Will the Illinois GOP write off the Senate race?

[terrya]

No one in this state wants to run against Barack Obama, it seems.

What are the odds that the Illinois GOP would just essentially say "screw it" and cede Obama the race?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Sure sounds that way. Did you see this article?

Does anyone want this job?
As Kirk Dillard becomes the latest to take himself out of the running for the GOP spot in November's race, many are wondering:

By John Chase and Liam Ford, Tribune staff reporters. Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson contributed to this report
Published July 22, 2004

Republicans keep promising a vigorous challenge to Democrat Barack Obama in November's U.S. Senate race--when and if they can find a candidate, that is.

The futility of that search intensified Wednesday when state Sen. Kirk Dillard, recently named DuPage County GOP chairman, became the latest in an ever-growing list of party luminaries to say "thanks but no thanks" to the prospect of becoming an emergency fill-in after primary winner Jack Ryan bowed out.

Dillard, a Hinsdale resident, said he opted not to run because he didn't want to ignore his new county party post and because he believed his position in state government had more impact on the lives of Illinois residents than would a position in the U.S. Senate. But most importantly, he said, running for the federal post would take him away from his wife and their two young daughters, ages 3 and 10 months.

"To me, family comes first over politics, especially with young children," said Dillard, 49. "Given a vote between being a dad and a U.S. senator, I would vote to be a dad any time."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0407220256jul22,1,146898.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[terrya]

2. Yes, I sure did.

Unless Judy Baar Topinka decides to run (I think the race could be somewhat competitive if she did), Obama might as well start start apartment hunting in Washington. :-)

[w13rd0]

3. Well, if they can't forward a challenger...

...they've already got their talking points drawn up.

"Barack Obama ran unopposed due to circumstances beyond our control. He doesn't have a mandate from the people of Illinois. He's 'out of touch with the mainstream' and he's a damned libural."

[Paulie]

4. I think Fitzgerald is enjoying watching the state GOP twist in the wind

They wouldn't support him, so now they have this mess. He would atleast been a contender.

I wonder what he will tell them when they are begging him to go another term, "sit on this and rotate" or something more colorful? :D

GOP-IL is dead. Burry it quick before it starts to smell any worse! }( }( }(