Incumbent Illinois governor Rod "Elvis" Blagojevich yielded 30% of Democratic voters to a virtually invisible primary opponent.
Will those Dem dissenters jump parties to support Judy Topinka, a GOP veteran of Illinois' bipartisan sleaze machine? Perhaps not, but independent and swing voters probably will, figuring Rod has missed his chance to fulfill his 2002 promises to change Illinois politics and government.
Is there a public figure in Illinois with enough stature to mount an independent reform campaign? And I don't mean some Jesse Ventura-esque idiot like Mike Ditka.
I can't think of one.
The political culture in this state, while thankfully bluer every passing year, is still teeming with bipartisan backscratching.
If reformers among Democratic and Independent voters don't want to lose credibility in their opposition to GOP sleaze in DC, they need to boycott Rod in Illinois.
But better than a boycott would be a real alternative who could appeal to reformers across party lines. A
Any ideas... anyone?