Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Illinois Voters Choose Candidates

Today was the first primary of the 2010 midterm elections and Illinois voters gave the nation a pulse as their choices for their respective party's nominees for senate and the governor's office.
First, the senate race to replace Sen. Roland Burris. You know, the appointed senator filling the Dear Leader, President Obama's seat. Well, wisely, Sen. Burris chose not to run for the seat outright. In the crowded Democrat primary, longtime Chicago insider Alexi Giannoulias won the Democrat nod with 39% of the Democrat vote. On the Republican side, Congressman Mark Kirk easily bested Patrick Hughes, taking 56% of the vote.
The senate race is intriguing because Congressman Kirk is viewed as a RINO. And, Congressman Kirk's American Conservative Union ratings do put him over 50%, right of center. But, Congressman Kirk has some not so great votes, including support of the Dear Leader, President Obama's Crap-and-Tax scheme. But in corrupt Illinois, Congressman Kirk may be the best one can hope for to take the former seat of the Dear Leader, President Obama. And, the Republican voters nominated Congressman Kirk. Thus, he will get the support of Right View From The Left Coast.
In the gubernatorial race, the current occupant, Gov. Patrick Quinn is in a neck and neck race with Daniel Hynes for the Democrat nod. The fact that it is so close can not be good news for whoever wins the Democrat nomination. The same is the case on the Republican side. As of this posting, state senator, Bill Brady, is leading for the Republican nomination. But, only by 21% to 20% over challenger Kirk Dillard. The good news is that state Sen. Brady is a solid conservative and also not from the Chicago area. And that may be the ticket to the governor's mansion. If there is an anti-Democrat and anti-incumbent mood in the United States, then this governor's race may be a bellwether.
So, in short, Illinois Republicans may have split the difference. Nominating a moderate for the senate and a conservative for governor. The Democrat picture is a Chicago machine guy for the senate and a hold on for the governor's race.
The official Right View From The Left Coast prediction:

Mark Kirk (R) over Alexi Giannoulias (D) in the senate race.
No current one in the governor's race. Have to wait to see who the Democrats settle on.

1 comment:

RightKlik said...

I'd say Kirk is a liberal. His ACU score is 48. But the details give an uglier picture than the raw numbers do. Kirk...

• Voted for Nancy Pelosi's radical Cap & Tax Bill
• Voted against new oil drilling in ANWR for energy independence
Has earned an "F" from the NRA for being "a true enemy of gun owners’ rights...and a consistent anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owners’ rights."
• Voted against the final surge in Iraq.
• As a supporter of partial birth abortion, he gets a 100% rating from NARAL.

Kirk will be fully dependent on the GOP establishment in IL in November. With little or no grassroots enthusiasm, I don't know how the GOP can beat the Democrat machine in that state.