what's it take to beat Rod in Dem Primary?
Presuming Madigan or Hynes doesn't challenge Blagojevich...
Theory: To beat Blagojevich in the Dem Primary the candidate will have to present a clear contrast with the incumbent.
Gash, Yarbrough, Poshard, Wood and Hoffman more obviously contrast with Blagojevich.
Devine, Orr, Schmidt and Fritchey contrast much less.
Franks is sorta in between.
The challenger has to sell the idea quickly that s/he is substantially different from Blagojevich, not just a different version of vanilla.
Of course if Madigan or Hynes run it will be Dem Machine "A" vs. Dem Machine "B".
Theory: To beat Blagojevich in the Dem Primary the candidate will have to present a clear contrast with the incumbent.
Gash, Yarbrough, Poshard, Wood and Hoffman more obviously contrast with Blagojevich.
Devine, Orr, Schmidt and Fritchey contrast much less.
Franks is sorta in between.
The challenger has to sell the idea quickly that s/he is substantially different from Blagojevich, not just a different version of vanilla.
Of course if Madigan or Hynes run it will be Dem Machine "A" vs. Dem Machine "B".
posted by Carl Nyberg at 11:10 AM
5 Comments:
Just broke 2,500 hits.
FWIW, I just gave an interview to Bernie Shoenberg of the State Journal-Register.
The only promising issues on which
to challenge the governor right now
are campaign funding via fleecing current or aspiring state contractors and turning state government into even more of a patronage piggybank than under the Republicans, with blatant violations of Rutan all over the state government. There are financial management issues pertaining to the budget where he is vulnerable, but most people don't have the time and energy to understand them.
Perhaps a Democratic crusader could start with Maximus, recently given some type of exception so they can bid on a state contract.
If you read Jason DePerle's book
on welfare reform in Wisconsin, Maximus looks like a corporate predator which provides very shoddy services for huge fees.
They were brought to Wisconsin by Tommy Thompson--I image they contribute heavily to both parties.
No taxpayer should be funding Maximus, directly or indirectly.
I detect a general perception of cynicism and incompetence around the Blagojevich administration. And a lack of political courage.
People vote on how they feel. And if people "feel" Blagojevich is cynical, incompetent and too cowardly to make the tough calls, then it won't matter that they can't articulate the minutia of the state budget crisis.
I agree that people vote based on emotional reactions to events and candidates, but right now I think the guv has the lead in "emotional" issues. He appears young and peppy. He has a young telegenic family. He is holding the line on income and sales tax increases--a huge deal for many constituencies. He is trying to
shift more state monies to schools.
He is trying to get people better medical care and coverage. He cut the huge Republican-created state government bureaucracy (he says).
He is trying to do something about the state pension funding mess.
More knowledgeable individuals may realize that he is turning state government into another Chicago Democratic political patronage machine, that many of his financial decisions are extremely risky for the future taxpayer, that the taxpayers are funding his next campaign when bidders build "bribe" money into state contract costs, but I don't believe this knowledge is widespread. If it were, Hynes or Madigan would be putting out feelers and they are not.
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