He's Toast ...
Posted on 02/28/2003 12:20:59 PM PST by LdSentinal
SPRINGFIELD -- A new statewide poll shows that U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald may be vulnerable if he seeks re-election to a second term.
According to a survey of 462 state residents by Illinois Wesleyan University's political science department, just 27 percent of the respondents believe the Republican from Inverness should be re-elected in 2004.
The poll, which had a margin of error of 4.7 percent, showed that 38 percent of those surveyed on Tuesday and Wednesday believe someone else should be given a chance to do the job. Thirty-four percent were undecided.
The poll comes as Fitzgerald has been in the national spotlight for saying President Bush had told him he would likely order the assassination of Saddam Hussein "if we had a clear shot" at the Iraqi leader.
Fitzgerald made the comment Monday to a Chicago-area newspaper.
Fitzgerald's campaign office did not respond to requests for reaction to the IWU poll.
On Saturday, the survey may become fodder at a Democrat event in Normal. The Stevenson Society, a social organization for Democratic and independent voters in McLean County, is hosting Democratic Senate candidates at its third annual brunch.
Among the candidates tentatively scheduled to speak beginning at 11:15 a.m. are former Chicago school official Gery Chico, state Sen. Barack Obama of Chicago and businessman Blair Hull of Chicago.
Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes was invited to the event, but is not expected to attend, a campaign spokesman said.
In the poll, respondents were asked how Fitzgerald would fare in a match-up against Hynes, who announced last week that he has formed a committee to explore a bid for the Senate seat.
The results showed Democrat Hynes receiving support from 34 percent of the respondents, with 31 percent supporting Fitzgerald. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed said they were undecided.
Hynes campaign spokesman Jeff Pollock termed the results "very positive."
But, Pollock said Fitzgerald will run a tough campaign. "There are a lot of folks who are underestimating him."
The survey bolsters contentions by Democrats that Fitzgerald may be the Senate's most vulnerable Republican up for re-election in 2004.
It also could add fire to claims by some Illinois Republicans that Fitzgerald lacks support within his own party. U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria earlier suggested that the GOP should find an alternative to the political maverick.
Fitzgerald, 42, has not officially declared his re-election plans but has begun fund-raising.
He's Toast ...
Let the law handle the miscreants; Congressional grandstanding (when these guys take money from anybody who will give it to them) makes me sick to my stomach.
The problem with phone polls is that they are so easily biased. Calling within particular areas will give a strong liberal bias, other areas a strong conservative bias. The time of day is a factor also - daytime polls are more likely to connect with the unemployed, or with "homemakers".
I noted that he made certain promises before his election and within a month, or so after the election he betrayed a good number of his supporters to the rat's agenda. Not many of those folks are enthused by someone who uses other people to get elected like 'ole Fitz.
Are we going to "them" choose "our" candidate? Or are we going to choose our own candidate? I urge everyone to get out working for a candidate for the April 1 elections. At the same time, listen to the voters. If you listen to the Steve Neal clones you'll get what you deserve.
Peter hardly needs a lucrative job, or any kind of job for that matter. He is independently wealthy.
The only type of job he seems to ge getting is a hatchet job from partisans on both sides of the aisle. Because of his personal wealth, he is unbeholden to the party establishment or special interest groups. He is an honorable man who will get my vote.
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