Judy walks out of impromptu debate with Rod. . .

[wndycty]

. . .this should get interesting.


-snip-
The two newly minted gubernatorial nominees said they were unaware they would be sharing the screen on the WGN-Channel 9 morning news. Topinka started out by attacking Blagojevich's initiatives to provide health care and preschool to all the state's children.

"You can't drive this state into what would be the state version of bankruptcy. . . . These are the straws that break the camel's back," she said.

Blagojevich fired back, noting that Topinka served alongside former GOP Gov. George Ryan, who is awaiting a jury verdict in his trial on federal corruption charges.

"I don't think it's grasping at straws to give a child health care," Blagojevich said. "I don't think it's grasping at straws to give 3- and 4-year-olds a chance to go to preschool. . . . We've been able to make those decisions without raising taxes and by digging ourselves out of the fiscal mess that Gov. Ryan and Ms. Topinka created."
-snip-

Topinka bowed out of the exchange while it was still under way, getting up from her chair and taking off her microphone. Her spokesman said there was confusion about whether it was over, and the walk-away segment was edited out of at least one later airing on WGN.
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-gov23.html

-snip-
Topinka and Blagojevich also had an impromptu debate aired on WGN-Ch. 9. After a series of exchanges between the governor, who was at the station's studios, and Topinka, being interviewed on a different set at Tribune Tower, she was shown on camera removing her earpiece and microphone and leaving before the interview was done.

Topinka said she was informed as she was about to go on the air that Blagojevich was in the studio and was asked if she minded. While she agreed to appear, she said she "just wasn't expecting" the "mini-debate" that ensued. The Topinka campaign said she had agreed to do an alternative interview in lieu of the impromptu debate, but when producers couldn't figure out how to switch the interview, she left.
-snip-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0603230150mar23,1,1593273.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. I suppose that she is positioning herself as the feisty candidate...

Ya know, the "feisty redhead" image. But, frankly, she comes across as combative and lacking class. As my late mother used to say, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar".

And, no, my mother did not come from Texas as someone once suggesting after hearing that my mother used that term. She was from Rogers Park.

[barb162]

2. How did you like that comment she did about a week ago

about her Republican competitors, when she called them morons or idiots and then she apologized. I wonder how much support she will get from those three guys. (Try none)

[davsand]

3. GOP=lockstep, doesn't it?

I dunno--other than the Milk Nazi, I expect that there will be some kind of "unity statement" pretty soon from the rest of the GOP candidates.

Now Oberweiss, on the other hand, will be running around pissed for quite a while. He ran some incredibly nasty ads in this primary and he alienated a lot of GOP folks with them. I doubt he'll do much at all to mend fences, and his uber-conservative backers will be hard pressed to do much to support JBT. Should be interesting to watch.

Lest we gloat over the GOP struggles, however, do carry the thought that Blag's showing was not all that strong against Eisendraft.

I'm seeing people here at DU already saying they will vote Topinka over Blag and THAT makes me ill. I have been resisting the desire to hit alert every damn time I see that, but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold off.

I realize it is still pretty close to the primary, and every nerve is still raw. I really DO think, however, that we IL Dems better get our shit in one sock and work our full ticket or we will most surely go down in flames. We all have some important races to work, and that means we pull up our socks and work the full ticket--no matter HOW we felt about the primary.

I'll take our worst f**k-up of a candidate over the GOP candidate any day. Call me "yellow dog" or whatever term you want, but this is where the rubber meets the road, kids.


Laura

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. That was so damned abrasive of her....

A governor needs to be diplomatic many times. Topinka is not at all. I did not feel that her apology was sincere, just opportunistic.

I wonder how she plays downstate. Blago is not liked down there since he refuses to relocate to Springfield, but I wonder how Topinka does.

Light bulb just went on! I should start a thread asking.

[xray s]

4. Rod's taking the initiative and being the aggressor in this campaign

Refreshing, isn't it?

[DanCa]

5. Yes it is.

Rod's a great campaigner. I can't wait for the debates because Topinka's personality is so grating she's bound to alienate any moderate supporting her.