Jim Edgar to announce run for Senate within days (My title)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 5/2/03 | Michael Sneed

[LdSentinal]

It's called the countdown.

Word is former Gov. Jim Edgar will announce his decision to run for the U.S. Senate within days, according to top Republican sources.

President Bush wants Edgar to run. And so does Bush's top adviser Karl Rove, who hit town Thursday.

"It's the world's worst-kept secret that George W. Bush and Jim Edgar are close personal friends who have the highest regards for each other. They have a great personal relationship," said Rove, who's in the Midwest for political fund-raising.

*The flipside: But in case Edgar gets the heebie-jeebies, Rove said financial whiz Jack Ryan, who gave up investment banking to teach at an inner-city Catholic school for three years, and new state GOP chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka would be next in line.

[AuH2ORepublican]

As I've written before, we need to hold our noses and support Edgar for the Senate. A RINO is better than a Democrat any day, and in Illinois we can't hope for anything better.

[JohnnyZ]

In case anyone's bothered by the title, the original is "The Rove Report" and covers a couple topics besides Edgar.

Not really ideal, shall we say.

I'd be willing to chuck Edgar in favor of Jack Ryan. Seems like an honest guy.

[Grand Old Partisan]

As Abraham Lincoln said when touting William Henry Harrison over his idol, Henry Clay, for the 1840 Whig Party presidential nomination: "I'd rather have the victory of some of my principles than the defeat of all of them."

[RonF]

The question I have is whether or not Jim is going to run a strong campaign. He was not the most inspired campaigner to begin with. Obviously he was good enough to win his terms as Governor, but that was a while back when he was a) younger, and b) a lot more eager to actually win the office he was running for. Now he's older, and the party is seeking him rather than him seeking the office. A very tainted party.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"As I've written before, we need to hold our noses and support Edgar for the Senate."

I hold my nose that hard and it'll end up looking like Michael Jackson's.

[supercat]

Depends on the RINO and the Democrat. King George was far worse than opponent Glen Poshard.

[MainstreamConservative]

My gut tells me he won't run that strong of a campaign. If he runs, it will be out a sense of loyalty and duty to President Bush, not because he wants the title "Senator" in front of his name.

[RonF]

My gut tells me he won't run that strong of a campaign. If he runs, it will be out a sense of loyalty and duty to President Bush, not because he wants the title "Senator" in front of his name.

The question then becomes, is that sufficient fuel for him to run the kind of campaign he needs in order to win?

[Pure Country]

I'd be willing to chuck Edgar in favor of Jack Ryan. Seems like an honest guy.

He may be a nice guy, but for the down staters---he needs to change his last name. "Ryan" has pretty played-out down here. I don't know if anyone can get past it or not.

[JohnnyZ]

The question then becomes, is that sufficient fuel for him to run the kind of campaign he needs in order to win?

He sure as Hell won't want to lose!!! Especially not to some twerp like Hynes. Not the way to end one's public career. So he'd go all out just for that!

[MainstreamConservative]

Remember, while Edgar certainly won't want to lose, he may end up being a quick fix. Edgar may decide that, after six years in Washington, it's not for him. Then we will be in a real pickle. Unfortunately, there seems to be no alternative. I will support Edgar because I want President Bush's nominations approved. That is and will always be the most important issue for me. No ammount of Senator's and Congressman can accomplish what we want if we have a liberal judiciary. Everyone who refuses to vote for moderates and RINO's need to remember that.