Ok, why the hell doesn't a conservative run for statewide office in IL ?
By my count we have at least FOUR running for Governor and no less than SEVEN running for the U.S. Senate at the moment. That's the problem in this state — ALL the conservative activists want the top job, nobody is willing to settle for something smaller. So in the meantime we have no conservatives for key offices like Secretary of State (I'm told the one Republican who announced his candidacy for SOS is a RINO).
CONSERVATIVES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
Adam Andrzejewski
http://www.adamforillinois.com/
Bill Brady
http://bradyforillinois.com/
Matt Murphy
http://www.murphy2010.com/
Dan Proft
http://www.proft2010.com/
I've personally met all four conservative candidates for Governor (there are three other Republicans running as well, I don't think they can be considered good conservatives by any reasonable measurement though).
Matt Murphy has a very solid conservative voting record (90% conservative rating from the United Republican Fund), and has a real sharp mind on budget issues. I helped get him elected in both the primary and general election in 2006 and knocked on doors for him. His winning that open seat was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal year for the GOP. I was leaning in favor of Murphy for Governor a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, he's been disappointing lately. You guys know he's personally endorsed and lent his support to RINO Mark Kirk in the primary, right? I sent him an email expressing my concerns about that and got no response. He's also flip-flopped on Lauzen’s SB600 and is now against it. He's still on my short list for Governor, but I have to take those issues into account when I decide my candidate. Good guy, but no longer my top choice.
Adam Andrzejewski has a huge cult of worshippers online, but this doesn't seem to be translating into much real world support in the polls, so it seems something like the Ron Paul phenomena. Why so many conservatives love this guy I don't know. Apparently they want an “outsider” and therefore think anyone who's ever held an office in their life is a bad guy. He's another one who whines about the lack of conservatives running down the ticket but is unwilling to set the example and run for something small himself. Andrewjewski sounds very good on the issues but his credentials for the highest office in the state are basically “I ran a phone book company”. Honestly, the least impressive bio of any of the conservative candidates. I have a better political resume than this guy.
I could say something about Bill Brady, but it might cause some flaming from the “Oberweis woulda won in ‘06 and wuz robbed cuz of Brady!!” crowd on FR. The fact some Oberweis people are convinced Brady is evil incarnate is a concern of mine as it will hurt his chances if they stay home and sulk if he's the nominee.
Proft is a strong conservative who has been political active for years and also the most outspoken candidate against the combine. He also has a lot of personal baggage and negatives. Too detailed to discuss here.
Basically I'm undecided for Governor.
CONSERVATIVES RUNNING FOR SENATE:
John Arrington
http://www.arringtonforsenate.com/
Patrick Hughes
http://www.patrickhughesforsenate.com/
Tom Kuna
http://www.w-e-r-co.com/
Dan Lowery
http://www.judgelowery4ussenate.com/wordpress/
Ed Varga
http://www.e-varga.com/pdfs/index.htm
Robert Zadek
http://www.robertzadek.com/
Eric Wallace
http://www.wallaceforillinois.com/
Now here I have made an endorsement. None of them are first tier candidates, however, Eric Wallace, IMO, is the best of the anti-Kirk candidates. A couple of other ones can point to prior “elected” office but these were local, non-partisan offices. Wallace has the best command of the issues, biggest network in GOP politics, strongest life story, and most potential to attraction national interest. Unfortunately the conservative vote is now being split as a large number of conservative activists have decided Pat Hughes is the best choice, supposedly because he has personal wealth he can tap into (it certainly can't be because he political chops are better than Wallace's). A lot of these guys have no shot at a U.S. Senate race and should get out and endorse Kirk. Others like Arrington and Lowery sound like good guys but now is not the time or place for them to run for this office. I would hope they would consider running for a difference office so they don't split the conservative vote with Wallace.