Plenty of opportunity in state GOP
SPRINGFIELD -- A wide-open Illinois Republican presidential primary offers state officials a rare chance to test their organizational powers as the GOP seeks to rebuild here.
With six major candidates fielding slates of delegates, no favorite and the state's Republican clout largely purged by scandal and retirements, those vying to be the new face of the party see this as a unique chance to establish themselves.
"Right now there is no alpha elephant of the Republican Party in Illinois," said state Sen. Dan Rutherford, a downstate Republican and chairman of Mitt Romney's Illinois campaign. "What this is doing is giving the next generation, the farm team, a growth opportunity and a chance. There are a number of people who are definitely setting the stage."
On the Democratic side, the vast majority of party officials are publicly backing Barack Obama's campaign. Michael Madigan, the state's Democratic Party chairman, has said he believes Obama will win the state over Hillary Clinton.
But on the Republican ballot, the state appears to be an early toss up that could carry newfound influence in ultimately deciding who is the nominee. A strong performance essentially gives bragging rights to those behind a successful Illinois effort.
For instance, it's no secret Rutherford has his sights set on higher office. He ran unsuccessfully for Illinois secretary of state last year and remains popular within many GOP circles and an active fundraiser.
Similarly, state Sen. Bill Brady, a Bloomington Republican, finished third in last year's GOP primary for governor and appears to be laying the groundwork for another campaign in 2010. He's heading Fred Thompson's campaign in Illinois.
"It would be a big feather in his cap if after aligning himself with Thompson, Thompson wins," longtime suburban politico Don Totten, also a Thompson backer, said of Brady.
Along the same lines, House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego is the Illinois chairman for Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid.
"We feel we have the strongest organization and the most well-known and vote-producing group of delegates of all," said David Dring, Cross' spokesman.
Illinois Senate Republican leader Frank Watson is one of the state chairmen for John McCain.
Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul also have slated delegates, though they lack the cache of current and former Republican elected officials slated with the other candidates.
For years, Republicans controlled an army of political foot soldiers who could turn out the vote and raise money for favored candidates. But that armada disappeared after former Republican Gov. George Ryan, who left office in early 2003, was charged and eventually convicted of corruption. He went to prison earlier this year.
Political observers say the presidential contests here could provide a boost to rebuilding efforts, but is far from a political panacea.
"It'll give some of these guys perhaps a leg up," said Paul Green, director of Roosevelt University's School of Policy Studies.
"But I wouldn't overplay it. I think it's the candidate not the so-called organization," Green said. "First off, the Republican Party is in such sad shape. You're talking about a canoe sailing the Atlantic Ocean."
Who's backing whom?
Here's a quick look at how some prominent Republicans are aligning in the GOP presidential race here:
• Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert: Mitt Romney
• Former Gov. Jim Edgar: Rudy Giuliani
• Former Gov. James Thompson: Rudy Giuliani
• Illinois Senate Republican leader Frank Watson: John McCain
• DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett: Rudy Giuliani
• U.S. Rep. Donald Manzullo of Egan: Fred Thompson