Which candidate has best chance of beating Mark Kirk?

[nevergiveup]

Who do I vote for? I have seen no polling and have no clue which candidate would have the best shot against Kirk. I do not have strong feelings about either Hoffman or Giannoulias but did have a friend tell me yesterday that they would not vote for any Democrat with a long and difficult to pronounce last name.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. I plan to ask for a R ballot, only to vote for Andy Martin.

Trigona has always been an incredibly er. . . ah . . . incredible.

I loved his radio ad this AM, on Mark Foley and how Kirk was involved in the cover up. Actually, it was rather effective.

[mopinko]

2. maybe we should send the guy some money?

you go, nutso.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. For sheer entertainment, Martin rocks.

But, not even in my most warped moments can I see me sending him money.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

8. I voted for Andy Martin as well

I also voted for the guy running against Ethan Hastert I forget his name. I felt dirty voting Republican, first time I have ever done it. But it was for a good cause. I also voted for Judy Baar Topinka, which is kinda funny.

[mopinko]

3. i support hoffman, but

i sure wish jan was running.
i think that alexi has a lot of charisma, but i think he just has too much dirty laundry. he will be beaten to a pulp with it. i don't think he has a prayer downstate.
and in a state as financially fucked up as illinois, you would think the treasurer would have dug up some dirt and made some news.

hoffman is good. he is getting it together as a speaker. he will get more help with that if he wins the primary. but he is clean, and i don't think kirk can lay a glove on him. i just hope they manage to find a way to slime kirk, because he has quite a coat of teflon over his grimy self.

[stevebreeze]

4. I am leaning toward Hoffman also

[Oceansaway]

5. i'm not sure yet...n/t

[barb162]

7. Hoffman n/t

[frazzled]

9. I'm going Hoffman, too

Though I think he doesn't have a very good chance to win.

It's always a tough choice: the attractive, personable type (Giannoulis), or the (still attractive) wonky, squeaky-clean crusader type. After the Coakley mess, I was starting to think I should give up on Hoffman. But I've come back around to him.

I've studied his issues pages, and I believe he has the better, more progressive responses. He's exactly the kind of smart, dedicated public servant (he's spent his whole career in public service, from being a Supreme Court clerk to a senate aide, to a US attorney, to City Inspector). Credentials don't get much better than this. With our support, he could run a good campaign, and there is almost nothing (except his being a Jew) to hang him with. A little voice training, and he could beat Kirk solely on a good governance message.

But, given that Giannoulis will probably win, I'll sign up right away to work for him. We CANNOT lose this seat to a Republican!

[barb162]

10. Giannoulias

has too much baggage with that family bank; Hoffman has no baggage like that (of which I am aware) where the GOP can make mincemeat of you in the actual election. PS edit: If the election were in the final weeks with Kirk v. Giannoulias, I have no doubt Kirk would win big and it'd all be about the family banking issues.

[Ava83]

11. Going Hoffman

Here...I have a question...if I leave the Governors race "blank" will it invalidate the whole ballot? I have heard both ways and wonder if anyone knows for sure.

Also if you take a republican ballot I thought that registers you as a republican? That may not be true.

[LSK]

12. going with Hoffman n/t

[KharmaTrain]

13. Another Hoffman Vote Here...

I'm tired of the "birthrite" some feel they have in running for state office. Hynes, Madigan, Stroger...I think its time to get some new blood in this state's Democratic party. I'm definitely with Hoffman...there's too much dirt in Giannoulis closet. Also going for long-time Progressive Pat Quinn. He's gotten the shaft on supposed connections with Blago that didn't exist. Here's hoping Toddler gets the boot here in Cook County.

[barb162]

14. I haven't see a recent poll .

I voted for Hoffman and can't see Alexi beating Kirk. Not with that bank stuff hanging around his neck. Watching the analysts last evening, I was hearing things like "this is a gift for Kirk" and "Kirk will tear Alexi to shreds" and on and on. The Republican ads are already calling Alexi "Tony Soprano."