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.
here is a link to a partial transcript of the speech
http://www.renewamerica.us/news/040808excerpt.htm
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.
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.
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.
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.
.......and I will THROW MY SUPPORT TO HIM NOW!!!!!!GO ALAN KEYES!!!!
isn't "criminal coddling leftist" redundant?
Keyes can win. He just has to become a "reverend" like Sharpton & Jackson. Makes all the difference.
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.
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.
Not being from Illinois (Michigan) I had never heard of Barak Obama. The press coverage he got presented him as a religious moderate.
"...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.
In other news; BEARS DEFECATE IN WOODS.
What are you suggesting about these hosts? That they march to orders from somebody above?
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.
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.)
Keyes may be too conservative for the 'Bushies'.
The Florida Senate race will be bigger, and of more significance, since Obama will likely beat Keyes by 10-20 points.
"may be"? You could have left those two words out of your post and they'd never been missed.
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