Poll: Democrat Leads Senate Race in Illinois

[CShine]

CHICAGO (AP) -- Democratic Senate candidate Barack Obama holds a commanding lead over his opponent with five months remaining until the November election, according to a poll released Monday.

Obama is supported by 52 percent of the state's registered voters while 30 percent favor Republican Jack Ryan, according to the first statewide Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll since the two won their primaries in March. Both men are vying to replace Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican who decided not to seek re-election, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Twenty-five percent of voters surveyed for the poll viewed Ryan unfavorably, while Obama had an unfavorable rating of 9 percent.

Obama, who is black, also was found to have the support of 91 percent of black voters to just 4 percent for Ryan.


http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ILLINOIS_SENATE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[BayCityProgressive]

1. This is great news

perhaps he will be viable for the VP or presidential slot by 08 or 12.

[alcuno]

2. Ryan has 30%. May * have the same level of support in Illinois.

Illinois, baby. It's a BLUE state!

[eaprez]

3. This Guy Has Had A Commanding Lead

...since he announced. He's gonna win hands down. And man oh man is he a cutie....looks like he's 12 years old but he's a cutie. Actually he's biracial --- which means he gets some white support in the very racially divided city of Chicago.

[w13rd0]

4. I'm SO looking foward to Obama in the Senate...

...being in MO, I've little hope of seeing anyone here I can look to in the Senate. So I'm adopting Obama.

[swag]

21. being in MO,

you should be proud to live in a state that chose a dead man (albeit a good one) over John Ashcroft.

[leyton]

5. There was a good New Yorker piece about Obama.

"Jan Schakowsky told me about a recent visit she had made to the White House with a congressional delegation. On her way out, she said, President Bush noticed her 'OBAMA' button. 'He jumped back, almost literally,' she said. 'And I knew what he was thinking. So I reassured him it was Obama, with a "b." And I explained who he was. The President said, "Well, I don't know him." So I just said, "You will."'"

I am very much looking forward to the day when Barack Obama, Harold Ford are in the Senate, John Kerry and John Edwards (or Clark) are in the White House, and Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House.

[SmokingJacket]

6. I read it too...

and it seems like this guy has it all. I'll be watching him!

[Arugula Latte]

9. I love this anecdote -- it says so much

about the stupidity and insularity of W, his arrogance, his isolation from reality ... and it foreshadows him getting kicked in the 'nads.

[Arugula Latte]

10. And then

in 20012, after two Kerry administrations, we'll have the Obama Administration! The first black pres. I'm a whitey, but I would dance in the street.

[Onceuponalife]

12. That would be a great day for America

but even if Obama wins, I don't see the Dems taking the senate back this time.:think:

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Onceuponalife!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[leyton]

28. Yeah, it'll be tough.

I like to think of Illinois as canceling out Georgia, where a Republican will probably win Zell Miller's seat.

[loathesomeshrub]

22. Idiot!

[Sporadicus]

7. Ryan Possesses an Added Liability

His last name, shared with the former governor and all the corruption baggage that entails. They're not related, but some voters are bound to make an association.

[Beaker]

8. Ryan's campaign shot themselves in the...head?

talk about dumb moves by a political campaign- this one is worthy of the fauxnews channel:

SPRINGFIELD — For Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama, life's pleasures come in small doses lately — like getting to use the men's room without being videotaped by his opponent.
For 10 days, Obama's rival, Republican Jack Ryan, has sent a campaign aide to Springfield to record Obama's every move on a video camera.

As Obama moved throughout the Capitol on Thursday on state Senate business, the Ryan campaign worker stood less than 2 feet away with a video camera and occasionally heckled him. "This just started today," Obama said, gesturing to a man in blue jeans with a hand-held recorder aimed at Obama.

While tracking political opponents with video footage or tape recorders is not unique in Illinois politics, up close and personal videotaping sets a new standard.

"As you can see, he's standing about a foot and a half away, and he literally follows me wherever I go," Obama told reporters as he and his new "shadow" moved through the press room. "He'll sit outside my office, but other than that, he literally trails me. If I'm on the phone with my wife, I have to tell him, 'Excuse me, I'm on the phone' so he'll step back..."

Voters in Illinois are kinda pretty much disgusted by this story.
between this, and having the last name "Ryan" in Illinois, the fascist party's candidate doesn't stand a chance.
what will be interesting is to see if he'll go back to teaching at an inner-city school after he loses the election- or if that stint was just a stunt to help his chances in the Senate race.

[Leilani]

11. Is Ryan the guy who had a messy divorce?

Married to some celebrity?

[madrchsod]

14. yes- jeri ryan

boston public is her last tv gig

[davsand]

15. Yep, he divorced 7 of 9.

Gerrie Ryan was his wife, and by all accounts it was a messy divorce. In the primary, the divorce records became an issue because parts of them are sealed. Ryan refused to allow them to be opened citing it was to protect their child.

Rumors were/ are circulating that IF they ever are opened they are most dirty--including forced group sex as well as rape.

Obama will NEVER use that stuff, however. He's ethical, and he's got a sense of fair practice that few have retained by the time they get to this point in a political career. That divorce thing came out in the Primary because Ryan's GOP primary competition brought it up.

I can say, tired old political hack that I am, Barak Obama is one man who excited hell outta me after the first time I met him. I don't know how to explain it except to say that he's sincere, ethical and has a vision of where we need to go that left me impassioned. I know it has become cliche by now, but to quote West Wing, "He's the REAL DEAL."

I love Sen. Dick Durbin (the other Illinois Senator) dearly--he's an amazing guy. However as much as I love Durbin, Obama amazes me just as much. I've seen Durbin work a room, I've talked to him any number of times and I know his staffers. I can say without reservation, that Dick Durbin is a man I hope to see in the White House some day.

Barak Obama is another one just like Durbin, and I hope to live long enough to see them both do two terms in the White House.

Laura


Illinois is very truly blessed with these two on our list.

[Beaker]

18. Here's what a "leading" illinois repuke had to say about it-

http://www.capitolfax.com/mcculloch2.pdf


"Recently, I was shown what I was told and believe to be records from
Jack
Ryan's divorce that were obtained before the records were sealed.

"In the documents that I saw, Jack Ryan's wife makes
specific
allegations about their time together. I have no knowledge whatsoever
about whether the statements are true...

"Among these allegations, she specifically alleges that:

1) Her husband, Jack Ryan, had a romantic affair with his Executive
Secretary
2) That he forced (her word) her to have sexual relations with him
against her will, and
3) That he took her to various sex clubs, specifically in New York,
New
Orleans, and Paris and coerced her to have sex in front of other
people."

[fujiyama]

26. He sure has some problems

I have to say this about Jerry though...She is one hottie! :P

Can't wait for Obama to kick Ryan's ass. Whatever happens in the presidential election, this will be the a real bright spot...

[dansolo]

23. Both of them worked with Paul Simon

Paul Simon was one of the most honorable men in the Senate. It is nice to see his legacy living on with Dick Durbin and Barack Obama.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Is Tom Clancy going to campaign for Jack Ryan?

If not, he could be in big trouble.

[Poiuyt]

17. LOL!

[Democat]

19. Donate to Obama, help him keep the lead!

Ryan has a lot of money, Obama can use our financial help in fighting!

http://www.obamaforillinois.com/

[Beetwasher]

20. This Is Very Exciting!

Obama's got quite a national buzz too and this seat is a crucially needed pick up for us! Woo hoo! From what I've seen, Obama looks like a real up and coming star!

[dansolo]

24. He was also among the first Dean Dozen (n/t)

[No Passaran]

25. Great news

[Claire Beth]

27. woooohooooo!!! let's take back the senate!!! n/t