Some folks forget that with the GOP majority in DC at the time, the Combine’s designated Republican for the Senate back in 1996 was Bob Kustra, the bored Lt Governor (when Paul Simon, another Combiner, stepped down). Kustra, of course, got upended by anti-Combiner Al Salvi. The Combine then designated Dick Durbin, who was supposed to be the sacrificial lamb to Kustra, and we all know how that’s gone ever since.
Hell, remember even in 1998, the Combine was fine if Carol Moseley-Braun went down to the liberal RINO Combiner Loleta Didrickson, but the latter got upended by anti-Combiner Fitzgerald, and they pulled out all the stops to help ole Carol. If Fitzgerald hadn’t been independently wealthy, he’d not have been able to fight the Combine. He was the LAST honest and unbought statewide elected official.
“He was the LAST honest and unbought statewide elected official.”
my Dad had some minor exposure to him. He spoke well of Peter. He was smart enough not to run again. If that doesn’t say something about Illinois AND the US Senate. Not too many incumbents decide to hang up the spikes after a single term - family money or not.