Free Republic

Double entendre? Republican lieutenant governor candidate Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin got in hot water with the Elk Grove Township GOP over the weekend. The key Northwest suburban Republican group voted Sunday to rescind its endorsement of Rauschenberger in the March 21 primary. The senator spoke to the group Saturday, praising longtime Cook County Board member Carl Hansen of Mount Prospect. When the Elk Grove party types returned home, they found out Rauschenberger also had sent out a letter endorsing Hansen’s foe, Hanover Township Highway Commissioner Tim Schneider. Rauschenberger’s Senate colleague, appointed Sen. Cheryl Axley, who doubles as Elk Grove GOP...

Conservative Elgin state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger will drop out of the Republican governor’s race today to become the running mate of moderate Ron Gidwitz in an attempt to salvage both men’s statewide hopes next year. The move to form a balanced ideological team comes a week after state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka entered the GOP governor primary amid a state party poll that showed her with a wide lead with many voters still undecided. While Gidwitz and Rauschenberger had been talking prior to that, the meeting helped speed up their decision to join forces after perceiving the party establishment was...

(AP) CHICAGO Steve Rauschenberger plans to drop his bid for the Republican nomination for governor and instead run for lieutenant governor as the running mate of Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz, an individual familiar with the arrangement said Tuesday. A Rauschenberger aide would not discuss the conservative state senator's plans. "We have no comment on the rumors," campaign manager Dan Proft said. The plan would combine Gidwitz's personal fortune with Rauschenberger's appeal to conservatives, creating a potentially powerful challenge to the front-runner for the GOP nomination, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. Rauschenberger is one of several candidates who have been splitting...

CHICAGO - On the heels of the decision by former Governor Jim Edgar not to run for Governor in 2006, State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin), a 13-year lawmaker, has emerged as perhaps the GOP's best chance to defeat incumbent Governor Rod Blagojevich, according to a poll released by Zogby International. The poll, conducted from September 16-21, shows Rauschenberger with a slim 1-point margin over incumbent Governor Rod Blagojevich, 41.3-40.4%. The poll also seemingly indicates that Rauschenberger provides the best head-to-head match-up with Blagojevich for the Republican party now that Edgar has decided he will not be a candidate. The Zogby...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MINUTEMEN SCHEDULE CHICAGO DEMONSTRATION Monday May 2nd 2005 6:30pm. Big City Tap 1010 W. Belmont, Chicago Il. Illinois Minutemen who have just returned from the Arizona/Mexico border, Cochise County have now set up a watch in their home state of Illinois. These Minutemen and other Illegal Immigration activists will be protesting the immigration voting record of State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin) who is a potential candidate for Governor of Illinois. Rick Biesada a member of the Minutemen group says “we are here to educate the good people of Illinois about Steve Rauschenberger’s voting record and also to...

The Illinois Republican Party took another body blow Thursday, as the candidate considered the favorite by a number of GOP leaders dropped out of the running to replace U.S. Senate nominee Jack Ryan. State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger said his late entry into the race would have made it nearly impossible to raise the money required to compete effectively against Democrat Barack Obama... Aurora dairy owner Jim Oberweis argues that his second-place primary finish makes him the "logical" choice. But many Republicans remain uneasy over TV commercials Oberweis ran during the primary attacking President Bush's immigration reform plans. Oberweis insists he...

Rauschenberger takes pass on Senate raceBy Rick Pearson Tribune political reporter Published July 8, 2004, 4:00 PM CDT State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger took himself out of the running today to replace Jack Ryan as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, sending the GOP scrambling once again for a candidate to challenge Democrat Barack Obama. In a brief statement, the Elgin Republican and 11-year state senator said he was grateful for the support he has received for his potential candidacy, but added, "Right now my full attention is needed in the Illinois Senate."

Next weekend, the Illinois Republican Party will decide whether to shed its old ways or stick with its image as the Republicrat/Demipublican Hybrid. At its state convention May 14-15 in Collinsville, the GOP will choose its national committeeman, who will serve for the next four years. Up for re-election is Bob Kjellander. A vestige of the good old days when Republicans blurred with Democrats, Kjellander made more than $809,000 as consultant to Bear, Stearns & Co., the lead underwriter on a $10 billion bond deal for Gov. Blagojevich. The Democrat-controlled House favored the bond deal, but in the Senate it...

CHICAGO -- On CBS 2/Newsradio 780 tonight, political editor Mike Flannery indicated a surprising trend in the Republican primary polling that caused political junkies to seat up and pay attention -- the undecided voters are apparently heading towards state Senator Steve Rauschenberger in their last minute decisions. "It's been our plan all along to have Steve start to show in the polls during the last three days," Rauschenberger's campaign spokesman Charlie Stone said this evening. "People are just now paying attention, and deciding their choice for tomorrow. Steve is the only qualified choice for their next U.S. Senator, that's what...

http://www.illinoisleader.com SPECIAL ELECTION WEEKEND: McKenna hits the road Saturday, March 13, 2004 By The Leader-Chicago Bureau (chicago@illinoisleader.com) GLENVIEW -- If you're looking for U.S. Senate candidate Andy McKenna this weekend, follow the McKenna's New Beginning Bus Tour. Andy, his wife Mary and their four young adult children will be aboard, visiting with supporters from Carbondale to Springfield to Rockford and finally, his home town of Glenview. The "New Beginning Express" will roll through twenty cities and more than 40 counties in an effort to reach out to Republican voters around Illinois, energize the campaign’s statewide field organization and spread McKenna’s...

OPINION -- Today, IllinoisLeader.com's Tribal Council announces the final Republican U.S. Senate candidate we will eliminate in our Survivor quest to determine our endorsement. The Elephant Tribe currently has two competitors. They are, as they appear on the March 16 Republican primary ballot: Rauschenberger and Ryan. Contender Norm Hill was cast out of the Tribe February 16. Contender Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria was cast out February 18. Contender General John Borling was cast out February 20. Contender Jim Oberweis was cast out February 23. Contender Jonathan Wright was cast out February 25. Contender Andy McKenna was cast out February 27. Moving...

Greatly restricted by lack of campaign resources, Elgin state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger is fighting uphill in his effort to emerge as standard-bearer in the Republican Party's U.S. Senate primary. Several independent polls have the senator trailing front-running Jack Ryan by double-digit margins and also running behind Aurora dairy magnate Jim Oberweis and Chicago businessman Andy McKenna. Nonetheless, we support Rauschenberger for the GOP nomination, finding him the most thoughtful and articulate in the large field of candidates. He also is the one with the most legislative experience and mainstream GOP idealism. We think if elected in November, he would best...

The campaign for the U.S. Senate has been dominated by big-spenders, at least if you use the TV ads and the polls as a guide. For those who are mesmerized by fat campaign bank accounts, it should be remembered that just two years ago in a Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, little-known and lightly funded Jim Durkin defeated two opponents who vastly outspent him. Can that happen again? If it does, Republican Party voters will have cast aside the television blitz to find the one candidate who has a long and unmatched public record of independence and effectiveness. That...

Former GOP senator and pro quarterback Jack Kemp threw his endorsement Saturday to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack Ryan, then tossed souvenir footballs to fire up an enthusiastic group of Ryan backers gathered in Lincoln Park. Kemp, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 1996, praised Ryan as a candidate who will shake up the GOP by reaching out to urban and minority voters often overlooked by other Republicans. "We have a guy who's a super candidate. He can light a fire under the Republican Party,'' said Kemp, who also was to attend a Ryan fund-raiser Saturday. Ryan, a former investment...

CHICAGO - Goldman Sachs' partner-turned-teacher Jack Ryan's most recent investment in early campaign television ads and mailings appears to be paying off. The other GOP campaigns, however, aren't buying it. In a poll released today by his campaign, Ryan is showing a 24-point lead in his bid to be the next Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, replacing Illinois' retiring U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald. Ryan was supported by 35% of those polled, followed by Jim Oberweis with 11%. State Senator Steve Rauschenberger got 3% of the votes, and retired General John Borling and businessman Andy McKenna tied at 2%. 45% of...

In what is believed to be the shortest political respite in Illinois history, Republican John Cox on Thursday dropped out of next year's U.S. Senate race -- as he announced he is considering running for state treasurer or comptroller in 2006. "I plan on being a part of a statewide ticket in 2006," Cox said. "As a CPA, there's a couple of offices that deal with financial matters that would probably lend themselves to my experience and background." Cox, 48, made his withdrawal official at a news conference with state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, the Elgin Republican who Cox said he...

SPRINGFIELD - Chicago businessman John Cox formally announced his candidacy for the 2004 U.S. Senate race on Monday, becoming the third conservative millionaire on the Republican campaign trail. The candidate focused much of his introductory speech on ending corruption in Illinois, on the same day the public awaited sentencing of Scott Fawell, chief architect of the licenses-for-bribes scandal in Republican George Ryan’s secretary of state office. "I want to lead a rebirth of the Illinois Republican Party around true conservative values, principles and ethics," said Cox, 47. "I’m running for the U.S. Senate to restore confidence and integrity in our...