Somehow, I suspect Blago will manage to make the worst pick possible.
Blago for Senate!
I'm so tempted to say, "Thanks for the pickup in 2010!" but I remember that I said the same thing once Menendez was appointed...
We'd certainly have a good chance against him or Jackson though.
Dude, it's Illinois. Winning elections is not something the Illinois GOP does.
I agree to an extent. Give me the usual midterm conditions and a Senator Blago or Jackson and we at least have a shot.
Blago could easily be primaried if he remains as bad as he is and Jackson is nothing like his father. And "usual midterm conditions" won't matter as much in Illinois with Obama as the President.
Well, almost everyone mentioned as a fill-in for Obama should be moderately to heavily favored to win in 2010, some more so than others (cough Rahm cough). Blago is facing a tight political situation at home and I wouldn't be surprised if he sent one of his rivals to D.C. just to save himself from a stronger primary challenge.
IF Blago is making his decision on the basis of long-term seat-holding ability, which is a BIG 'if' which would come about from promises of party leaders to support Blago wholeheartedly in his primary challenges if he picks the right decision, then he won't choose Jackson.
What would Jackson offer Blago anyway, politically? It'd be a semi-controversial pick that would offer nothing except an African-American replacement who'll probably lose a term or two in. I mean, from Blago's perspective, he can do one or more of the following things:
1) Appoint an African-American candidate
2) Appoint a non-controversial Asian female one-limbed veteran candidate
3) Appoint a political ally
4) Appoint a political enemy just to get rid of them
5) Appoint someone party leaders want so that they support him when times get tough.
Beau Biden has a neato name, so I hope he gets to replace Joe Biden in DE despite his Iraqi location.