Looks like some DU'ers were right on the money on this one

[bigdarryl]

A few on here predicted he would drop out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100207/us-illinois-democratic-nightmare/

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. They had Cohen the pawnbroker by the balls.

[MercutioATC]

3. For those who don't get this:

As a barber shop's traditional symbol is the candy-striped pole, a pawnbroker's traditional symbol is three balls.

[SharonRB]

2. Thank goodness.

Now what do they do for a candidate? Do they have to have another election or will whoever came in second be the candidate?

[Kittycat]

4. I believe (edit w/link)

the Central Committee will be selecting the candidate.

"The speaker is prepeared to work with the members of the (Democratic) State Central Committee, Gov. Quinn and Senate President (John) Cullerton to work on selecting a replacement," Brown said. "We'll start with members of the central committee and work on ideas."

Selection of a replacement to fill the ballot vacancy is the work of the 38-member Democratic State Central Committee, made up of a male and female representative from each of the state's 19 congressional districts. The state central committee is scheduled to meet March 17, though a meeting could be held sooner.

The state central committee is not bound to select any of the candidates who lost to Cohen in last week’s primary. State Rep. Art Turner of Chicago, a member of Madigan’s House leadership team who was backed by the powerful Southwest Side lawmaker, finished second to Cohen."

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/02/speaker-madigan-met-with-cohen-urged-him-to-quit-.html

[frazzled]

5. Methinks they'll have to choose Turner

Or face a black electorate in the Chicago area who stays home in November. He would have won, having been endorsed by both the Tribune and the Sun-Times, and having spent decades in Springfield, had this bizarre "job fair" fluke and a very uninformed electorate not intervened. Or at least, that's how I see it.

I really feel that if they pass up the second-place winner, they may alienate an important voting bloc in what may turn out to be a very close race.