Posted on 10/08/2004 11:54:01 AM PDT by Luis Gonzalez
October 7, 2004--As expected, Democrats will pick up a Senate seat in Illinois this November.
The latest Rasmussen Reports survey shows Democrat Barack Obama holding a 64% to 20% lead over Republican Alan Keyes. The survey was commissioned by the Daily Southtown.
Just 46% of Republicans in the state plan to vote for their own party's nominee. Eight percent (8%) of Republicans say they will not cast a vote in the Senate race.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Illinois voters have a favorable opinion of Barack Obama. Forty-two percent (42%) of voters describe the rising Democratic star as liberal while 34% describe him as mainstream.
For Keyes, 33% have a favorable opinion. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say he is an extremist and another 14% describe him as divisive. Just 7% say Keyes is in the political mainstream.
Overall, 59% of Illinois voters have an unfavorable opinion of Keyes including 39% who say they have a "very" unfavorable opinion of him.
No. Ohio has nothing to do with it.
I don't know if I would vote for him. He is a carpetbagger through and through and regardless of having a R after his name does not guarantee him my vote. I am too independent for that. The IL GOP should be ashamed that they nominated this man who know NOTHING about issues important to IL voters. We critized Hillary for moving to a state where she had never lived to run for an open Senate seat pushing aside home-grown candidates. I was disgusted by it. Libby Dole had NC roots and she was just returning home, but Keyes is an opportunist. He is going to be a drag on the entire GOP ticket in IL and may cost us OH. The IL GOP did itself a huge disservice...it would have been better if Obama ran unopposed or they chose an unknown IL candidate.
Put "affirmative action" and "tax cuts" together, and you get Keyes' proposal. Not a proposal I agree with, but certainly not opposed to the principles espoused in the platform.
At any rate. That is one issue. There are one or two more where he and I don't agree. Otherwise, he's right on target. Do we now withdraw support from candidates when we disagree on one or two issues? I don't think I'd support a single candidate.
There are a few "deal breakers" for me, but this one, given how his priority is to eliminate the income tax for ALL Americans, is not among them.
Maybe Alan could go out there and get a regular job.
You all take joy trouncing Alan Keyes but have yet to compare the two candidates on the issues. You are not being honest, tell me Obama's positions on the issues you have used against Keyes or shut the he11 up. Thank you.
Neither is it debatable that Keyes is going to get spanked.
Fair criticism isn't bad. We all deserve it from time to time. Candidates and elected officials should not be immune from it, either. My gripe is with the (seemingly) active attempts to derail the candidacy, or the lack of consideration about the short- and long-term effects of this division and these types of posts.
I'm sooo mad at the Illinois GOP!!!
No, Keyes had an opportunity to 'out' Obama and he didn't. He may be a good orator, he may hold some conservative priniciples,but he is a kook. 20%??? You have to TRY to get numbers that low.
There is a stupid sign around town here, that says, "IDEALS ABOVE POLITICS" Politics is the vehicle to enact ideals in a democracy. The two are not mutually exclusive. Keyes thumbed his nose at Illinois and selfishly used this election for his own weird agenda.
I don't think it's bashing to say I think he was a bad choice, and I don't think it's bashing to say he's taking some stances that seem pretty weird. While you may be correct that Keyes was set up by a leftwing interviewer, he was perhaps less than adequately adroit in dealing with the question. In fairness, the Illinois republicans did not have any very good choices. Lamentably, Keyes will be crushed decisively, and will probably hurt President Bush's chances in Illinois (which weren't good to begin with).
You have every reason to be. The way they treated Ryan was completely out of order. And after all of that--feigning embarrassment over these allegations that should have remained sealed anyway, they narrowed the replacement process down to two people: an out-of-state conservative and an in-state liberal marred by "sex-related" scandal of her own. Out of desperation (and probably not without division), they chose the superior candidate, Keyes--the only one who could show stark differences between himself and Obama.
Only people like you can turn it around, though. The only way that's going to happen, IMO, is if you go against the grain...if you stand up to the machinery that is in place. You should have no doubt by now that Keyes will stand up to them. If that doesn't rally your support, I fear that very little will be done to alter the status quo.
No Keyes is just making thought provoking conversation, or he was tricked/misquoted/taken out of context by the LIEberal press, or...
Wait a minute you're absolutely right! LOL
LOOK at the pubbie side of the illinois demo rat party, pro death, IE abortions and taking the guns away from law abiding citizens, and letting illegal mooch of the tax payer.
No debates yet you have called the race for Obama. We will know alot more after Tuesday. How many undecideds are there, 50%? So we are looking at Obama having 70% of 50%, that would be 35%.
If Kerry is the run away winner in Illinois, how will the deomcrats turn out the vote?
If you are certain Obama will win by 40% I will take that wager, name the stakes.
Alan Keyes will hurt GOP politics in IL for a decade because of this bit of stupidity. Terrible idea, idiotic candidate. I'm speechless at how dumb this was.
What if Keyes had said that all adults participating in inter-generational sexual relationships were selfish hedonistic perverts. No shame in that yet. What if he had said all adulterers were selfish shameful people who harm marriage? What if he had said all "swingers" (couples that have sex with other couples) were selfish hedonists? See...it's all in how you view the act in question. Homosexuality is and always has been a perversion of human sexuality, but fact is not in play any longer.
Jim,
I don't think anyone here likes the idea of losing another Republican vote in the Senate. That is probably a major issue in the frustration of many of us.
16%, not 50, according to the article.
Ditka.
I'm afraid that Keyes, much like Henry A Wallace did in 1948, has marginalized himself in the way he has ran this race.
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