Cohen Out as No. 2 on Illinois Ticket-Now what?
Ok. Scott Lee Cohen’s reality show-esque tearful departure from the Illinois Democratic Party ticket in a noisy saloon as Super Bowl fans whooped it up, caused a sigh of relief in the beleaguered Party. The man whose pawn shop millions bought the Lt. Governor’s race in the Primary saw his dreams of political glory crumble as allegation after sordid allegation about past steroid use, abusive behavior in his marriage, and a knife wielding episode that left his prostitute girl friend slightly injured.
The good news is Cohen’s quick surrender to the inevitable offers the Party, whose reputation has taken a pounding in the wake of former Governor Rod Blagjevich and attendant scandals, a golden opportunity to rebrand itself. The bad news is that his replacement on the ticket is in the autocratic hands of Illinois Democratic Party Chair and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.
Technically the State Central Committee, which is expected to meet on or before March 15, will fill the vacancy on the slate. But the notoriously somnambulant committee has always deferred to the steely Madigan. And Madigan’s track record is to reward faithful minions from the Democratic House or tap compliant, plodding hacks from Cook County.
Many observers believe Madigan will stick by his endorsed candidate from the primary, South Side Representative Art Turner, who ran second to Cohen.
Undoubtedly the person who will be least consulted in the selection of his running mate will be Governor Pat Quinn who enjoys a frosty relationship with The Speaker. Madigan is morally offended by Quinn squeaky-clean reformer reputation and goo-goo credentials.
Quinn’s possible irrelevance to the process was highlighted as his former primary rival Dan Hynes, now out of a state office, let it be known he is available. Naming Hynes might paper over divisions in the party, but Quinn could get stuck with a Lt. Governor out to undermine him at every turn.
Other losers in the six-man primary field are also interested. Two, Senator Terry Link and Rep. Mike Boland, have strong legislative track records and regional bases-the Collar Counties for Link and Downstate for Boland. But voters outside their stomping grounds are barely aware of them.
What the ticket really needs is a bright, exciting candidate untouched by Blagojevich scandals or Cook County business-as-usual. Several names have been floated, some as trial balloons for hopefuls, the others as wishful thinking among desperate Dems.
Two primary losers, but rising stars, getting talked up are Rep. Julie Hamos, who narrowly was defeated in the race for Mark Kirk’s open seat in the U.S. House and former Deputy Treasurer Raja Kirhsnamoorthi from Downstate Peoria. Hamos spent two years positioning herself for a run for Attorney General before Lisa Madigan decided to take a pass on the both the Senate and Governors races. Raja ran very strong and proved himself to be an articulate and capable campaigner.
A lot of folks want to see a top-talent woman on the ticket. Leading the list by star power is U. S. Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth, who is known to still have political ambitions. Also mentioned are Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Sheila Simon, the Downstate daughter of the late Senator Paul Simon and leading member of Quinn’s Ethics Reform Commission.
Two long-shots, however, might provide the biggest boost for the ticket. For years Merchandise Mart President Christopher Kennedy has toyed-and coyed-with the possibility from bring his theoretical dynastic star power to Illinois politics. He has sent up trial balloons for Governor, Senator, Cook County Board Chair, and even Mayor of Chicago, but always pulled back. He could find the Lt. Governor’s spot a more congenial entrée. On the plus side he could bring the Kennedy name and millions of dollars to self-fund a race. On the negative, nobody really knows much about him other than his name and his regular appearances on the Chicago charity gala circuit.
The biggest fish of all would be David Hoffman, the blue ribbon reformer who just made Alexi Giannoulias sweat in the Senate race. Hoffman is being boosted as a possible Chicago mayoral candidate. But the Lt. Governorship is not a position with onerous duties. He could safely pursue a mayoral bid while in office. Or he could use the job to polish his credentials in preparation for a run for Governor in four years. Pat Quinn showed that the office is what the holder makes it and that there are ways to keep up public awareness. Quinn would be relieved to have Hoffman, who he appointed to that Ethics Reform panel, on the ticket.
The question is, would Madigan-or Mayor Richard M. Daley-take the plunge into those icy waters even if it meant certain victory in November.