Election 2008: Illinois
Even if local Barack Obama were not on the ballot this would be a secure state for the Democrats. Between the massive vote out of Chicago and the slumping GOP tide downstate it is impossible for the GOP to win.
President: Safe Democrat
Senate: The only issue is if incumbent Richard Durbin (D) can outpoll Obama’s 2004 landslide.
Safe Democrat
House: Most of the incumbents here are secure with 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans considered fairly safe.
In the 10th District incumbent Mark Kirk and Democrat Daniel Seals are in a rematch of their close 2006 race. Kirk will be hard pressed with the likely Obama tide but he has the edge
Leans Republican
In the 11th District incumbent Jerry Weller is retiring and he will probably be succeeded by State Senator Debbie Halvorson but Republican Marty Ozinga will try to stop that.
Democrat Favored
In the 14th District we have a rematch of the special election for the seat of former Speaker Dennis Hastert. Incumbent Bill Foster will probably defeat Republican Jim Oberweis
Democrat Favored
With the probable pickup here Democrats are up +3 in the House and +1 in the Senate
2 Responses to “Election 2008: Illinois”
I live in Illinois and this is definitely Obamastate. He'll get this state in a landslide.
And Durbin is totally safe. both are highly respected and highly thought of.
The only thing bad is my district. The 16th. We have the wooden headed Manzullo and people just keep voting for him because they don't really pay much attention to this. It's not that it's really republican in Rockford. It's a swing with our mayors alternating dem then repub then dem again. Back and forth. The last time this area liked their mayor was in the 90s with Mayor Box , a democrat.
People just vote for Manzullo because he is already there, not because they like him. He is just too stupid and too much a party man but, also witless. But, he lacks personality so no one pays attention to him or what he is doing so they just vote for him. They know his name.
But, many who will vote for Manzullo will also vote for Durbin for senator and Obama for president.
While we are concidered republican we are really mostly very swing and independent. People vote all over the place and are not hard line party from what I've seen.
But, the republican party has been a mess inside Illinois for years. It has been broken since the rule of George Ryan.
The democratic party is solid but, not a powerhouse here in Rockford. If it was Manzullo would get bumped off easily.
Hey vwcat…great to see a fellow Illinoisian here! I'm from the Chicago 'burbs, born & raised in the city though. Agree with you 100% on Obama & Durbin. Obama is the only politician I've ever given money to and it's been worth every penny!