Illinois' unhappy Democratic family

The top Democrats in Illinois should be happy. Their party controls the governor's office, both houses of the state legislature, and all but one of the other statewide offices. In relation to national politics, the Democrats have prevailed in Illinois in every presidential race since 1992. Both of Illinois' US senators are Democrats.

The Democrats should be happy, right?

Well, they're not. Today was Governor's Day at the Illinois State Fair, and cracks in the once seemingly monolithic state Democratic party are showing.

The governor's office is being hounded constantly by the office of US Attorney General Patrick Fitzgerald. Yes, he's that "Plamegate" guy. Blagojevich is up for re-election, and although he leads in most polls, "Blago" cannot get over the crucial 50% mark in those surveys.

The Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives is Michael Madigan, who also happens to be the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. He doesn't like Governor Rod, and in 2002, firmly stated that the onetime Ill. representative committed unspecified "indiscretions" in the past.

The Illinois Attorney General is Lisa Madigan, she's Michael Madigan's daughter. Any idea who Lisa likes better?

Both Madigans dislike their party's candidate for state treasurer, Alexi Giannoulias. He's the thirty year-old banker whose family-owned bank has issued several questionable loans, including one to a Chicago mobster.

Giannoulias was not the slated candidate of the Illinois Democratic Party. Had US Senator Barack Obama not endorsed Alexi for treasurer, the political novice would've certainly been crushed in the Democratic primary election.

Not only do the Madigans dislike Giannoulias, but they refuse to endorse him. And on the candidates page of the Illinois Democratic Party, Giannoulias can't be found.

Obama's involvement in the treasurer race of course hasn't escaped the attention of the elder Madigan, who recently taunted Obama by calling him "the messiah."

Blue times for blue Illinois. In most states, such a scenario would mean a Republican landslide in November. However, the state GOP is still recovering from the odor of the George Ryan scandals, as well as that 2004 fiasco: Alan Keyes' run for the senate.

Still, in this blogger's opinion, look for Republican Judy Baar Topinka to edge out Gov. Blagojevich in the general election. Judy is currently the state treasurer, and the Republicans will retain that office, easily.

And the Democrats will win everything else.

Inspiration for this post came from Mike Flannery's CBS 2 Chicago article.

Related post: Illinois Democratic candidates roll call: Where is Alexi, the boy-banker?

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