The best analysis is by John Kass of the Tribune (token conservative columnist). Kass has written that the state party leadership of "moderate" Republican Judy Baar Topinka (who thinks of abortion as a sacrament, showed up at a gay "rights" parade as state GOP Chair, and well knows that the most important issue is whose cronies get the jobs, contracts and jail terms) pushed for public disclosure to destroy Jack Ryan for showing the conservative nature of the state's GOP primary voters, then were humiliated by being unable to find a credible "moderate" candidate willing to run (which would most certainly NOT include Oberweis who claimed this year to be pro-life after labelling GOP pro-lifers the "Taliban" but whose embarassing anti-Mexican campaign would alienate a very substantial growing constituency in Illinois).
As Topinka needs to avoid her humiliating performance as state party chairman in order to be credible in running for governor AND needs to overcome the conservative primary victory this year of Jack Ryan lest conservatives here notice that they CAN win primaries after all (Fitzgerald? or O'Malley?), she needed a break. The Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee of Sen. George Allen needed to fill the Illinois nomination lest Barack Obama (the skinny guy with the funny name) be free to run around the country maximizing black turnout everywhere. You can bet that RSCC suggested Keyes and a good suggestion it was compared to the alternatives.
Keyes will campaign hard and will show the flag on most legitimate GOP issues, social, constitutional, foreign and military, taxes, etc. Keyes is the best candidate available because of the fact that Keyes is black and more spontaneously eloquent. Keyes will also be able to highlight Obama's state senate voting record of unrelieved radicalism, his ties to Chicago corruption and what not. Daley wanted Obama to go to Washington lest Obama primary Little Richie Daley seeking control of the machine's patronage base.
If I had to bet money, I would expect Obama to win. He will not win by the margin of this poll and Keyes will tie him down. I also agree with that Topinka will not avoid the opprobrium of having been utterly inept as state GOP Chairman. She will try and fail to peddle the line that she gave the conservatives a nominee after all their years of complaining against state GOP leaders and that Keyes lost (or lost big) proving that "pro-abort, pro-gay marriage "moderation" is what we need. We will be done with Judy Baby, Edgar and company in just two more years. If Blago really blows it, we may have either Fitzgerald or O'Malley as governor and a new day for Illinois and its GOP.
Thank you.
I knew you'd know.
I wish Keyes the best.
I'd love to see him win.