May 29, 2002
GOVERNOR'S RACE UNFOLDS: GRIM MAN VS. GRIN MAN
Right now, George Ryan is beating Jim Ryan to a pulp, and Blagojevich’s support grows with each passing day. Blagojevich is leading Ryan in the early polls, although not by much. Ryan’s problem is that George Ryan is stuck in his window of opportunity. How can Ryan excoriate Blagojevich as too liberal to be governor when all voters now want is just somebody who’s honest as governor? Is Blagojevich a superficial opportunist, whose every vote, thought and pronouncement is calculated to win votes? Full Article...
May 22, 2002
"DADDY BAGGAGE" MAY SINK MADIGAN AGAINST BIRKETT
Lisa Madigan won the March Democratic primary for Illinois Attorney General because of her father, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, the state Democratic chairman. To win, Madigan must “define” Birkett as an unacceptable candidate. Ryan got only 30 percent of the Chicago vote, carrying several Northwest Side wards; Santos won 88.3 percent of the black vote. In the Cook County suburbs, Birkett won’t come close to Ryan’s 66.7 percent, but anti-Madigan votes by liberals and independents will give Birkett close to 60 percent. Birkett will top Madigan by better than 60-40. Full Article...
May 15, 2002
BIRKETT HOPES "QUAYLE SYNDROME" EQUALS VICTORY
Madigan’s approach did not resonate with voters on March 19. Roughly 60 percent of Democratic primary voters are women, who presumably should have opted for Lisa Madigan. Ditto in the collar counties, where Schmidt won with 52.8 percent. Clearly, the Schmidt vote was predominantly an anti-Madigan vote. The first post-primary poll put Madigan ahead of Birkett by a 47-40 margin. Ryan got only 30 percent of the Chicago vote, carrying several Northwest Side wards; Santos won 88.3 percent of the black vote. Full Article...
May 8, 2002
HANSEN BEATS OLSZEWSKI IN REPLAY OF '98 PRIMARY
Hansen topped Olszewski by 1,861 votes districtwide, in a turnout of 17,716. As shown in the adjoining vote chart, Hansen beat Olszewski by 1,166 votes in Hansen’s home Elk Grove township; and, in neighboring Schaumburg Township, where Hansen was backed by Committeeman Paul Froelich, Hansen had 1,124 more votes that Olszewski. But, in both townships, the combined Olszewski-Schneider vote (5,112) almost equaled the total Hansen vote (5,939). The total Olszewski-Schneider vote in Hanover (3,442) was four times greater than Hansen’s 774. Was Schneider a Hansen plant, designed to divide the anti-Hansen vote? Full Article...
May 1, 2002
REPUBLICAN WAR STILL SIMMERS IN MAINE TOWNSHIP
Darr is closely allied with township Supervisor Bob Dudycz. In January of 2001, at the township Republican caucus, Darr and Dudycz packed the session with supporters, and dumped Thompson, who had been supervisor since 1993. Thompson was a key Butler ally and protégé. Thompson announced against Darr, and became a magnet for all those who resisted the Dudycz-Darr machine. Darr believes that Thompson began the campaign well ahead. My prediction: Until Thompson publicly forswears revenge against Dudycz in 2005, the Maine Township Republicans will remain seriously divided. Expect Thompson and Dudycz to remain estranged. Full Article...
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