Who should replace Obama in the US Senate?

[underpants]

[Parche]

1. That Guy Who Runs In Marathons

What is his name?

:shrug: :hi:

[shraby]

2. Tammy Duckworth?

[POAS]

3. yep Tammy without a doubt!

[Idealism]

4. At least GrovelBot won't stump for the GOP like LieberBot :/

[jaysunb]

5. Representative Janice Schakowsky

n/t

[Creideiki]

6. Lisa Madigan

She's shown that she can win state-wide office, apparently isn't running for Governor, and is extremely intelligent.

[Benhurst]

8. She's my first choice, too.

[davsand]

7. It isn't really a matter of who SHOULD replace Obama.

Here in Illinois it isn't that practical.

I have heard rumors that a Daley is being floated as a possibility, along with a rumor that Dan Hynes (current multi-term IL Comptroller and Obama's main opposition in the Senate Primary) is maybe in the loop. Given the fact that Hynes is already kind of stumping for the Governor's Primary race, I can easily see how that might end up spurring an appointment for him.

Trust me, Blago (the current IL Governor) does NOT want to face any sincere opposition in a Primary or he's toast. As corrupt as he is rumored to be, and as screwed up as our state government is right now, I can't imagine any scenario where he'd survive a Primary fight. He is REALLY disliked in this state. Fitz is after him, and in Illinois we have seen him convict one Gov already. Blago has GOT to be thinking about that--especially when he reads those same headlines about Tony Rezco--because that is BLAGO they are nailing with this stuff.

Should be one hell of a show.


Laura

[underpants]

11. Interesting, thanks for the info

As posted below I would think that Jesse Jr. is on top of the list but everyone else posted here I have heard mentioned as well.

[davsand]

12. Jesse Jackson is NOT a good ballot name in Southern Illinois.

Even in places that have a strong Dem machine, Jesse Jackson Jr (or Sr, for that matter) is probably not gonna pull many votes. Illinois has this Dem image, and in places that is very true--Chicago/Cook County, for example. In the rest of the state that Dem presence is a lot more fragile and, frankly, carries a whole lot less impact.

Obama won his Senate Primary in Cook and the collar counties. He did not carry more than a couple of counties downstate in that primary--they all went for Hynes. The problem for Hynes was that there were just too many votes out of Cook and the collar counties for him to offset it downstate. Obama ran smart and he won (sound familiar?)

Blago getting elected in the first place was, in part, due to the backlash against IL Republicans after the last Republican Gov got indicted and, ultimately, convicted. Running Alan Keyes against Obama in that Senate race did not help the GOP credibility any either, come to think of it...

Durbin is pretty liberal, but if I remember it right he ran against Al Salvi in that first election--the same year that Clinton ran against Dole. He ran for Paul Simon's seat and it was against a fundy millionaire who scared hell out of a LOT of people. Now, of course, he has name recognition, so it is a much easier race.

I'll be amazed if Obama's replacement is a woman or anyone that isn't a political payback/payoff. I guess I've been in Illinois Politics too long--I've become cynical.


Laura

[janethussein]

9. Jesse Jackson, Jr.

I like Tammy Duckworth but she's not ready to be a Senator.

[Buck Laser]

10. Jesse Jr. seems to be a good one.

I think he has a good rep in IL and in congress. Tammy Duckworth would seem to be a great choice for veteran's affairs if she's shown adminsrative/leadership ability at the job in IL.