July 14, 2004
60-40 FILES:
'Democrats are shaking in their boots' (SCOTT FORNEK, July 14, 2004, Chicago Sun-Times)
Virginia Sen. George Allen, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and son of a Hall of Fame coach himself, flew into Chicago Tuesday to personally huddle with Ditka, one day after the Bears legend said he was thinking about running for the U.S. Senate."Sen. Allen is planning on meeting with Coach Ditka tonight in Chicago to discuss the level of thought that Ditka has put into the race and the implications that that would have on the life that he lives right now," a GOP strategist in Washington said Tuesday. [...]
"Well, God only knows what's in his past," said Barbara J. Peterson, a panel member from Downstate Beecher who first thought the Ditka draft movement was "totally ridiculous" but now says she could support him if the majority of the state central committee does.
"I'd say, what do we have to lose? I think all the Democrats are shaking in their boots," she said. "But I don't think it's going to happen. [Ditka and his wife's] lives would change so much. And I think their life that they have now is a lot better than the life they would have in politics."
Similar concerns prompted Allen to fly to Chicago. He is considered someone who can talk frankly to Ditka, not only because of his GOP role, but because his father was Hall of Fame legend George Allen, who coached Ditka on the Bears in the 1960s.
"It's not a typical recruiting trip," the GOP strategist said. "It's more of a face-to-face, sit down and have a frank conversation about: 1) being in the United States Senate, but 2) also how a campaign would impact and affect the lifestyle that he has right now." [...]
Ronald Smith, a west suburban retiree who has been on the committee for 26 years, wants to make sure Ditka passes the vetting process.
"If he comes out clean as a whistle, he's my favorite candidate right now," Smith said. "Even Mike Ditka -- as much as we all love him -- we have to make sure everything is on the up and up."
But Smith isn't so sure all of Ditka's dirty laundry will hurt him.
"I remember that time when some guy was harassing him, and I think he hit the guy with a wad of gum," Smith said. "I'd just love to see him hit Teddy Kennedy upside the head with a wad of gum."
In the Senate they use canes. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 14, 2004 10:14 AM
It's a little scary to say this, but - in terms of newspaper stories and "man-on-the-street" buzz, Ditka and his actions would likely get LESS scrutiny as a Senator than he did as an NFL coach. If a reporter rubs him the wrong way, you'd be likely to get a Jesse Ventura moment: some piece of uncouth badinage that political wonks will think ruinous, but actually will endear him to his base. And as far as lack of qualifications: he has led a successful organization in an enterprise (football) which may be the best example of sport being a microcosm of life.
It will be a fun campaign to watch, not the least of which will be the whining of Democrats that Ditka's election would lower the dignity of the Senate, a club which permits both John Kerry and Teddy Kennedy. These are the fun times.
Posted by: John Barrett Jr. at July 14, 2004 12:38 PMDrudge is reporting that Ditka stormed out of his meeting with GOP leaders and looked very upset before leaving quickly. May be nothing or it may signal no run by Ditka.
Posted by: AWW at July 14, 2004 1:40 PMIn terms of campaigning style Ditka would probably be Jesse Ventura redux: plain-spoken, goofy, sometimes outrageous, and generally beloved and/or enjoyed by the wider public.
It's a good choice, especially given the fact that no one else in Illinois has a chance right now. I think the Democrats are genuinely afraid of this.
Posted by: H.D. Miller at July 14, 2004 1:49 PMI bet no one will aimlessly wander around the Senate floor while he is speaking!
Unlike everybody else, I thought Ryan had a chance just on the basis of the ethnic politics of Chicago. If Ditka is in the race and he doesn't embarass himself, and there is no reason to think that he will, he has been in the media business for years now, his chances are excellent.
Obama may have black skin, but he is african and a professor from Hyde Park, which is in but not of Chicago. There is no reason to believe that he will motivate "African-Americans" or the Daley machine to support him in a more than pro-forma way.
OTOH, Ditka would get a very strong cross-over vote from white-ethnic democrats in Chicago.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at July 14, 2004 2:26 PM