Blankenship raises questions about Topinka that the IL GOP elitists don't want answered. He suggests reporters like Eric Krol should diligently dig for facts to back up Topinka's claims. Perhaps the truth is that the RNC will back anyone who can prove they can knock off Blagojevich.
About the governor's race:
With the filing of the Gidwitz/Rauschenberger ticket yesterday, the puzzle is complete for the IL GOP March 2006 primary. Gidwitz and Rauschenberger are running as a team on a "reform the IL GOP" theme.
First Ron and Steve have to prove to IL GOP voters how corrupt the party is. Dangerous. No one wants to have flaws in their own dysfunctional families pointed out. But everyone knows that's the first step in recovery -- acknowledging there's a problem.
That is a problem for the Topinka/Birkett ticket. They symbolize the party establishment. Judy and Joe must work together to put on a happy face about the party's current condition. We're all waiting to hear the Topinka/Birkett campaign messages, something like "Want more of the same?" or "If you haven't had enough, elect us!"
Then you have Oberweis and Brady splitting the GOP conservative vote between the two of them, rendering the potentially powerful social conservative voting bloc ineffective.
And don't forget the quintessential candidate Andy Martin . . . making the fifth GOP candidate in the primary.
Which begs a question -- was it appropriate for the IL GOP executive director to request a copy of Martin's signatures if, indeed, the state party is staying neutral in this primary?
