Governor of Illinois

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Blagojevich, because the Illinois GOP is a total joke and I want to keep shutting them out of office so they keep getting more full of morons who think it was a good idea to get Alan Keyes to run.

[muon2]

Everyone listed in the poll is listed on the Wikipedia article Illinois gubernatorial election, 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_gubernatorial_election%2C_2006

I don't know who created that page, I see they've included the write ins. The write ins also have to be certified with the state to get valid votes.

The official source is the Illinois State Board of Elections.

edit: here's the rules for a statewide write in. If the've met the requirements, they should show up on the state link above.

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[Adlai Stevenson]

I thought I would do a special Poll of Polls on the Illinois Gubernatorial Election.  To summarise, I add up the candidates' percentage in every poll and then divide the result by the number of polls.  The result:

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR

Blagojevich (D) 43.81 (44%)
Baar-Topinka (R) 37.63 (38%)
Other 3.09 (3%)
Undecided 13.72 (14%)
M.O.E. 4.45 (4.5%)

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Topinka had a chance in June when Blagojevich approvals were low to win this race, but Blagojevich has been able to increase his approvals through the ads and she didn't counter that with any ads herself. And now, the lead may be too much to overcome.

[Adlai Stevenson]

It probably is according to the latest poll Blagojevich leads 45%-33%.  Our forum poll got one thing right though, Whitney at 6%!

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

She didn't have the money after the primary to stay competetive and the undecides went back to Blagojevich.

[Adlai Stevenson]

Well Blagojevich has opened up his biggest lead of the campaign and is two points away from 50% of the vote.  The poll reveals that 49% of people have an unfavourable opinion of Blagojevich and 54% of Topinka.  48% approve of Blagojevich's job performance, 50% disapprove.  42% say  the Governor is a moderate and 40% view him as politically liberal.  Judy Baar-Topinka is viewed as a moderate by 39% of voters and 35% say she is politically conservative -

A new Rasmussen poll:

New Poll: Illinois Governor by Rasmussen Reports 13.9.06

Summary: D: 48%, R: 36%, U: -, M.O.E. -

Poll Source URL: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/September%202006/IllinoisGovernor.htm

[ian]

I would vote for Blagojevich, but I really like Topinka, too.
Can someone please explain to me what happened to her campaign?

[ian]

PS, Joe, when you called DWDL an arrogant prick, I almost shat my pants.  His comments were so uncalled for.

[Adlai Stevenson]

I would vote for Blagojevich, but I really like Topinka, too.
Can someone please explain to me what happened to her campaign?

Topinka's campaign began quite well.  In January she enjoyed a lead equivalent to Blagojevich's now; however, as has already been mentioned Topinka has a lot less money and is the candidate of a divided minority party in one of its toughest years.  The Illinois GOP has been at a low point in recent years, they lost the Governor's Mansion in 2002 and in 2004 lost a seat in the U.S. House and Senate.  Topinka is a moderate and relatively popular elected official, and she is the only statewide GOP politician left.  However, I think the main issue that is holding her campaign back is her association with the corruption scandals of the former Governor George Ryan who left office in 2003.  I don't really no more any more than that.

[muon2]

I would vote for Blagojevich, but I really like Topinka, too.
Can someone please explain to me what happened to her campaign?

Topinka's campaign began quite well.  In January she enjoyed a lead equivalent to Blagojevich's now; however, as has already been mentioned Topinka has a lot less money and is the candidate of a divided minority party in one of its toughest years.  The Illinois GOP has been at a low point in recent years, they lost the Governor's Mansion in 2002 and in 2004 lost a seat in the U.S. House and Senate.  Topinka is a moderate and relatively popular elected official, and she is the only statewide GOP politician left.  However, I think the main issue that is holding her campaign back is her association with the corruption scandals of the former Governor George Ryan who left office in 2003.  I don't really no more any more than that.

The answer is in the money. Topinka was in a very competitive primary and had little cash in March. Blagojevich largely ignored his opponent and had a so much cash that to not spend it from the get go would make it tough to spend it all this fall. Blago did spend it in the spring and successfully pushed Topinka's negatives way up, though he moved his own numbers very little. Topinka's media buys will be less than Blago's throghout the campaign, and since voters, particularly suburban swing voters, aren't tuning into the issues at the state level, the TV ad campaign has had an effect.

[Adlai Stevenson]

I expect turnout will be low this election; Democrats were hardly energised behind Blagojevich in the primaries and as there is no Senate race this year people will have less reason to come out and vote apart from in the competetive Congressional seats; Melissa Bean and the open race for Henry Hyde's seat.  I suppose low turnout would benefit Topinka and the third party candidates but I guess the GOP isn't really enthused by Topinka.

[MarkWarner08]

I'd vote for the Green candidate.

[BobOMac2k2]

I'm a huge Rod fan, but that's not why I am voting for him... I honestly can't stand even looking at Judy.

Another republican may be able to compete for my vote.

[Adlai Stevenson]

The election is officially over:

Blagojevich (D) 56%
Baar-Topinka (R) 26%
Undecided 15%

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-poll18.html

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

I put it in the polls. Once Blagojevich reached 50% it was over. Some people might not vote now.

[The Dowager Mod]

Open road tolling baby!

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Goldie on this race in reference to Blagojevich:

Somebody's doneski.

[Adlai Stevenson]

The new SUSA poll shows Blagojevich leading 45%-39%.  Recent SUSA polls have been pretty unlike other polling, however.  Still this would show an upswing for Topinka and Blagojevich is not near 50% any more. 

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

This is as close she is going to get, she hasn't been closer than 6 pts since June. 45% is about where she is going to stay just like Jim Ryan, and the George Ryan trial is having an affect.

[Democratic Hawk]

Rod Blagojevich since I'd be a Democrat

Dave