For me it is now a choice between Gidwitz and Oberweis since corruption is my #1 issue. Gidwitz will probably be as good (or at least as effective) as Oberweiss on taxes, spending, business regulation. So the question is social issues. Oberweiss is worse on immigration, flip flops on Life. It is unknown if either really cares about 2d amendment as they never mention it although they have nominal positions on it.
Who will be next? Will Brady or Oberweiss consolidate with each other? Or with Gidwitz or Topinka?
The corrupton wing of Brady's major support will push for him to back Topinka. Protecting their cash cow is #1 with them. If Brady doesn't drop out, they'll probably leave him for Topinka anyway.
Brady just does not have the gravitas or presence of a statewide candidate to go further. Just compare his frat-boy approach with the class act of Dan Rutherford in the adjacent St Senate District.
Immigration is an albatross for Oberweiss, mostly because Jim does a lousy job of handling his side of the issue. He is constantly on the defense. He needs to plat offense. So far he hasnt' been able to get there.
But Gidwitz will have to work hard to climb in the polls.
It's a new ball game.
All I can think about is Evergreen Terrace.
I've received two 4-color mailings from Obie in the past two weeks ... both were devoted almost entirely to 2amen issues. Promised to support and sign concealed carry legislation.
Unfrickingbelievable.
Hey Rauschenberger, it's STILL too early. Let conservatives enjoy the holidays first THEN they would have paid attention and donated to your campaign.
All of the Illinois conservatives are now going to stay home because you rushed your candidacy, panicked, and in desperation joined with a sleazy moderate who doesn't have a shot in H of winning.
To balence out their weaknesses, the other Governor/Lt. Governor candidates could align as follows:
Topinka/Poe ---> Poe is unknown upstate and needs help with woman voters, Topinka needs to him to pull off a few gullible conservative crossover and pretend she "cares" about rural issues. Topinka gets someone down to earth, Poe uses Topinka to get GOP, Inc. behind him to cancel out Raunschenberger's support.
Oberweis/Kathuria ---> Oberweis' previous record of being the top "also ran" candidate helps Kathuria with much needed voter crediblity, having Kathuria as his running mate would sheild Oberweis from the "he's a meanie racist who hates immigrants and minorities" charge. Plus they line up nearly identical on the issues and can stump through the state on simular pro-gun, lower presciption drugs, deport illegal aliens platforms.
Brady/Wegman ---> Geographic balence, Brady is from Bloomington-Normal, a heavily Dem area surrounded by a sea of conservative votes in central Illinois, Wegman is from Elgin, a heavily Dem area surrounded by a sea of conservative votes in the Chicago 'burbs. Wegman helps Brady get the vote in the heavily GOP coller counties (Kane being the biggest prize), Brady helps Wegman emerge from Rausenberger's shadow in the Lt. Governor race when she is paired with a state Senator who is running strong in the polls.
I do find it offensive you refer to Brady as the "corruption" candidate because he hasn't trotted out a token "denouncement" of Kjellander. Going by those rules, half the Republican U.S. Senate candidates in 2004 were "corruption" candidates, including, of course, Oberweis. And if Gidwitz is a reformer for publically denouncing the establishment after getting in office thanks to them, then Corrine Wood was a "Reformer" too.