Looks like the Illinois senate seat is our's

[ButterflyBlood]

Gore won Illinois by a greater margin than California. I can't see it electing this Ryan nut:

Jack Ryan, Obama's Republican opponent, states, "I believe in protecting life from conception to natural death. It is crucial that, as a society, we work to create a culture of respect for life." On homosexual issues, Ryan states, "I believe that marriage can only be defined as that union between one man and one woman. I am opposed to same-sex marriages, civil unions, and (domestic partner) registries." In response to an IFI Voter Guide survey, Ryan said he favors a federal constitutional amendment defining "marriage only as the union of one man and one woman." Obama did not respond to the survey.

however it states that Obama not only opposes the Federal Discrimination Amendment, he supports repealing DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is a chief sponsor of an Illinois Senate bill adding anti-discrimination clauses against homosexuals and transgenders (that's what I'm guessing, this right-biased source simply says "pro-homosexual and pro-transgender language") and is 100% pro-choice. woohoo!

Obama's going to be one great Senator.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=117-03172004

[elperromagico]

1. States can be very unpredictable when electing Senators.

Remember that one of Bush's most solid states in 2000, South Dakota, has two Democratic senators, one of whom (Daschle) carried the state by a bigger margin in '98 than Bush did in '00. Several other states have Republican governors and Democratic senators, or vice versa.

It seems that most states are far less partisan when picking senators and governors than they are when picking presidents.

[ButterflyBlood]

2. Illinois 2002 elections

Democrats swept every state office except Treasurer, and greatly increased their margins in both house of the legislature, taking control of the Senate. Durbin was reelected with over 60%.

Ryan belongs running in Mississippi, not Illinois.

[elperromagico]

3. Well, remember Santorum.

Santorum belongs in Mississippi as well, but he was elected in Pennsylvania by a wide margin.

Voters are strange.

[GinaMaria]

4. I have more faith in Illinois

but I'm biased :-)

The state repukes are mess here and people are sick of their corruption. Obama has a great chance, but he needs help down state. He's not well known there.

[neverborn]

5. We were Hull people

before the media fucked him over.

Although... Blogsphere is saying Ryan's divorce papers that were unsealed include alleged rape and alleged forced group sex. O______O

[truebrit71]

6. I have heard VERY similar things about Ryan...

Just by looking at the guy you can tell there's something weird about him....

[ButterflyBlood]

7. good luck for us

Hull's scandal broke before the primary, Ryan's afterwords. Plus never underestimate the Daleys.

[neverborn]

10. Hull's scandal..

pfft. That shouldn't have been a scandal =/

[TheDonkey]

9. To Santorum's fluke

His democratic challenger was a nut.
I don't know what PA was thinking. Klink not only looked goofy what came out oof his mouth didn't please too many.

Obama looks strong.

[GumboYaYa]

8. Illinois may end up with the best Senat combo

in America. I'm in St. Louis so I have folowed this race closely. I really like Obama. Good choice Illinois!

[Jane Austin]

11. Congratulations, Illinois!

My daughter -in-law was in law school with Obama, and she thinks he's absolutely tops. "A great leader."

[Kurovski]

12. Voting for Obama was a joy.

Ryan seems like a nice--if slightly nutty--guy. Maybe he'll change his mind and put his own millions of $ he'd be spending on crappy ads into college grants for his students and just let the inevitable Obama victory roll over him like a warm lake Michigan wave.

It was fun voting for Dean and electors, too.