Posted on 05/13/2003 10:19:57 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Can the Illinois GOP compete for the U.S. Senate? It has been 63 years since a Republican, the late C. Wayland "Curley" Brooks, last won an open U.S. Senate seat in the Land of Lincoln.
Next year, for the fourth time since 1980, Republicans have a chance to fill a soon-to-be vacated senatorial seat. In the previous three contests, each GOP nominee lost by pluralities of more than 500,000 votes and received about 42 percent of the overall vote.
If former Gov. Jim Edgar had made the race for the seat of the retiring Peter G. Fitzgerald, he would have been a solid favorite. But in the wake of Edgar's decision to take a pass, the Democrats are in a very strong position to pick up the Fitzgerald seat.
State Comptroller Dan Hynes, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and state Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago), the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination, are looking stronger as general election prospects with Edgar out of the running.
But they must first survive the challenge of millionaire businessman Blair Hull, who is vowing to spend $20 million in the primary, which could be enough to buy the nomination. Gery Chico, former president of the Chicago Board of Education, and hospital administrator Joyce Washington are regarded as long shots.
With Edgar out of the race, the Republicans would seem to be at a disadvantage if the Democrats nominate a proven vote-getter like Hynes, Pappas or Obama.
State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who is also chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, has been courted by the Bush White House and Republican National Senatorial Committee as a potential candidate. Next to Edgar, she would be the GOP's strongest nominee. But Topinka is the only member of her party holding statewide executive office, and Gov. Blagojevich would name a Democrat as her successor if she went to the Senate. Topinka won't let that happen.
Andrew J. McKenna Jr., 45, a resident of Glenview and president of the Schwarz Paper Co., is being touted by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's camp for the GOP nomination. McKenna, who has served as chairman of the Illinois Business Roundtable, has been exploring a possible candidacy for nearly a year and is committed to make the race. He is a graduate of Notre Dame and has a master's degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John L. Borling, 63, a decorated fighter pilot and Vietnam prisoner of war, has been urged to run for the Senate by party activists and civic leaders. His personal history could well have political appeal. Two of his fellow POWs in the Hanoi Hilton, John McCain and Jeremiah Denton, were later elected to the Senate. Borling shouldn't be underestimated.
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale), 66, who is in her third congressional term, has been encouraged by her ally Topinka to consider running for Fitzgerald's seat. Biggert, a fiscal conservative and social moderate, is among the more thoughtful members of the state's House delegation. She has served as co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, has chaired the Women's Caucus Subcommittee on Education, and also has been a leader in promoting women's health initiatives. If Biggert went for the Senate, she would have a good chance for her party's nomination and would be competitive in the general election against any Democrat in the current field.
RTA Chairman Thomas J. McCracken, 50, another DuPage Republican, also is exploring a possible bid for the Senate. McCracken, a former state senator and representative, has a solid record of public service. But he is untested at the statewide level.
DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom, 51, who has been approached by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is a common-sense pragmatist and could be competitive as his party's nominee.
Former state Rep. James B. Durkin, 42, the 2002 GOP nominee for the Senate against Democratic incumbent Richard J. Durbin, was underfunded and got only 38 percent of the vote. He is open to another run but should think long and hard before making the race.
Jack Ryan, the former investment banker who has an interest in running for Fitzgerald's seat, would have difficulty because he shares the same last name as the soon-to-be indicted former Gov. George H. Ryan. This Ryan is honest, but some voters would be confused as former Attorney General Jim Ryan learned in his run for governor. He would also do well to sit out this race.
Former Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood and Patrick O'Malley, who each got more than a fourth of the '02 gubernatorial primary vote, didn't get the message. Both are looking to make comebacks. The nomination of either would be a setback for the Illinois GOP.
Put back Jack Ryan and cross off Jim Ryan.
North Shore businessman Andy McKenna Jr. said he will file the paperwork for a fund-raising committee today. Former investment banker Jack Ryan said he will issue a statement about his plans. Gold Coast accountant and lawyer John Cox said he is 95 percent sure he will run, and dairy and investment magnate Jim Oberweis announced plans for his own exploratory committee--pledging to put in more than $1 million of his own money into the race, if he runs.
I'm going for Jack Ryan all the way!
I cannot even start to count the number of people I know who voted for Blagoevitch over Jim Ryan because "I sure dont want that crook to have another term as governor"
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