Birkett on facing Madigan: 'Anybody can be beat'
Joe Birkett may be the only Republican statewide office-seeker unhappy with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's decision to seek a third term rather than go after the governor's job or a U.S. Senate seat.
That's probably because he's the only one who wants her office, which he'll now have to fight her for.
Several GOP statewide candidates and pundits seemed downright giddy over Madigan's announcement Wednesday - shocking to many - to seek re-election rather than higher office. Birkett hedged a little Thursday on earlier statements that he planned to run no matter what the Democratic incumbent did.
"Right now, obviously, the plan is the plan," Birkett said. "I didn't formally announce, but I was indicating I would not be a candidate for governor and was looking at the attorney general's race, and that's the way it stands right now.
"Lisa Madigan's decision to retain that office is something I have to speak with my supporters about and assess the possibilities. But anybody can be beat."
Birkett, DuPage County's longtime state's attorney, is the only Republican to announce a bid for the attorney general's office while the GOP fields for governor and senator seem to grow weekly.
Madigan's campaign office declined to comment Thursday.
Madigan versus Birkett would be a rematch of the 2002 attorney general's race that Madigan won with 52 percent of the vote.
"The history of that race is well-noted," Birkett said. "We obviously ran into a huge opponent in (Illinois House Speaker and Madigan's father) Mike Madigan and the problems he creates by freezing out money."
Madigan's campaign office declined to comment Thursday.
Birkett's performance in that race was a highlight for the state GOP that was left reeling in the wake then-Gov. George Ryan's license-for-bribes scandal.
"I almost beat Lisa Madigan in the worst Republican year since Watergate," Birkett said. "But when you assess the political climate you have to understand the opposition that office would once again be her father. He's got contacts everywhere and there's no question people feel intimidated if you're on the contributor list for Joe Birkett."
Even some fellow Republicans are giving Madigan the early upper hand. State. Sen. Kirk Dillard said he looked forward to working with Madigan as attorney general when he is elected governor after his gubernatorial campaign kickoff in his hometown of Hinsdale on Wednesday.
Birkett said he holds no ill will toward Dillard for the remark.
"Every politician, and of course I include myself, there's no one immune from a slip-up or being taken out of context," Birkett said. "I think Kirk Dillard was just expressing his opinion that if she were to prevail he would have no problem working with her. I pretty much said the same thing about her when she won in 2002."
Birkett said supporters began calling him after Madigan's announcement to urge him to reconsider a gubernatorial run.
"My passion is for the law and for public service," he said. "That's why you see me in court. I argue cases, and I am one of the few state's attorneys who do."
Birkett said running for governor would be more time-consuming and take him away from the trial preparations he needs to focus on ahead of the upcoming Brian Dugan murder trial in September. Dugan is accused of abducting, raping and killing 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico in 1983. Two men were sent to death row for the crime before being exonerated.
"I'm not going to let politics interfere with my work," he said. "That case is every day of my life. It is on my mind or I'm working on it every day."