August 22, 2004
KEYES 11, OBAMA 0:
August 22, 2004
Alan Keyes said it would be an uphill climb when he agreed this month to be the emergency candidate for Illinois Republicans in the U.S. Senate race, but he may not have realized just how steep the ascent will have to be.
The nation's first Senate contest featuring two major party African-American candidates is beginning in lopsided fashion, with nearly two-thirds of voters indicating support for Democrat Barack Obama and less than one-quarter backing Keyes, according to a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll.
Mr. Keyes can lose by twenty and be credited with a better than expected showing in an impossible situation.
It seems like the first time we see "Obama 1" as a headline, it'll be the election result. (Which will kinda trump all those other Keyes victories.)
Posted by: Just John at August 22, 2004 6:27 PMJJ:
No, that's point, it won't. If he'd beaten a Jack Ryan or a Mike Ditka by running to the right he'd be a big deal. Beating Keyes while having to speak on all the questions the Ambassador is raising is not helpful. And if the President carries the state by enough to keep the margin under 10% the new Senator becomes Doug Wilder.
Posted by: oj at August 22, 2004 6:36 PMOJ - polls show Kerry with a 20pt lead in this state and with the IL GOP in disarray it is highly unlikely Bush will win IL. And IL looks like a sure loss for the GOP. That said I agree with your point - If Obama has to break a sweat against Keyes his star will be tarnished.
Posted by: AWW at August 22, 2004 7:28 PMAWW:
When the land slides 20 points have a way of disappearing.
Posted by: oj at August 22, 2004 7:35 PM