LS, you havent given a single solid reason why Keyes or even generally going outside your state when the party is in a tight spot is a bad or wrong thing, you claim some 'principle' that is really a fancy way of saying you dont think outsiders can be representative of the people. well, guess what, the voters are the real judges of that!
SO quit beating around the Bush ... who would you vote for ...
Obama - born in Hawaii, pro-abort, likes Castro :
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1179388/posts
"Obama is a rabid supporter of affirmative action and other racially biased policies, ... also an ardent supporter of abortion, and a lecturer on constitutional law at the University of Chicago. But has he ever read the Constitution? The Supreme Court's decisions deeming abortion a "fundamental right" and in favor of affirmative action were, constitutionally speaking, some of the worst in the history of the Court.
likes Soros' support, raised bif $$$ from out of state -
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/7/28/164147.shtml
Obama is anti-death penalty, believes in socialized health care,and is weak on jobs and WEAK ON THE WAR ON TERROR:
http://www.obamatruthsquad.com/
Or ...
Keyes - pro-life, conservative, small govt, wants to abolish IRS, believes in GWOT.
So who do you support?
which ILLINOIS Republican would I support, and that would be the most right-leaning Republican who had a reasonable chance of winning.
Which would I vote for (if I lived in Illinois) vs. Obama? ANY Republican.
But I do not support the concept of dragging in carpetbaggers at the last minute because a state party cannot do a good enough job of developing its own political talent. Again, this will come back to bite you, you watch.