Shame on me - help me with the IL senate primary

[RaRa]

I've been so focused on the national primaries, that's I've neglected learning about my local (IL) senate candidates. I've heard bits and pieces on NPR the past couple nights, but not enough to get a feel for the candidates. Anyone care to share their thoughts?

[lovedems]

1. I can tell you their names...

Blair Hull (that is who I am voting for) D He is the only card carrying union member of the group. He is wealthy and supporting his own campaign. Appears to be a decent guy.
Nancy Skinner- D I have gotten a few emails from her staff, but nothing really stands out yet.
? Obama- D I don't know anything about him. Suppose to be pretty liberal
Dan Hynes - D (some question about his campaign finances)
Andy McKenna - typical dipshit rethuglican, trying to run on the chimps ideas.

As of right now I am going for Blair Hull.

[kanrok]

2. I like Barack Obama

Harvard grad. Whip-smart and great on his feet. Excellent extemporaneous speaker, and good on issues of concern for dems. My current choice.

[Doomsayer13]

3. Here

For the Democrats -

State Comptroller Dan Hynes - He's the establishment Democrat. He's young, has a lot of state connections, and is the only person in the race, R and D, who currently hold a statewide office. He has a lot of labor support as well. Doesn't seem like a bad guy.

State Senator Barak Obama - One of two African Americans in the race, and based in Chicago, he has major backing from Chicago Blacks like State Senate President Emil Jones and US Rep Jesse Jackson Jr. Liberals like him a lot.

Investment Banker Blair Hull - He's by far the wealthiest candidate in the bunch and has pledged up to 40 million of his own money to winning the primary and the general election. He's currently breaking Illinois records for campain expenditures. He has ties with Governor Rod Blagojevich, but Rod is remaining neutral. Doesn't seem like a bad guy either.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas - One of two women in the race, she is based on the strongly Democratic cook county and is looking for liberal and women support. Other than that, I don't know much about her, she doesn't seem like a major contender.

Chicago School Board President Gery Chico - The only Hispanic in the race. He's running on his strong education record. He has close ties to Mayor Daley, having served as his cheif of staff, but then again, that might be a bad thing with the recent trucking scandal.

Radio Personality Nancy Skinner - I know nothing about her. She's raised the least money and is the least in contention.

Health Care Executive Joyce Washington - The other African American and the other woman in the race. She, like Hull, is a millionaire, but doesn't have nearly as much money to spend on the race as him. The Obama camp fears that she'll draw enough black support away from him to lose him the race.

Republicans (I don't know as much about these guys) -

Investment Banker Jack Ryan - He's young and rich, but he has the Ryan name, which is a curse in Illinois politics. He's tried running for office before, but has never made it past the Republican Primary.

Air Force Major Gen. John Borling(ret.) - He's rather old but is a Vietnam war hero. He's never held elected office before.

State Senator Steve Rauschenberger - Sorta the establishment candidte, I guess. He has a lot of State Republican support, but in a State where the Republicans have been whipped around alot recently, that doesn't mean much.

Investment Magnate Jim Oberweis - He tried running in the Republican primary for the senate two years ago and lost. He also is a diary mogul, I believe his advertising campaign two years ago was very positive and funny and attracted a lot of support.

Fmr. State Rep Jonathan Wright - He was in the assembly for 18 months only. I doubt he's a serious candidate, however he's the only candidate beside Rauschenberger with any legislative experience, or who's actually been elected to any office.

Businessman Andrew McKenna Jr. - A rich businessman from the north suburbs. Can't say much about him otherwise.

Reitiree Norm Hill - I know nothing about him

Medical Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria - the only non-white in the Republican primary. I doubt he's at all a contender, but he's an interseting candidate to have in the primary.

Overall, The Republican field is pretty sorry and the Democratic field pretty strong. The two strongest cadidates of the Republicans look to be Jack Ryan and Rauschenberger, though Borling might be formidable in the GE.

[RaRa]

4. Thanks

That's a great start. I think I'll especially check Obama out (but, my what an lousy name in these times). The little I heard from Hines on the radio turned me off a bit - seemed like a wishy washy Dem re: * and Iraq. Anyway, gotta read some more on them all. Thanks again.

[Nailzberg]

5. I will be voting for Blair Hull

Blair Hull is a national board member of NARAL. He is active with Emily's List and Planned Parenthood. He endowed the women's studies program at his alma mater, UC-Santa Barbara, and has sued Brown University over a Title XI case when they canceled women's volleyball. Huge on women's issues. A former union member. Army vet, having used the GI Bill to go to college. Sure he's wealthy, but he's be a blue collar guy the whole climb to the top. And when he started his company, he took care of his employees. And his campaign has provided comprehensive plans to deal with the issues; he's really thought it through, and I can see what his plans are.


As far as the others.

Obama - Great guy. Would be a good senator. I don't think he's viable this year because he's gathered very little support downstate. He'll get there one day, though.

Hynes - No grasp of the real issues. Like everyone else, he's for health care and jobs, but he has no plan on how to do it. I don't understand how Dan Hynes can get the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, and then not have an answer on right-to-work laws which are intended to break unions? He just seems to think he's entitled to the job, but doesn't study up the issues.

Skinner - I love hearing her. Hynes tried to take a swipe at her last night in the debates, and she whipped him good. And she understands the issues.

Pappas - What is she doing in this thing?

Chico - After last night, new respect for him. Takes too much credit for the Chicago Public Schools, which was a lot of Paul Vallas and a little Chico.

Joyce Washington - Haven't heard much from her. Don't know too much about her specifically, but she should at least be a good health care promoter.


It's a really good field, but I'm going with Hull. He thinks things though, and formulates plans. And has taken on the status quo his whole life, which after the Dems folded on Iraq in the Senate, is something I'm looking for in a candidate.