Edgar won't make Senate run

Chicago Tribune ^ | 05/09/03 | Tribune staff reports

[cherry_bomb88]

The Chicago Tribune is reporting this morning that former Gov. Jim Edgar will not run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

Tribune Political Editor Rick Pearson says Edgar is telling close associates he will announce his decision later today. Edgar, a Downstate Republican, is saying the timing is not right in his life to make the run.

Edgar's decision follows a telephone call placed last month to the former governor by President Bush, urging him to run for Senate next year after Fitzgerald's surprise announcement that he would not seek re-election.

Officials of the National Republican Senatorial Committee made similar pleas to Edgar. At the time, the former governor said he was seriously considering the request.

Retired from politics and now teaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Edgar had cited the importance of "making some sacrifices" and taking on unplanned duties to help serve the nation during a time of war. Still, he said he would not be rushed into a decision.

The White House is seeking to strengthen the ticket in Illinois to enhance the prospects for Bush to carry the state in 2004 and to help keep the Senate in GOP hands. A moderate, Edgar had been considered the strongest Republican candidate in Illinois.

He also was seen as someone who could turn around the fortunes of the state Republican Party, badly scarred by scandal resulting from a federal investigation into corruption in the administration of former Gov. George Ryan. Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune

[fieldmarshaldj]

The hint of scandal is one reason, nevermind ideological, that I didn't want to see Edgar run. I'm not going to entirely write that seat off, yet. We need to see who intends to get in before formally writing it off.

[cherry_bomb88]

And the bigger problem, if Kirk vacates that seat to run for Senate, who will we get to run for that seat in congress??? Wasn't that a VERY close election the last go around???

[fieldmarshaldj]

"No but his brother George is thinking about running."

Let's hope he gets the 'RAT nod !

[Protagoras]

Chicago is a great place. It's mentally ill mayor now thinks the rightful role of government in a free society is to be in business. The gambling business. Which by the way, you will still be arrested for doing in competition with them.

[cookcounty]

"Supposedly Jack Ryan is 2nd on the Establishment list."

What? Another Ryan??? George Ryan, Jim Ryan, Jack Ryan.....

How about it he changes his name to "Jack Not-Ryan?"

" Hi, voters. I'm Jack Not-Ryan, and I'm Not Lyin'.

[Kuksool]

Mark Kirk (IL-10) won the open House seat 51%-49% in 2000. Bill Clinton and Al Gore carried the district in 1996 and 2000. The district was made a little more Republican, but it is designed to elect a RINO.

[cherry_bomb88]

that's kinda what I thought....we should leave Kirk there for now.....although he'd be great. I'd suggest Denny Hastert...by why on earth would he want to vacate his Speaker position???

[Theodore R.]

It probably a matter of money. Edgar could not "afford" to live on a senator's salary. Good news for conservatives that he is NOT running.

[Cicero]

Edgar had cited the importance of "making some sacrifices" and taking on unplanned duties to help serve the nation during a time of war. Still, he said he would not be rushed into a decision.

I hate to rain on the party, but it sounds to me as if Mr. RINO is waiting to be "drafted." He's probably holding out for a cushier deal--a plum committee chairmanship or major gravy for Illinois.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I think money is only one aspect of it. I knew he didn't have the fire in the belly (as I wrote just yesterday), and didn't want to go through the rigors of a contest in which primary opponents (as well as the 'Rats) would rightly bring up how much he knew about corruption in the Secretary of State's office or while he was Governor. His candidacy seemed like way too high a price to pay to retain (sic) the Senate seat.

[Ford Fairlane]

Now everyone needs to email the white house & request that Donald Rumsfeld run

He is the only republican I can think of that would be a lock to win

Then he could run for President or Vice President in 2008

[Charles Henrickson]

OK, who's left?

Just about every Republican in Illinois.

[Pubbie]

Damn! :(

It looked like he was going to run!

This same newspaper reported last week, that he had made his mind up to run.

I have no idea what happened. :(

[fieldmarshaldj]

You just can't trust some of these people. Turn that frown upside down, Edgar isn't worth getting upset over. I'm relieved he's out.

[Pubbie]

Well, here's the good side of this, if we run Jack Ryan we can at least make this race competive, and that will draw campaign resources and money away from other Democrat Senate Races, however we will still probably loose this seat.

I was hoping for Edgar because it would make this seat lean Republican in a democratic state. Now without Edgar (IF this report is true) we'll probably get another Dick Durbin clone.

[JohnnyZ]

Turn that frown upside down

Okay Barney :)

[LdSentinal]

Feh. Tom Kean's long-lost brother has been found and his name is Jim Edgar.

Conservatives should not be too thrilled since Topinka could still enter, but the Chicago Sun-Times article menyions her as being happy with her current position. Along with her would be Jim Ryan (crappy campaign, but still got 46% of the vote last year), Jack Ryan, and that General Borling fellow.

[LdSentinal]

Oh yeah, pray that Hynes or Hull does not win the Democratic primary. I like our chances against Pappas, Washington, and Obama against any Republican challenger aside from George Ryan.

[unspun]

Not Edgar, Probably Not Topinka

Friday, May 09, 2003

State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka shows to be a possible winner if she would run for U.S. Senate in 2004, Edgar said today

CHICAGO -- Republican state party chairwoman and State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka says, "I'm dis-inclined," to run as the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate at a noon press conference held in Chicago today. Topinka called the press conference to express her disappointment that Edgar has decided not to run in 2004.

“I can’t handicap this race because I don’t know who all the horses are,” Topinka said when asked who she thinks would be the best candidate to step forward... (continued)

BTW, Kirk is not a conservative.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Aren't there ANY viable Republicans in IL that DON'T have the last name of Ryan ?!?