viable Ryan replacement sooner, and getting one that was a solid alternative. I siad before they should have tried one of the primary runner ups.
But there is no fundamental 'moral principle' at play here, outsiders can be legitimate picks if the work in a legitimate way to represent the voters. there is simply the question of whether Alan Keyes can represent the people of Illinois well, and better than the Chicago Liberal Barack Obama.
Surely the better choice is Alan Keyes.
When Davy Crockett moved to Texas to help them win independence, was he a carpetbagger? Should the Texicans have told him to go away?