Opinion of this statement

[Meeker]

Yes

[Lunar]

+ governor

+ everything else statewide

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Agreed.

[Franzl]

Of course

[CARLHAYDEN]

This really depends upon the Republicans in Illinois continuing to be pathetic.

[Franzl]

This really depends upon the Republicans in Illinois continuing to be pathetic.

Do you have any doubts that they will remain incompetent?

[CARLHAYDEN]

This really depends upon the Republicans in Illinois continuing to be pathetic.

Do you have any doubts that they will remain incompetent?

Just a couple of months ago a Republican defeated Representative Jefferson in Louisiana.

Anything is possible.

Many Republican victories have been as much about the Democrats committing political suicide.  If Burris seeks to be elected and is defeated in the primary, it wouldn't suprise me to see many blacks not voting in the Senate race.  If Blago is not convicted in a court of law (again, possible) then look to see how many voters in the "Polish corridor" end up supporting Republican candidates.

[Ogre Mage]

This really depends upon the Republicans in Illinois continuing to be pathetic.

Do you have any doubts that they will remain incompetent?

Anything is possible.

By that standard a Democrat could win a senate race in Texas and there could be snow in Jamaica.

[CARLHAYDEN]

This really depends upon the Republicans in Illinois continuing to be pathetic.

Do you have any doubts that they will remain incompetent?

Anything is possible.

By that standard a Democrat could win a senate race in Texas and there could be snow in Jamaica.

Wasn't that long ago the Lloyd Bentsen was a Senator from Texas.

[Holmes]

I bet Menendez regrets saying no Democrat will retire in 2010(barring Kaufman). He'll probably push Burris to do it.

[Psychic Octopus]

Agreed.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

I bet Menendez regrets saying no Democrat will retire in 2010(barring Kaufman). He'll probably push Burris to do it.

At this point I'm not sure Burris will be in the Senate by 2010.

[Downwinder]

Wasn't that long ago the Lloyd Bentsen was a Senator from Texas.

Nor was it very long ago that a republican held this very seat.  Peter Fitzgerald only held this seat four years ago, and he was quite conservative for Illinois.  Anything is possible, and I feel this seat could go either way.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Wasn't that long ago the Lloyd Bentsen was a Senator from Texas.

Nor was it very long ago that a republican held this very seat.  Peter Fitzgerald only held this seat four years ago, and he was quite conservative for Illinois.  Anything is possible, and I feel this seat could go either way.

Good point.

Unfortunately, all too many on this forum prefer to ignore the facts in favor of their ideology, as I suspect you may have noticed by now.

[Ogre Mage]

No, it isn't just a matter of ideology.  Peter Fitzgerald held the seat for one term and then was replaced by a Democrat.  That's hardly a sign of Republican electoral strength.

More critical is the overall partisan political environment in the state.  Currently, Democrats hold all statewide offices in IL, a majority of the Congressional seats and a majority in the state legislature.  Furthermore, look at the senate electoral history:  Richard Durbin's predecessor, Paul Simon, was a Democrat.  Fitzgerald's previous two predecessors, Alan Dixon (1980-1992) and Carol Moseley Braun (1992-1998) were Democrats, as was his successor, Barack Obama (2004-2008).  Kerry won the state 55%-45% in 2004, while Gore won it 55%-43% in 2000.

I would add that in Texas, you have a similar situation, except in reverse -- it is the Republicans who control everything.

At some point, the partisan advantage in the state just becomes too difficult to overcome.  And senate races are highly likely to bring out partisan voting in the electorate because senators are closely tied to the national party. 

[Eraserhead]

Almost certainly. Almost.