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Republican Alan Keyes Throws His Hat Into the Political Race
HOI 19 News ^ | 8-8-2004 | Monica Landeros

Posted on 08/08/2004 6:26:50 PM PDT by Jeff Blogworthy

Republicans in Illinois have been scrambling to the fill the void left by U.S. Senate Nominee Jack Ryan. The Republican resigned amid a sex-scandal controversy, but now Republicans have chosen a new candidate.

Nearly six weeks of looking for a replacement U.S. Senate candidate came to an end on Sunday afternoon.

Former presidential candidate and current Maryland resident Alan Keyes has thrown his hat into the Illinois Senate Race where his biggest opponent will be Democrat Barack Obama.

“In a perfect setting this would have not unfolded obviously. Is he the right guy? We’re going to know that November,” says Senator Dan Rutherford.

U.S. Republican Representative Dan Brady says while Keyes has criticized other candidates for running in states where they don't live, these circumstances are different. And that Keyes will have to try to appeal to voters.

“Not just republicans, but to try to resonate with independent voters. I think one on one, it will be very interesting,” says Brady.

And though Keyes is not a state resident yet, officials with the Republican State Committee say it's just a minor detail.

“He will establish a residency in Illinois, which is not hard to do. He just signs a lease somewhere and moves to Illinois,” says Mary Alice Erickson from the Republican State Committee.

And Senator Dan Rutherford says Keyes is more in tune with local issues than others might give him credit for.

“I don't think that on the national scope Illinois issues aren’t too different from those of Maryland or California,” says Senator Dan Rutherford.

“This will no doubt be an uphill battle for Alan Keyes,” says Brady.

So for now, Keyes will focus on campaigning aggressively in Illinois and making up for lost time.

This is the first U.S. senate election with two African American candidates representing the major parties.

So no matter who wins, Illinois will definitely elect it's fifth black senator come November 2nd.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: alan; illinois; keyes; nomination
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To: justshutupandtakeit

here is a link to a partial transcript of the speech

http://www.renewamerica.us/news/040808excerpt.htm


21 posted on 08/08/2004 7:19:41 PM PDT by rdf ("Endowed, by their Creator, with .... rights")
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To: Jeff Blogworthy
...Keyes has criticized other candidates for running in states where they don't live...

Okay, Keyes is a hypocrite because he is running in a state where he has never lived before and he criticized Hillary for doing the same.

Vote for Keyes -- he's better than Obama for all other reasons.

22 posted on 08/08/2004 7:21:20 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: horatio

I did not believe he had a chance either but I will admit I was very impressed with his speech today. This may not be the disaster you speak of and there is no doubt that he is the best candidate possible at this time. He promised Obama a Battle not a Victory to us.

Be that as it may I see NO downside in his running and every upside in forcing the debates to include a strong, articulate American voice to counter the lil Commie Cutie's bilge and treason.

We have selected a gem easily the best option for Senator the Republicans have had in decades.

What has degenerated into a prize to the purchased by rich men, the GOP nomination is now in the hands of a principled
man who understands the thought of the Founders and therefore the essence of this nation and the Freedoms it is discarding. This is a WELCOME development.


23 posted on 08/08/2004 7:21:35 PM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (My Father was 10x the hero John Fraud Kerry is.)
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To: nypokerface
"For Keyes to have any chance, the Republicans have to find him a spot at the RNC. "

I wondered how long it would take for Keyes' supporters to start demanding that he be allowed to speak at the national convention.

There are only a few hours of prime time TV coverage and there are 30 Republican Senate candidates.

Keyes knew before he accepted the nomination that he had no right to expect a prime time speaking spot.

If he and/or his supporters start the anti-GOP, anti-Bush whining again he will find a lot of Republicans are fed up with his vanity campaigns and the gloves will come off in a way that they haven't before.

24 posted on 08/08/2004 7:22:27 PM PDT by bayourod (I resent Kerry telling me that his values, not mine are the only true American values.)
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To: Jeff Blogworthy
I am willing to bet he is the best possible chance Republicans have

I'm with you. The Republicans were dead in the water. There is almost no chance for Keyes to win but he is the perfect underdog. And because of his oratory skills, he will be able to do an excellent job in explaining the Republican platform. This is good news for the Republican Party and for George Bush.

Besides, I have this crazy belief that lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for. I am very proud of Alan Keyes.

25 posted on 08/08/2004 7:30:02 PM PDT by Zevonismymuse
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To: Jeff Blogworthy

.......and I will THROW MY SUPPORT TO HIM NOW!!!!!!GO ALAN KEYES!!!!


26 posted on 08/08/2004 7:36:21 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: OldFriend

isn't "criminal coddling leftist" redundant?


28 posted on 08/08/2004 7:44:58 PM PDT by pie_eater
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To: Jeff Blogworthy

Keyes can win. He just has to become a "reverend" like Sharpton & Jackson. Makes all the difference.


29 posted on 08/08/2004 7:52:42 PM PDT by Dilbert56
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To: Gunslingr3

The 17th Amendment has been a total failure. Everytime we go against the intent of the Founding Fathers we screw up big time. I would fight to the death to keep the Electoral College and we need to repeal the 17th.

Popular election of Senators is a travesty to our representative republic. In states like CA, MI, IL, NY it gives the liberal Socialist hell holes total control of Senate elections. That is how we get the dregs we do in the Senate.


30 posted on 08/08/2004 7:54:39 PM PDT by lone star annie
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To: ConservativeMan55

The Bushies HATE Keyes!!!!

Monday, Keyes will not be mentioned by Rush, Hannity, or Boortz. If I'm wrong, please respond. I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong. I'll be sad if I'm right.


31 posted on 08/08/2004 8:11:53 PM PDT by PaleoPal
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To: Non-Sequitur
Do you honestly think that, after the primary and his speech at the DNC, they don't know that by now?

Not being from Illinois (Michigan) I had never heard of Barak Obama. The press coverage he got presented him as a religious moderate.

32 posted on 08/08/2004 8:30:10 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: bayourod

"...a lot of Republicans are fed up with his (Keyes) vanity campaigns and the gloves will come off in a way that they haven't before."

I wonder how many Republican conservatives know that one of Keyes' "vanity campaigns" was his campaign to be the Libertarian Party of New York's candidate for the US Senate in 1998? Keyes lost the Libertarian nomination - and so decided to once again be a Republican and run for President in 2000.

Alan Keyes - a "principled, committed," conservative wanting to run as a LIBERTARIAN from New York - and losing the nomination so he "reverts" to the Republican Party. Now, THAT sounds like a RINO.


33 posted on 08/08/2004 8:30:50 PM PDT by NCPAC ((Live without Fear: Don't worry about what may happen. Concentrate on what must be done.))
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To: OldFriend
From some of the information about Obama that Hastert discussed this morning it would seem that Obama is a CRIMINAL CODDLING LEFTIST.

In other news; BEARS DEFECATE IN WOODS.

34 posted on 08/08/2004 8:53:39 PM PDT by Barnacle (Refuse to speak Leftist.)
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To: PaleoPal
Monday, Keyes will not be mentioned by Rush, Hannity, or Boortz.""

What are you suggesting about these hosts? That they march to orders from somebody above?

35 posted on 08/08/2004 8:56:31 PM PDT by churchillbuff
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To: PaleoPal

Please explain the hatred for Keyes, as you understand it. I find it interesting that some of the biggest Iraq war supporters on FR have also revealed themselves as among the biggest bashers of Keyes - - - but I think he supports the war, so I don't get it.


36 posted on 08/08/2004 8:59:14 PM PDT by churchillbuff
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To: PaleoPal
Monday, Keyes will not be mentioned by Rush, Hannity, or Boortz. If I'm wrong, please respond. I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong. I'll be sad if I'm right.

Shirley, you jest. Next to the presidential race, this will be the most watched election in the country.

(If you're right, call me Shirley.)

37 posted on 08/08/2004 9:01:40 PM PDT by Barnacle (Refuse to speak Leftist.)
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To: churchillbuff

Keyes may be too conservative for the 'Bushies'.


38 posted on 08/08/2004 9:03:04 PM PDT by cyborg
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To: Barnacle
Next to the presidential race, this will be the most watched election in the country.

The Florida Senate race will be bigger, and of more significance, since Obama will likely beat Keyes by 10-20 points.

39 posted on 08/08/2004 9:04:31 PM PDT by sinkspur (If we were as good as our dogs think we are, what a wonderful world we'd have!)
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To: cyborg
Keyes may be too conservative for the 'Bushies'.

"may be"? You could have left those two words out of your post and they'd never been missed.

40 posted on 08/08/2004 9:08:46 PM PDT by Barnacle (Refuse to speak Leftist.)
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