Illinois governor makes waves, positioning himself for '08 bid

[quaoar]

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/11563300.htm

BY STEVEN THOMMA
Knight Ridder Newspapers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - (KRT) - A half-century ago, saloonkeeper and alderman Paddy Bauler celebrated the defeat of a reform-minded politician by boasting, "Chicago ain't ready for reform yet."

Now, a son of Chicago politics is preparing to ask whether the nation is ready for him.

Far from the television studios of New York and the cauldron of political ambition that is the U.S. Senate, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is trying to make a name for himself as an innovative, against-the-grain, values-minded Midwestern governor, sometimes angering his own family and his Democratic Party in the process.

Assuming he wins re-election next year, Blagojevich (bla-GOYA-vich) could run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. His expected pitch to the Iowa Democrats who will kick off the nominating season in January 2008: I'm a fellow Midwesterner, a governor with a track record of running things and, most importantly, not a Northeastern liberal like Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and John Kerry of Massachusetts.

[WI_DEM]

1. Interesting

and why not? I'm not sure we need a re-run of the 2004 election with many of the same people running again. I hope that despite Feingold's divorce he runs.

[xray s]

2. Ain't gonna happen

A lot of folks in Illinois are not pleased with the govenor.

[im10ashus]

5. Agreed!

Former Chicagoan here. Moved to Manhattan a year ago. I think Chicago Mayor Daley has a better shot. Hell, Hillary Clinton has a better shot than Rod.

[laylah]

6. That's putting it VERY mildly

xray s! I live here and have experienced, first hand, his lying hypocrisy. I will campaign for a donut if one decides to "run" against Blago next year. Blago is a liar and a fraud and his administration is just as unethical as any previous one! :mad:

Jenn

[quaoar]

7. Oh, I don't know

Bush has demonstrated that you can be hated and reviled and still managed to win.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. I don't think that Blagojavich has Karl Rove, though

[ComerPerro]

23. or 9/11

[aldian159]

10. Agreed, but he could do well nationally

People here don't like him too much, but it is not like Illinois will go for the GOP in 2008 with or without Hot Rod.

He's gonna win in 2006, that much is certain. After that, he will likely win the Iowa caucuses in 2008, as well as the Midwestern primaries, such as Missouri, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin, all of them early.

While it is FAR too early to talk about the horse race, he's got a shot.

[truebrit71]

24. No kidding....

Blaggo doesn't stand a chance nationally....

[warrens]

27. I think you're right

He has the ambition, but his record leaves a lot to be desired.

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. Too bad he's not so popular in Illinois

I've heard plenty of talk about ousting him in the primaries in '06. I'm from Illinois, and he wouldn't get my support in '08.

[deadparrot]

4. I'm from St. Louis,

so IL is right across the river, but I don't know too much about his politics, except that he stepped in after all of Ryan's corruption.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. My Sis Isn't Thrilled With This Guy

I think I like Schweitzer and Rendell better as potential governor candidates.

DTH

[WildEyedLiberal]

9. Blago is nothing special

I doubt he'd even manage to corral most Illinoisans behind (not that that matters since our primary is so late). I doubt he'd be impressive in Iowa; he can say what he wants about not being a "New England liberal" (which is sucha bullshit insult anyway), he's Chicago machine through-and-through and he isn't gonna impress anyone. Hell, he's alienated lots of Chicagoans.

[nevergiveup]

11. Gov. Rod is terribly

out of favor with about everyone in this state. If conservative Republicans swallow their pride and nominate politically moderate State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Rod is finished. Although blue, Illinois has a history of electing moderate Republican governors.

[Radical Activist]

16. Topinka won't beat Rod.

She has too many skeletons that Rod can take advantage of. She gets a pass now because no one cares who the state Treasurer is. She's too much of a corrupt crook to criticize Rod for his own corruption.

Ray LaHood is a bigger threat. He can mobilize the big chunk of swing voters in downstate who aren't happy with Rod. He's underestimated because people in Chicago don't know him yet.

[global1]

12. This Has Been His Goal Since When He Was In Congress......

why do you think he gave up his congressional seat to become Governor of Illinois. He's had the presidency in mind for a long time. In fact I was doing some lobbying in D.C. for a professional group and we were in Hastert's office talking with his people (note: we talk to both Dems and Repugs for this professional group). We mentioned that we were going to Blago's office. We were told - don't even bother - he's tuned out. quote "He's going to be the next governor of Illinois". This was two years before his election. I voted against him just to prove Hastert's people wrong. But I guess the fix was in - because lo and behold - he's our governor. But bottom line - governor wasn't his goal. His goal is the presidency - and a governorship is a better launching pad for the presidency than a congressman.

[quaoar]

13. I'm not from Illinois

although I went to grad school there.

But perhaps someone can enlighten me as to why Blagojevich sucks.

[chicagojoe]

17. He's pissing off Dems and all 8 Republicans here in IL.

Lots of cronyism; lack of dynamics.

[Radical Activist]

15. Oh yeah, he's making waves: as a crook.

I think its funny that this article is in a South Carolina newspaper. All the Illinois papers this week are about Blagojevich's administration illegally fudging the numbers in the state budget and handing out state contracts and appointments in exchange for campaign contributions. The guy is a mediocre Governor at best who follows the DLC playbook for campaign gimmicks in place of actual governing.

Both US Senators from Illinois would make better Presidents and have much better chances of winning. Dick Durbin would have made a great candidate in '04 and would have had a great shot at winning the primary if he had chosen to run. I'd love to see Durbin be President, but I don't think he's interested.

[LittleClarkie]

18. And an unpronouncable name

That makes a difference. If they can't remember you, they can't vote for you.

He sounds like a bit of a tool. But I'm not a constituent, so maybe he's okay.

[WildEyedLiberal]

20. Nah, he's not cool

And I am a constituent.

It's Bla-GOY-e-vich btw. Yeah, I think he ran ads about how to properly pronounce his name in 2002. :P

[tritsofme]

19. Hahahahaha

Oh gosh, let's hope he wins the primary in 2006, let alone get reelected.

Everyone knows that Blago has wanted to play president for years, he's got no shot.

I don't think he has any better shot in Iowa than Dick Gephardt did last year.

[AngryAmish]

21. Blago sucks - his Lt. Gov. is going to run against him

Quinn is trying to make waves with this can deposit thing - which is about the worst idea I have erver heard of.

Blago is not a smart man. His personal morals leave much to be desired. His use of state workers to treat himself like a king sickens me. He got to where he is because his wife is daughter of Dick Mell, and he promptly threw Mell under the bus. (Now Mell is no angel either, but loyalty is to be desired.)

Blago is dreadful and should leave public life.

[Walt Starr]

22. for those who have no idea about Illinois politics

First of all, Blagojevich is going to have a tough enough time getting re-elected. Expect a primary opposition from Lisa Madigan who has the support of the Daley machine.

But Ms. Madigan might have problems of her own as Daley appears to be on the outs with the recent Water Department kickbacks for contributions scandal and the Hired Trucks scandal, both of which may hit Rahm Emmanuel as well. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is investigating all of this and Fitzgerald gets his man in Illinois corrupt politics.

The Democrats are split in Illinois even if everything is peachy keen on the surface. They will implode in '06 and I fully expect Illinois to go RED in '08 if something doesn't happen soon to stem the tide.

[tritsofme]

29. Daley on the outs?

He won't be on the outs until he's 6 feet under.

[realFedUp]

25. if people can't pronounce the name...they won't vote for him

I'm surprised Antonio Villaraigosa is doing
so well...

some sarcasm in this post.

[Mitt Chovick]

26. Why bother running against Hillary!

We all know she'll soak up all the money and have the field cleared for her.

[harpo]

30. hillary can't win...the repukes would like us to think so though

[Tippy]

28. I understand he is a lot like Bush

He seldom if ever spends the night in the Governors Mansion he flies home to Chicago at the end of his day...now I know it's further to Texas but at least Bush dosn't go home every night....

He is not scoring points witha lot of Illinois Democrats....

[kentuck]

31. People will not vote for a name they cannot pronounce....

The fewer letters in the name, the better the chance for winning.

[kevsand]

32. He's got nothing.

Blagojevich might as well talk to Martians as talk to Iowans. He's got nothing in common with them, and they will see through it in a heartbeat. He's a big city machine hack, and seems to be losing skills and ideas rather than gaining them. And that 40 million in his campaign chest does him no good in a federal race.

He's a crook, and what's worse, he's stupid about it. His administration is imploding on a daily basis. Whatever decent political instincts he may have had at one time, he has completely forgotten. He's alienated everyone downstate, most of labor, and half of Chicago. He will not be re-elected in 2006.

The only hope of retaining the Governor's mansion is if someone beats him in the primary. It won't be Lisa Madigan. She's got a new baby and hasn't finished everything she wants for her legacy as AG. And it won't be Pat Quinn. He's never been more than a novelty item.

God help us...

[AngryAmish]

34. Rosty '08?

[kevsand]

35. LOL!

It does all start to seem way too familiar in Illinois, doesn't it? I guess we deserve our reputation.

Seriously, though, people don't have to take our word for it. Anyone who wants to gauge the opinions of DUers on the ground here should read through some of the threads in the Illinois group. There are quite a few about Blago...

[Jack Rabbit]

33. Very interesting

I'll put this on file and take it out again after the 2006 elections.