Barack Obama (D-IL) wins in a landslide

[Doomsayer13]

www.obamaforillinois.com

www.suntimes.com/elections/results/index.html

with 85% of the precincts reporting, Barack Obama has trounced his opponents garnering 54.3% of the vote in the Democratic primary. He had become the front runner after Blair Hull's campaign implosion, but what I think this signifies is that a) Democrats are looking and willing to put up progressives who they think can win and b) the roll of money has been greatly exaggerated in campaigns up until now. Democratic ballots cast greatly outnumber Republican ballots cast for the Senate primary, putting Obama in a strong position to become the first black Democrat eleced to the Senate since Carol Mosely-Braun. He's incredibly well spoken and he may perhaps be an ideal candidate to be the first black VP or maybe even President. The fight isn't over though, Jack Ryan, the Republican nominee, will perhaps spend large amount from his personal money which is projected to range from 40 million to almost 100 million dollars. Barack Obama needs all the help he can get.

What can I say?

GO OBAMA!

[DoctorWeird]

1. Illinois Voters Getting Back At Republicans

Darn right, Obama hasn't even brought up Ryan's divorce. MOreover, I think a lot of it is still backlash from the George Ryan scandel. Despite Ryan not being that Ryan, I think the name thing might still work against him. Too soon.

[madrchsod]

4. he is

JACK ryan...his signs are really funny.

[Doomsayer13]

8. haha

I've never seen signs where the last name was so small. Haven't repubs learned anything from the last 6 years?

[JohnKleeb]

14. I thought it was JACK!

[Chicago Democrat]

2. GObama GObama GObama!!

Hurrah!

Ryan is toast.

[NWHarkness]

3. Impressive numbers!

It looks like twice as many voters in the Dem as in the GOP primary, and Obama polled more votes than all the leading Republicans combined!

[madrchsod]

6. closed primary- so it`s hard to say

about the election in the fall. RYAN maybe a tougher opponent than what we thought.obama has alot of work to do-there`s alot of corn and bean fields past the fox river...

[chicagojoe]

5. Obama ! Obama ! Obama !

Barak Obama WILL be the next Democratic Senator from Illinois !
His experience as an Illinois State Senator and constitutional law professor makes him the one for the job.

[Wabbajack]

7. Woooohooooo

Huge margin.

[Rich Hunt]

9. we can take on Ryan

-he doesn't have the experience
-he's a telegenic rich boy
-he is very right-wing - said Reagan was 'too conservative'
-will not get a lot of votes from women : anti-abortion

Plus there's probably a whole lot of dirt on him.

Obama is ridiculously qualified & charismatic.

Did anyone see No-facts' column in the Sun-Times today?

http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-nws-novak17.html

"Bush campaign close to writing off state as Democratic turf"

Ha ha ha ha - they are SCARED. It was only a primary, but it was a MAJOR victory last night.

:nopity:

[Wabbajack]

11. Huh?

"he is very right-wing - said Reagan was 'too conservative'"

You mean "too liberal"?

[yellowcanine]

12. He also has the wrong name.

It's not fair but Ryan will lose a significant number of votes because some uninformed voters will think he is the corrupt ex guv Ryan (no relation). Negative name recognition. If the shoe were on the other foot the pubbies would be running a whispering campaign connecting the two Ryans.

[Nailzberg]

13. Two reasons why that won't happen

1. Jack Ryan's people can look at '02 and evaluate what mistakes Jim Ryan made in not clearly separating himself from Gov. George Ryan.

2. George Ryan's indictment and trial will be going on and he will be in the papers frequently with pictures. Jack Ryan will be frequently hitting TV and newspapers in both campaign material and news coverage, and he could never be mistaken for the same Ryan.

The Ryan thing may have hurt Jim Ryan, but it won't hurt Jack. We can't rest easy and assume we'll win this just because our opponent is a Ryan.

(And a bonus reason that Ryan's name doesn't hurt Jack the way it hurt Jim. Obama doesn't necessarily have the best name for courting uninformed voters, either.)

[ButterflyBlood]

10. numbers like that proves he has solid support outside Chicago

I reckon he's going to be one very fine senator.

[davidinalameda]

15. I was surprised to see that he won

I hadn't been following the race very closely and figured the Haynes or whoever came in 2nd would win since he had the machine behind him.

I just might have to direct a donation or two to the next Senator from the great state of Illinois

[woldnewton]

16. Congrats Obama!

(Mostly posted this to meet the minimum to post a new thread requirement, but still happy 'bout Obama's victory)

[jerryster]

17. Good post!

Yes, Jack Ryan has a ton of money. However, the state has tilted heavily Democratic. There are a few concerns. First, both the Chicago Tribune and The Sun-Times will endorse Ryan. The Trib because it endorses ONLY Republicans for Governor, Senator and President. The Sun-Times sadly because no matter what the editors there try to tell us, their only criteria for endorsement at this office level is the war in Iraq. If you're for it the Sun-Times will consider you, if you're not, it won't. Obama is against it so Ryan gets the nod from the Sun-Times. (Ryan received the Sun-Times endorsement for the primary. He didn't get the Trib's).

Second, I feel it is imperative that everyone DROP THE WHOLE MATTER OF RYAN'S DIVORCE! Obama has said he won't make it an issue. He needs to press everyone involved to do the same.

Regarding Obama being "well spoken", consider: Appearing on Politically Incorrect one day Chris Rock said that when people refer to African Americans as "well spoken" (the person in question at the time was Colin Powell) it is often a subtle insult. Rock said something to the effect that people who say it are always surprised that a Black man or woman could actually be well spoken.

To end on a positive note, Illinois will elect Obama and deliver again for the Dem candidate for President! AND BUSH KNOWS IT!!

[Wabbajack]

18. The Trib and Sun times

both endorsed Jim Durkin against Dick Durbin and he didn't even get 40% of the vote I don't think.

[jerryster]

19. You are correct.

Durbin trounced him and he should have. Durkin admitted he was pleasantly surprised at the endorsement. My take on it was that The Times didn't give a damn about anything else Durbin did. He wasn't supportive of the war in Iraq and thus no endorsement.

I also thought Durkin was a lackluster campaigner. Ryan is energetic, has his own good story (inner city school teacher) and, yes, a lot of $$$$. I believe he will be a formidable opponent. I understand you may be saying that the endorsement may not mean much. Probably true. But let's face it, when candidates get newspaper endorsements they make them a BIG part of their campaign (as they should). We have also had a Dem and a Repub in the Senate now for the last few years. You never know. Voters may like that one on one check and balance. Me, I hope the Dems and moderate Repubs take control of the whole damn thing along with President Kerry!

SEND BUSH BACK TO CRAWFORD!!