Posted on 04/26/2003 11:30:39 PM PDT by LdSentinal
CHAMPAIGN -- Former Gov. Jim Edgar met with his closest aides Friday to discuss the pros and cons of coming out of political retirement to run for the U.S. Senate.
Edgar would be the early favorite in the 2004 race for outgoing Republican U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald's seat. But despite some high-powered lobbying from his party's leaders -- including President Bush -- the former governor is still weighing his options.
"I don't think Jim Edgar has made up his mind. I think it is significant, obviously, that he has left the door open," said Al Grosboll, Edgar's former deputy chief of staff.
Grosboll was among a handful of trusted aides Edgar called to Champaign on Friday to discuss a potential campaign. Also at the meeting were former press secretaries Mike Lawrence and Eric Robinson; Carter Hendren, who ran Edgar's successful 1990 campaign for governor; Mike McCormick, a former assistant to the governor; and Edgar's wife, Brenda Edgar.
"The governor met with former staff members and asked their opinions of what they thought of a possible run for U.S. Senate. No decisions were made at this meeting," Robinson said. He declined to say what the participants talked about, calling the conversation private.
Edgar convened a similar meeting of close advisers shortly before his 1997 decision to retire from government rather than seek a third term as governor or a U.S. Senate seat.
The former governor, who now teaches at the University of Illinois, was not expected to come to a decision this weekend.
"To make a run for the United States Senate requires a full commitment," Grosboll said. "There is no doubt in my mind that Jim Edgar would make a terrific United States senator and would represent Illinois with distinction and honor. ... But you don't click your fingers and make that happen."
Edgar must decide whether he wants to commit to 18 months of campaigning and fund-raising, sacrifice time with his family and face possible attacks on his character by opponents, Grosboll said.
President Bush called Edgar this week to urge him to run. Fitzgerald decided not to seek a second term, saying he wants to spend more time with his family and does not want to go through a tough campaign in an increasingly Democratic state.
Several Democrats already have lined up to compete for the spot.
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