If you're tired of reading about how bad the Illinois Republican Party is these days, a quick browse of Politico.com's "GOP state parties are in dire straights" today may make you feel a little better (if you're miserable and you like company) or a whole lot worse (if you hoped every other state was better off than us) . . .
But there's some good news for Illinois Republicans, since no other prominent GOPers' names have embarrassed the party faithful by sharing the corruption spotlight with Governor Blagojevich so far this week. That's because accused Tony Rezko sits in jail, waiting for the feds to roll out the rest of their case against him next week. Don't you wonder who's holding Rezko's most valuable asset -- not his real estate holdings or bank account numbers, but his Blackberry? What a network that guy had.
Back to the good news . . . check out Real Clear Politic's polling charts here. Over the past few weeks, Obama's been plummeting in the polls over the Jeremiah Wright flap and McCain's numbers are dramatically up. Democrats are sounding more like Republicans as they feud over endorsements and delegates. It doesn't look like it will be over soon.
Chicago Crain's Greg Hinz agrees with what Illinois Review said days ago, that the 11th CD Republicans appear to be settling on 58 year old concrete magnate Martin Ozinga to step into the vacancy left by New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, who dropped out shortly after winning the GOP primary. Other candidates in the running are Monical's Pizza Harry Bond, Frankfort developer Henry Meers, and Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham.The IL GOP announced a district convention on April 30th to make the 11th CD's decision formal. Ozinga isn't talking to the press yet . . .
And a little controversy has been stirring in the 14th CD over whether or not State Senator Chris Lauzen did seriously consider announcing his support for GOP primary opponent Jim Oberweis between the February primary and the early March special election.
Lauzen denies the story, but we think he probably was tempted to work out an agreement with Oberweis as sources are telling us. It's likely Lauzen's biggest obstacle to following through was the same major funder who declared war on Jim Oberweis in 2006 when Oberweis announced he'd support the eventual GOP gubernatorial primary winner Judy Baar-Topinka. Oberweis -- who saw firsthand how quickly Pat O'Malley lost face among GOP circles when he refused to back the 2002 gubernatorial primary winner Jim Ryan -- thought supporting the GOP winner was the dutiful thing to do. Although he never mentions it publicly, Oberweis paid a substantial price for backing the ungrateful Topinka. If the same type of threat was made to Lauzen in this year's 11th CD race, he may have had no choice but to stand by and let the Democrats win.
Tensions still run high in the 14th CD as the Oberweis campaign strategizes how to win back Hastert's seat for Republicans. If Lauzen could find a way to back Oberweis, save face with his big funder and save face with his supporters, the 14th CD could band together and easily return to the GOP column. Nervous Republicans in the neighboring 11th, 18th and 6th CDs would certainly breathe just a little easier.
And we're hearing good things are happening in Cook County with new GOP county chairman young Lee Roupas about to debut his 2008 plans this week. Illinois Review hopes to track him down for an interview soon.
Okay, things are bad for IL Republicans, but they ain't all bad . . .
What are you hearing?
