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Monday, November 07, 2005

IL-Gov: Topinka in Against Blago

Posted by DavidNYC

Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) is not an especially popular guy. Among other things, he ranks in the bottom tier in gubernatorial approval, a poll in early October gave him just a 35-42 re-election number, and by most accounts, he hasn't had a very successful first term in office.

So it's not much of a surprise that the most popular - only popular? - Republican in the state, Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, has decided to toss her hat into the Republican primary ring. There are five guys already in the race, but they are mostly low name-rec nobodies, with the possible exception of uber-conservative Jim Oberweis, best known for losing in the IL Senate primary last year to disgraced ultra-loser Jack Ryan. Topinka stands at 81% name recognition and holds an impressive lead (31-15 over her nearest challenger) in a hypothetical primary matchup.

However, don't fret too much. Blago has somehow managed to amass an enormous warchest - $14 million and counting.That's some serious Hillary-level scrilla. Plus, IL has become very blue of late, so that's a natural advantage - plus, as I need remind no one, the national GOP is imploding, which is yet another natural advantage for us. Nonetheless, this race probably just got moved into the "interesting" category thanks to Topinka.

(Trib story thanks to mlkisler.)

Posted at 12:27 PM in 2006 Elections - State, Illinois | Technorati

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Comments

I have to admit I'm torn.

Vote for a Dem who has had some controversy in his office and has helped mess up the state's finances by keeping his promise of no income tax raises or vote for a Republican. Might come down to a coin-flip next year...

Posted by: EriktheRed at November 7, 2005 03:58 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Ah! Judy Baar Topinka! The woman who worked overtime to distance herself from Alan Keyes last year. I remember she was denying to everyone in sight that she had supported his candidacy in any way and also removed herself from the room when he coopted a microphone at a gathering of Illinois delegates at the Republican convention (I think it was one of many such events to which he was either not invited or not scheduled to speak.) Anyway, she did make it clear Keyes was not her idea of a good Senate candidate.

Posted by: Ansatasia P at November 7, 2005 04:31 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I have a feeling Topinka might be a tought opponent only because she appears to be of the Republicanus Non-Crazius subspecies, a very rare breed indeed.

Posted by: DavidNYC at November 7, 2005 05:39 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment