I agree that conservatives have to agree on a single challenger to Kirk, to ensure that the conservative vote won’t split, helping Kirk. When he ran for the U.S. House, in 2000, the primary had 11 Republicans. The conservative vote split, helping Kirk win with 31%. I hope that all IL conservatives will support Dr. Eric Wallace.
I'm not sold on Hughes, sounds like another good guy but unknown political amateur. Doesn't have nearly the seasoning, articulation of the issues, or political involvement that Dr. Eric Wallace has on his resume (plus Wallace is bringing in some heavy hitter conservative activists from around the nation like Ken Blackwell and Herman Cain to stump for him).
Supposedly a lot of these leaders are drawn to Hughes because he has the "personal funds" to compete. If so I hope he has about $10 million of "personal wealth" he can burn easily, otherwise I can't see why he'd be stronger choice than Wallace.
Worse, there's a large number of conservatives who actually seem to believe Kirk's little dog and pony show about being adamantly against Obamacare. I hope no Illinois freeper is foolish enough to believe Kirk's routine. Of course he's going to pretend to be on our side now that he needs conservatives money and volunteers for a statewide race. Anyone who thinks Kirk is back on the reservation and genuinely changed his ways should consider what happened after he pulled the same stunt with "re-elect me because I support President Bush on the WOT" in 2006 and then promptly switched sides once he was returned to office. I don't trust Kirk as far I can throw him. He has proven he will say anything to get votes.
Now more than ever, getting conservatives on the same page in Illinois seems to be like trying to herd cats with a water pistol. I just wish we could get all these conservative candidates in a room together and have them emerge with ONE agreed upon consensus candidate that everyone else will agree to support. Draw straws if you must (and please nothing like 2006 where Oberweis says 'I should get a bigger straw because I have much better name ID, nevermind the fact I can't get elected dog catcher')
At least we can thankful the comptroller's race appears to have shaped up into a one-on-one battle between RINO combiner Topinka and conservative reformer Bill Kelly.