Illinois Election: Very Bad News for GOP

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I'm not discounting the Obama factor, in fact, I think it's possible Foster may have lost without it. But the sort of irrational hero-worship of Sen. Obama started in Illinois long before his presidential candidacy so the Republicans knew to expect that.
I think it really came down to absurd mudslinging that the Oberweis campaign needlessly pursued from the first days of his primary campaign. I think voters who had been peacefully casting votes for years for Hastert, whom they both knew and respected, were shell-shocked by the brutal party infighting just to win the Republican primary.
The entire tone of the Republican primary disgusted local media and alienated loyal voters. This that is more than just a flawed candidate. That's a flawed campaign strategy.
I think that regardless of the Republican candidate, they can win that seat back in November, but they need a strategy that will rally Republicans, not repulse them.

of IL 1:00PM March 11, 2008

I think you should not discount how bad the "flawed candidate," Oberweis really is. He is a horrible candidate that has lost three times before Senate, Gov. and now Congress.
Here is the problem. He is a rich guy that was never involved in politics before but, because he has tall $$ he felt he could start at the top. He was not pursued by the party, he just announced on his own and had no support either locally or state wide before he launched his various candidacies.
In his first race for the Senate, his basic stance was vote for me because I'm rich. He had no real agenda or philosophy and he's lighted from one "idea" to the next just trying to find something that "works."
I think the Dems could beat him if they ran a potted plant up against Oberweis.
So, don't so blithely ignore that he is a "flawed candidate."

Warner Todd Huston of IL 11:45AM March 11, 2008