HUH?

Bush could have powerful Dem allies (STEVE NEAL, June 18, 2003, Chicago SUN-TIMES)

President Bush, the only Republican to capture the White House without Illinois electoral votes, is looking for help from a couple of Democratic friends.

Mayor Daley and Gov. Blagojevich, who have yet to endorse a fellow Democrat for the presidency, have been generous in their public comments about Bush. [...]

Hastert, with whom Daley has a close relationship, has been helpful to Daley in forging a relationship with the Bush White House.

Blagojevich, who had a solid Democratic voting record as a congressman and state legislator, has never been a shrill partisan and has many friends on the other side of the aisle. Republican National committeeman Bob Kjellander and Dallas Ingemunson, the state's deputy GOP chairman, have been helpful to Blagojevich in seeking help from the Bush administration. But as this state's first Democratic governor in three decades, Blagojevich is expected to go all-out for his party's ticket next year.

As part of his reach-out effort to Illinois Democrats, Bush last week invited Chicago Representatives Danny K. Davis, Rahm Emanuel, Bobby Rush and Luis Gutierrez to accompany him on Air Force One. Republican strategists recognize that to compete in Illinois, Bush must reach beyond his party's base. The images of Bush surrounded by these Chicago Democrats won't do him any harm in a Democratic town. Rep. William O. Lipinski, the dean of the city's congressional delegation, was also invited but couldn't make it.

If the GOP can't come up with a credible nominee for the Senate in Illinois, Bush may be spending even more time with Chicago Democrats. That's all right with Daley and Blagojevich.

The whole thing sounds pretty far-fetched, but you can bet there are folks at the DNC gnawing on their knuckles when they read this stuff. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 19, 2003 7:55 AM