Poshard considering comeback; might join race for U.S. Senate

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 4/25/03 | Steve Neal

[LdSentinal]

Glenn Poshard, the 1998 Democratic nominee for governor, is weighing a possible bid for the U.S. Senate.

Poshard, 57, who has just stepped down as vice chancellor for administration at Southern Illinois University, has been encouraged by political allies to make a run for the seat that is being vacated by Republican Peter G. Fitzgerald.

His populist message and dynamic campaign style would add excitement to the Democratic primary.

At least six other Democrats are already in the field. Poshard has encouraged state Comptroller Dan Hynes to make the race and many of his former allies including Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley, Laborers' union leader Ed Smith of Cairo and Rep. William O. Lipinski are committed to Hynes.

If former Gov. Jim Edgar, the state's most popular political figure, enters the Senate race, he would be an early favorite. Poshard has been urged to run by Democrats who are making the argument that he would be their party's best hope of stopping Edgar.

He is undaunted by the prospect of running against Edgar. In the spring of 1997, when Poshard announced that he was giving up a safe congressional seat to run for governor, the popular Edgar was still viewed as a probable candidate for a third term. But Edgar chose not to run and Secretary of State George H. Ryan became the GOP's nominee for governor.

Poshard, who narrowly lost the governorship to Ryan in 1998, could benefit from a sympathy factor if he makes a comeback. In that campaign, Poshard accused Ryan of tolerating corruption in the secretary of state's office and linked him to the deaths of six children in a fiery 1994 highway accident involving an unqualified trucker who obtained his license from Ryan's office. There have been more than 40 convictions or plea agreements in the case and Ryan is likely to be indicted.

"I am thankful in a sense that the federal investigators have at least said we weren't telling a lie . . . that we weren't just being negative, and there were things there that were covered up," Poshard said last fall.

Poshard, who considered making another run for governor in 2002, led the Democratic field in early polls. But he surprised nearly everyone two years ago when he took himself out of the running. Later, when former U.S. Commerce Secretary William M. Daley explored a gubernatorial bid, Poshard accepted Daley's invitation to be his running mate for lieutenant governor. After Daley quit the race, Poshard also withdrew.

Even though Poshard's name wasn't on the ballot last year, he took an active role in Democratic politics. He was among Gov. Blagojevich's more effective surrogate campaigners and also supported Lisa Madigan in her successful race for attorney general.

Poshard first began talking last winter about a possible 2004 run for the Senate. As he outlined his strategy to a Democratic officeholder, Poshard noted that he could win the primary by rolling up a big Downstate vote while at least four candidates from Chicago split the Cook County vote.

Five years ago, in the Democratic primary for governor, he received at least two-thirds of the vote in more than half of the state's 102 counties over three rivals from Chicago. Poshard got 95 percent of the vote in 24 southern Illinois counties and garnered between 80 percent and 90 percent of the vote in another dozen counties.

Poshard has told associates that he could enter the race as late as the December filing deadline and would need less money in the primary than lesser-known rivals.

A Democratic strategist, who talked with Poshard this week, makes the argument that the former congressman's passionate style and Downstate base would make him more competitive against Edgar than any other Democrat.

Poshard, who is confident that he would win a primary, is also aware that his opposition to abortion rights could doom his chances in a general election against the pro-choice Edgar.

But Poshard faced even longer odds when he ran for governor. And he almost won.

[LdSentinal]

I doubt Poshard would run again considering Hynes is the favorite in the Democratic primary and far more liberal than Poshard. I doubt that the other liberal candidates in the primary would split the vote so "badly" that Poshard would prevail.

Still, if the scenario ever came that Poshard did win the Dem primary and Edgar was the Republican nominee . . .

[LdSentinal]

Ping

[JohnnyZ]

Yes, that would be odd since Poshard would get the pro-life endorsement.

Still, would he really decide to run? Maybe if some of the other candidates decided to drop b/c they wouldn't want to face Edgar? Hm.

[The Old Hoosier]

I don't know who I'd root for...

[BobinIL]

Poshard would probably get the progun people too. It would be a hard decision between Edgar and Poshard. But Poshard VS Corine Wood, I would vote Poshard.

[Bogolyubski]

Poshard is far more conservative than Edgar, who is much like former Illinois Gov. "Lyin' Ryan" in his general embrace of statist policies, abortion, etc. I would much prefer a conservative Dem who is willing to take a stand on priciple over a RINO like Edgar who will do nothing apart from stabbing conservatives in the back at every opportunity. Given the extreme leftist tilt of the Dem machine in Illinois, there is little chance Poshard would win the nomination, unless (as was pointed out) the Dem primary vote is heavily split. I wonder why Fitzgerald dropped out - does anyone here know?

[BillyBoy]

>> I don't know who I'd root for... <<

Ditto. Geesh, that's a tough one. I don't think it would happen though, because both men are from pretty far downstate and refused to comply with the Daley machine when they were in office. I admire both men. Edgar thwarted Daley's crooked schemes on a number of occasions (if he was still in office, Meigs would be soaring proudly) and Poshard totally screws his party on social issues.

Senator Edgar would be extremely prudent on the budget and constantly vote down pork-barrell garbage, he'd also be a watchdog against 'RAT corruption. Unfortunately, he'd vote pro-abortion, pro-gay "rights", and pro-gun control. Senator Poshard would constantly spend taxpayers money "for the children" and be in the hip pocket of labor unions, but he'd continue to ensure Illinois has a 100% pro-life Senator, and he'd be far better than Fitz on gun rights and family values (assuming he continues his congressional record and doesn't cave)

If Neal's scenario is true, Edgar would accept a "draft" to run and instantly become the front-runner for the GOP nomination, and we might consider voting in the Dem primary for Poshard and Sharpton to really screw their leaders.

Unfortuantely, this article is from Steve Neal and I've learned to trust his factual "reports" as much as a I trusted Clinton to stay faithful to his wife. Can't imagive Steve rooting for Poshard, because he's veminately pro-abortion and insists ANYONE who is dependably pro-life "can't win" statewide in Illinois.

I wonder what he's up to?

[Kuksool]

If the Senate race comes down between Edgar vs. Poshard, Edgar could possibly carry Cook County. Cook County residents, especially those in Chicago, are rabid pro-aborts and gun-grabbers.

[Coop]

I would much prefer a conservative Dem

Me, too! But they don't let Virginians vote in Illinois. :-) (Then again, maybe for a Dem primary...)

[BillyBoy]

>> Edgar, who is much like former Illinois Gov. "Lyin' Ryan" in his general embrace of statist policies, abortion, etc. I would much prefer a conservative Dem who is willing to take a stand on priciple over a RINO like Edgar who will do nothing apart from stabbing conservatives in the back at every opportunity. Given the extreme leftist tilt of the Dem machine in Illinois, there is little chance Poshard would win the nomination <<

To compare Edgar to Ryan is insulting. Edgar had a 70% approval rating when he left office. Ryan had less than 20%. Hmmm, I wonder why? Edgar kept his campaign promises and George broke every one. On the death penalty alone, these men are 180o degrees apart. The bleeding-hearts begged Edgar to suspend Gacy's execution and he very publically stood up and fought for it to go forward. Victemized families begged George NOT to take EVERYONE off death row and he very publically gloated about blanket communtation for all the murderers.

As to Poshard vs. Edgar (doubt it will happen, but possible), you've got a socially conservative, fiscally liberal Dem (Poshard) running against a socially libeal, fiscally conservative Republican. Edgar's "conservative" rating from the ACU would be about 60% whereas Poshard's was about 40% when he was in congress. Touch decision.

If Poshard were to run (and that's a big "if"), the odds of him winning the 'RAT nominate are very good. First, he already won it in '98 for governor and ran an excellent campaign. Second, the Chicago machine liberals will do exactly that-- split the vote--they will be divided between 3-4 equally liberal Chicago politicans leaving all the downstate and suburban Dems to vote for Poshard, plus crossover Republican voters. Poshard only loses in a two-way primary against a well-known Chicago politican.

[BillyBoy]

>> Me, too! But they don't let Virginians vote in Illinois <<

Several Virgina freepers insisted Mark Warner was a "conservative" Dem. So much for that advice.

[Coop]

You didn't hear that from me. He played like he was gun friendly, but he was pro abortion from the get-go.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Is somebody on the 'Rat side reading our analysis of whom we most fear ? Unless Edgar was planning on switching to pro-life, I wouldn't be too terribly averse to supporting Poshard (IL's version of Zell Miller). In a contested primary, Poshard very well could pull it out as he did in '98, and if Blagojevich is extra pragmatic, he might consider endorsing him. It will be interesting to see a GOP/independent Fitz succeeded by an independent/'Rat Poshard.

[Bogolyubski]

I'll grant that Edgar is not corrupt in the way that Ryan was and that he supported the death penalty while in office, but we still have the problem of dealing with a RINO on numerous important issues. As you admitted, Edgar is pro-abortion, in favor of effectively abolishing the 2nd amendment, in favor of pushing GLSEN's evil agenda in Government-run schools. He also generally favors the continuation of such abominations as the Orwellian "affirmative action" and "hate crimes." Even though aspects of his economic positions are certainly superior to those of the worn out UMW-inspired ideas of Poshard, the leftist and statist positions he holds are very similar to those held by the disgraceful George Ryan on important moral and social issues - hence the comparison. A Senator Edgar could be counted as an ally of Ted Kennedy in terms of the type of nominee he would support for the Federal Judiciary, by way of example. Edgar is a great example of a Gramscian leftist - a fiscal conservative who favors co-opting business to advance a utopian agenda. He is an enemy of conservatism, the constitution, and US Sovereignty.

[mabelkitty]

Is this the best they can do?

[The Old Hoosier]

I change my mind. I would definitely root for Poshard.

[The Old Hoosier]

Not really--they're just mindless dem voters.

[The Old Hoosier]

Mark Warner is easily as conservative as John Warner. Probably more so.

[Princeliberty]

Poshard would clearly be far more conservative
than Edgar. And if you are pro-life you
have to go with Poshard.

Republicans think Edgar's the man,
but if Poshard the Democrat Edgar
could a huge disaster.

[BillyBoy]

As someone who voted for Poshard in '98 over ultra-liberal "Republican" scumbag/murderer George Ryan (and I'm proud of that vote!) let me be the first to say that Glenn is a man of integrity and we should all hope and pray he gets the Dem nomination because he'd be the only respectable candidate for Senate in their entire party. If the GOP primary turns out to be one-sided, we should all consider voting for Glenn in the Dem primary.

THAT being said, trying to cast Glenn as a solid conservative who is clearly to the right of "RINO" Edgar just doesn't hold water. Yes, he's more conservative than unabashed flaming leftist "Republicans" like Corruption Wood and Judy Barf Topinka, but that's not really saying much. Someone pointed out that Mark Warner is "as conservative" as the worthless RINO John Warner. Okay. Tim Johnson is "at least conservative if not more" than former congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD) Wanna go vote for Tim now?

Glenn is obviously conservative on social issues but still a solid tax-and-spend, U.N.-saluting, union-funded liberal on economic issues. I looked up his lifetime American Conservative Union rating. It's around 45%. While Glenn is NO Dick Durbin, he's simply not "more conservative" than Edgar. It's all a matter of taste since Edgar is conservative on the OPPOSITE issues. I lean heavily towards social issues too and therefore would lean in his favor. However, I'm guessing Jim Edgar's ACU rating might actually turn out to be slightly higher-- perhaps 60% or so, since Edgar is from the Susan Collins wing of the party.

Again, in a race between Jim Edgar and Glenn Poshard, call it a toss-up. I'd have to study them very carefully. If Edgar moved to the right in the primary and agreed to confirm pro-life judges, vote to ban PBA, support ANWR drilling, while Glenn caved to Daley (like he almost did in 2002) and agreed to drop his pro-gun views, I would vote for Jim. On the other hand, if Glenn refused to apologize to his party for being solidly pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-gay "rights" while Edgar was pressured by the RINO establishment to run a Dick Riordan style campaign, I would vote for Glenn.

I've collected an exact list of how Glenn Poshard voted during during the last two years in the House (excluding '98 when he was mostly on the campaign trail. It's a start. Look at the record and judge for yourself.