Sorry, Dan, but there IS no Illinois GOP. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daley, inc.
I agree with you to a point. I think Illinois is like most states; conservative rural areas and liberal urban areas. Daley owns the urban vote. I think as we saw in the post Presidential elections in Georgia and Louisiana, conservatives are more likely to show up for special elections.
Getting elected is one thing. If these Illinois Republicans can convert the Blagojevich scandal into some wins they will then need to have some ideas and some character.