Will Bush make Illinois ballot?

[Freddie Stubbs]

Senate measure would clear way for president

By Kurt Erickson
[e-mail]

SPRINGFIELD -- President Bush could find himself on the Illinois ballot this fall after all.
Legislation approved unanimously in the state Senate on Thursday would make a technical change in state election law to allow Bush to appear on the ballot.

If the change isn't adopted by the House later this spring, Illinois voters would not seethe president's name on the ballot.

That's because by the time Bush is nominated at the Republican convention in New York City in September, the deadline to get on the Illinois ballot will have passed in August.

more: http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/032604/new_20040326026.shtml

[David__77]

1. Why aid them on this? They shouldn't do it for nothing.

Only if IL Democrats can get something in return.

[mobuto]

3. Maybe

but remember that Bush isn't going to win Illinois regardless, unless Kerry's collapsed and then he would win anyway.

The biggest issue is the Senate race. In Illinois, as elsewhere, Democrats do better the more people turn out to vote. If Bush isn't on the ballot, few people on either side will bother to vote. That will help Ryan get elected to the Senate. And that's a bad thing.

[David__77]

7. Oh, I know...

I just think that they should be hard-nosed about it and get something in return. If this were, say, Minnesota or maybe Arkansas, than I would encourage non-action on the matter.

[Padraig18]

11. We are getting something for it.

We're going to get straight-ticket returned to the ballot, something the Repukes took away from us a few years ago.

[a_random_joel]

2. Yeah, isn't there a Senate seat going unopposed?

I heard the Democratic aide was SECONDS late to get a filing in to put a DEM candidate against a Repub incumbent. Forget exactly where...

[mobuto]

4. Don't tell Barack Obama

He just might be surprised to hear that.

http://www.obamaforillinois.com/

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. He is thinking of another state

And for the life of me I can't remember which one it was. The guy who was supposed to run changed his mind at the very last minute, and the replacement candidate got his papers there just in time.

[starroute]

9. Idaho

http://www.idahostatesman.com/story.asp?ID=63602

[mobuto]

12. Republicans

They're amazing creatures, aren't they?

[jsw_81]

6. Bush is going to get creamed in Illinois

The Land of Lincoln is Kerry country this fall.

[WI_DEM]

8. he will be

if it passed unanimously in the senate it no doubt will pass the house as well. I doubt the Republicans would be this fair if the shoe were on the other foot but we democrats always seem to turn the other cheek. I wish we wouldn't--he should go by the letter of the law just like they argued in Florida in 2000.

[dogman]

10. It's probably better if he is on it.

I would like to see the Global Oil Project punished for playing games with 9-11 but if he is not on the ballot there will be a massive write-in campaign. I think this would gain him sympathy and tons of free publicity. The outcome might do more harm than good. In the original compromise the Dems were holding out for exemption from fines for minor campaign violations in the last election. These applied to both Parties but mostly Dems. This whole thing is really about state politics and I'm not sure what the final solution will be.

[tedoll78]

13. I want him to not make it.

It alleviates some spending pressure on Kerry; he can take the small amount of money and time he'd spent in Illinois and transfer it to holding the other midwest Gore states..

[Padraig18]

14. We NEED Kerry to be visible here.

We have a chance to take a Senate seat away from the GOP, and John Kerry has GOT TO help us do that. He cannot take IL for granted, the way Gore did.

[tedoll78]

15. Whoa..

I'd completely forgotten that.

Yup. You've swung me. I go back-and-forth on this issue, but you've really swung me. The Senate.. judicial confirmations.. yup..

[DaveSZ]

16. LOL

Bush is a disgrace to the party of Lincoln.

[NNN0LHI]

17. I will be one pissed off Democrat if I can't vote against the Chimp in Nov

Really pissed.

Don