Governor coattails wither

SPRINGFIELD - Once upon a time sitting governors were counted on to help deliver excitement, voters and campaign cash for their respective political parties.

That era ended in the 1990s following Jim Edgar's two terms. The popular GOP governor was heavily sought out on the campaign trail, traveling the state to appear with Republican state House and Senate candidates.

Even now he's still asked to cut ads to help candidates. Edgar's featured in an ad for a downstate Republican state lawmaker this campaign season, possibly making him the only Illinois governor to appear on behalf of a candidate this fall.

After Edgar came Republican George Ryan.

Ryan came into the governor's office commanding a political army that had helped him win in 1998. But by 2000 federal investigations had begun to take their toll, turning the potent power broker into a political pariah.

And now there's Blagojevich. He's in plenty of ads this season, but he's being used against candidates, who have to explain away connections to the embattled Chicago Democrat.

Blagojevich first campaigned in 2002 as an outsider and has continued to distance himself from the General Assembly. Earlier this year he expressed concern over Democrats - his party - potentially winning more seats in the Illinois House, arguing they will push state tax increases that he's sworn to oppose.