Posted on 05/20/2003 12:16:39 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Sen. Peter Fitzgerald is keeping mum about who he would like to see succeed him, but some of the Republican's political people are urging RTA Board Chairman Thomas McCracken Jr. to jump into the wide-open GOP primary.
"Several people from the Fitzgerald organization have contacted McCracken and asked him to run," a GOP source said. "Some of his people have called and said, 'If you run, the organization is with you.' "
Fitzgerald refused to comment. McCracken said he has spoken with members of Fitzgerald's camp and planned to speak to the senator himself--but he declined to elaborate on what has been said or whether he expects to receive Fitzgerald's endorsement.
"It would be presumptuous for me to say that," McCracken said. "It isn't up to me."
McCracken, 50, of west suburban Darien, is a former state legislator whose 10-year tenure in the General Assembly overlapped briefly with Fitzgerald's. He left in 1993 to become chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority.
McCracken said he is still deciding whether to enter the race for U.S. Senate.
"I'm seriously looking at it, but I don't have a firm timeline," he said.
Fitzgerald never had an extensive political organization, but he was popular with the conservative activists who get involved in primary campaigns. Those activists are the ones rallying behind McCracken, the source said.
Republicans already in the race include investment banker Jack Ryan and Andy McKenna Jr., president of the Schwarz Paper Co. Other potential GOP candidates include former Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood, former state Sen. Patrick J. O'Malley of Palos Park, state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin, state Sen. Dan Cronin of Elmhurst, DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, former state Rep. Jim Durkin, dairy and investment magnate Jim Oberweis, lawyer and accountant John Cox and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John L. Borling.
I have no idea. A pathetic Republican field. However, it seems that 'The Chicago Tribune' has written positive articles regarding Jack Ryan. Though, the Teamsters endorsed Daniel Hynes. Obama or Pappas would be easier to defeat.
If the Trib likes somebody that's a strong sign they are not socially conservative.
Perhaps he could get Tom Clancy to campaign for him.
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