GOP Sources: Ryan to Abandon Senate Bid

[drumwolf]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040625/ap_on_el_se/senate_scandal

So, how much will this hurt Obama? Granted, Obama is a very charming, charismatic and strong candidate in his own right, but Ryan was a dream opponent.

[wndycty]

1. The Republican party is very wounded. . .

. . .Obama should not breath a sigh of relief, he has to run hard as if he is running against Bush, however whomever replaces Ryan is going to be working his or her way out of a hole.

[Padraig18]

2. It won't hurt him, IMO.

It once again drives home to the voters of IL why they thoroughly rejected the Republicans in 2002, when the rest of the country was falling all over themselves to vote them into office.

[wndycty]

3. Also remember this:

Whomever the GOP chooses is going to be controversial because there is no consensus. . .this person will be appointed not nominated in a primary so there will be controversy surrounding whomever is selected.

[trogdor]

4. So you folks in IL who are getting called by GOP pollsters...

...make sure you give the biggest boost you can to the looniest, scariest wingnut on their list. I heard that's what they're doing in Illinois - calling people trying to gauge favorable/unfavorable ratings for possible Ryan replacements.

[Padraig18]

5. I can tell ya who their polling will pick.

Jim Edgar, possibly the most popular Republican in the last 50 years...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

6. What are Obama's chances now?

[wndycty]

7. Still very strong. . .

. . .like I said, he has the advantage because whomever the GOP picks will be handicaped by the fact that there were not elected to be the nominee!

[leyton]

8. And they're behind in fund-raising.

I assume that whoever the new nominee is will be short on cash, unless he or she infuses the campaign with personal funds. Could that happen?

[CalebHayes]

9. I think we don't have to worry, I bet we got this seat.

[Padraig18]

10. Update:

No live announcement; possibly a written statement 'later this afternoon'...

http://www.wlsam.com

[jsw_81]

11. Darn. Now we'll only win the seat by ten points instead of twenty.