18 Apr 2006

Schools and Roads Suffer at the Hands of Political Games

By Rich Miller
Despite what they said, it's not too hard to figure out why the Senate Republicans blocked two construction-bond bills proposed by Democrats, one for education and the other for roads and bridges. The idea is to starve the governor and the Democrats of cash for projects that they could use to promote their re-elections this fall.
11 Apr 2006

Poll Takes an Early Snapshot of Statewide Races

By Rich Miller
For the first time, a statewide poll has included state Senator James Meeks in the gubernatorial mix, but the results are not yet encouraging for the potential third-party candidate. Meeks is an African-American minister and state legislator who has been threatening to run for governor for the past several weeks.
04 Apr 2006

Investigations Bring an End to the Old Ways

By Rich Miller
The paranoia level is pretty much at an all-time high at the Illinois Statehouse. Walk past House Speaker Michael Madigan's office and there's a good chance you'll see him standing in the hallway talking on his cell phone.
28 Mar 2006

Black Voters Could Prove to be Potent Political Force This Fall

By Rich Miller
I'm not sure how long it will last, but black voters in Cook County are united and fired up right now like they haven't been in a long time. It goes back to Barack Obama's 2004 Democratic primary victory, but it flamed back up in January, when Chicago's historic Pilgrim Baptist Church burned down.
21 Mar 2006

Questions and Comments Raise Doubts About Giannoulias

By Rich Miller
Alexi Giannoulias has big trouble ahead. As I write this, the wealthy, young, telegenic Democratic candidate for treasurer was favored to win this week's primary. U.S. Senator Barack Obama appears in his TV ad, and the latest Chicago Tribune poll shows Giannoulias leading downstater Paul Mangieri by 14 points.
14 Mar 2006

Sworn Statement Little More Than a Smear Against GOP Frontrunner

By Rich Miller
After reading Marty Kovarik's sworn statement for the Jim Oberweis campaign last week, I came to the conclusion that his story has more holes in it than Dick Cheney's hunting buddy. Kovarik was Judy Baar Topinka's deputy treasurer in 1995.
07 Mar 2006

Governor Creates Conflict that Could Have Been Avoided

By Rich Miller
As I write this, Governor Rod Blagojevich has made a real mess of things at the Illinois Statehouse. Through his inept handling of a silly little matter, he has managed to pit black legislators against Jewish legislators and Jews against each other.
28 Feb 2006

A Weak Challenger Creates a Stronger Governor

By Rich Miller
It would have been almost unthinkable several months ago that if Governor Rod Blagojevich had a primary challenger, he would emerge from the primary stronger than when he went in. The scandals are never-ending, his poll numbers suck, and the discontent with his tenure is wide and deep, even among many in his own party.
21 Feb 2006

Candidate Goes on the Offensive in GOP Primary

By Rich Miller
The Ron Gidwitz campaign had a stark warning for Judy Baar Topinka last week. "If you think this ad is tough, just wait." Gidwitz, who is running for governor as a Republican, aired the first negative ad of the campaign last week, then dismissed Topinka's rebuttals as mere whining and vowed he would ignore any attempt by the Illinois Republican Party to browbeat him into pulling the spot.
14 Feb 2006

Republican Challengers Face Tough Decisions Against Front-Runner Topinka

By Rich Miller
The latest Chicago Tribune poll appears to track closely with recent polls conducted by two Republican statewide contenders. The Tribune poll found Judy Baar Topinka leading the GOP governor's race with 38 percent, followed by Jim Oberweis at 17 percent, Ron Gidwitz finally breaking into double digits with 11 percent, and Bill Brady bringing up the rear at 8 percent.

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