EDGAR NO DUMMY

Edgar won't run for U.S. Senate (CARLOS SADOVI AND LYNN SWEET, May 10, 2003, Chicago Sun Times)

In the end, former Gov. Jim Edgar didn't want to be senator enough to go through the anguish of a campaign.

He wasn't specific on when his decision crystallized, but after being wooed by President Bush and Illinois Republican Party leaders to run for the U.S. Senate, Edgar said Friday he was not ready to leave political retirement because politics is a "blood sport in Illinois.'' [...]

Edgar said he thought state Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka would make the best candidate with the greatest chance of winning.

Topinka stopped short of saying she would not run. She said she intended to meet Monday with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Can't find a profile on-line, but there's a businessman named Jack Ryan who apparently left the corporate world for awhile and taught school. That seems like it has the makings of a compelling story. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 10, 2003 10:57 AM