Problem is, Phil, if our candidate isn’t independently wealthy, you can just about write them off. Even if they won the primary, they’d be desultory opposition in the general. It reminds me of FR’s own late “Congressman Billybob.” He announced he was running for Congress from NC back around 2006 or so and I told him if he didn’t have at least a million in the bank, he could forget about it. For statewide in IL, you’re going to need $10 million just as a base amount.
Yeah to win, especially a US Senate race in a large state you’ve got to have the cheddar. Either you have to have the ability to raise it (which usually means you are a dreaded “career politician”) or have your own. Can Koppie come close to raising enough? I doubt it.
It’s nice Koppie has held office but such minor offices as they were don’t really elevate him above someone who’s never held office. Running against George Ryan in the primary 15 years ago and running a bunch of third party campaigns for the Senate (2008 1996 1992) don’t really elevate him either (and why did he run against Al Salvi in 96?).
Now Phil here is his campaign manager so I’m sure we’ll have to agree to disagree as to his viability but I would round it down to zero percent, he’d be lucky to break 30% in the general election. He’d be a good candidate for State legislature or county wide office.
Now if the only other choice is some RINO POS like Steve Sourberg (28% in 2008) who would lose badly anyway then we may as well go with him. I’d love to go into the election with even a 5% chance to win though. Like back in 2002 when we at least had a credible candidate in Jim Durkin.ll have to agree to disagree as to his viability but I would round it down to zero percent, he