Posted on 05/16/2005 1:10:05 PM PDT by RWR8189
CHICAGO (CBS 2) CBS 2 News has learned that former Illinois governor Jim Edgar is being urged to consider a run for his old office. The pleas are coming from here in Illinois, as well as from Washington.
He served two terms as governor; leaving Illinois in solid financial shape when he stepped down in 1999. He retired after 30 years in state politics, to the life of a college lecturer, corporate director and consultant.
But he is now, for the third time in two years, being urged to get back into politics.
Republican State Chairman Andy McKenna, Jr. said, “Why wouldn’t people encourage him? And to my knowledge he's not said ‘yes’ and he's not said ‘no,’ and what a wonderful thing for this party if he chose to do that.”
"I'll never say never," Jim Edgar said in a phone interview from his home near Champaign tonight. “But that's still a long way from saying yes." Which he almost did when asked to run for the Senate two years ago.
Several potential candidates, including State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz, and downstate Congressman Ray LaHood are already poised to run for the right to challenge Rod Blagojevich.
McKenna said Jim Edgar “has a great chance of winning and as we sit here today, the best chance.”
The other GOP hopefuls, not waiting for Edgar to make up his mind, today attacked the embattled incumbent's fund-raising reform proposals.
Illinois State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, said, “It seems a little self-serving to talk about limiting campaign contributions after you've already raised $15 million.”
Unless, another potential candidate said, he gives it all away.
Judy Baar Topinka said, “If he gives all his money to charity, I will be right behind him and I will give all my money to charity. And we will all start. And then we will truly rock the system."
But it would be nothing like the return of a former governor who left the state on solid financial footing. He could well be the toughest candidate for the GOP -- if they can get him to run.
As long as he stays away from those burgers.
A RINO is far preferable to an ACTUAL Democorat.
Blago=Ahole
Blajo almost has bad numbers in Illinois as Steve Bartman.
There's a difference?
Would rather see Jim Oberweis as Repub. nominee. Number two vote getter behind Ryan in senate bid. Topinka wouldn't like it,seeing how she sent Keys to the slaughter. I like Oberweis's anti-illegal immigrant views.
I like his ice cream, but I think the way he ran his Senate campaign focused on immigration turned off more people than it attracted.
maybe so. hopefully he learned from his mistake...
They should have been working on grooming young talent, building up a grassroots network to find and turn out voters, working on getting their ideas out and showing the ill effects on liberalism.
I blame Dennis Hastert, he essentially shoved one GOP senator out, and allowed his seat to be taken by a borderline marxist who is now a rising star.
The GOP seems to have simply given up the idea of governing the state of Illinois. They've done nothing to put together a coalition, and now are in a spot where they have to beg former office holders to come back.
This wouldn't solve a problem, just hide it from view, where it could continue to fester for more years.
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