GOP Optimistic Party's Nominee Will Win Blago's Old Job in Illinois

Tuesday's Illinois primaries will go a long way toward determining who will be the next person elected to be governor of Illinois.

Pat Quinn has the job now. As Lt. Gov. Quinn inherited the governor’s chair after his boss, Rod Blagojevich, was stripped of the job following the January 2009 impeachment trial.

Now, Quinn wants a full term, and a fellow Democrat, State Comptroller Dan Hynes stands in his way. Both candidates see tax increases, including income tax increases…as the only way to avoid dramatic state service cuts.

That’s because the estimated state budget deficit is around $13 billion, or roughly half of the state’s current operating budget. The Quinn/Hynes contest was a statistical tie in polls leading up to Primary Day.

The Republican primary field is, according to the polls, knotted up, with three candidates. Jim Ryan is the former state attorney general who ran for governor eight years ago, losing to Blagojevich. There is also Andy McKenna, former Illinois GOP chairman, and State Senator Kirk Dillard, who is endorsed by the last elected governor not to be indicted, Jim Edgar.

All three GOPers propose a cut-the-budget-first solution to the massive budget deficit.

Both primary contests are too close to call. But the Illinois Republican Party believes whoever wins their primary will have a distinct general election advantage.

You could call it the ‘Blagojevich Advantage’.

Blagojevich’s corruption trial is set to begin this summer. There is talk Blagojevich’s defense team may ask for delay to late summer or early fall. Whenever it begins, it will be front page news reminding voters again of the reign of this scandal-plagued administration.

Combine that with the general anti-incumbent sentiment found among voters these days and it may provide an opportunity for Republicans to capitalize in a state where there are no Republicans in any statewide elected office.