IL: Schakowsky backs Obama for U.S. Senate

[goobergunch]

December 16, 2003

BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON -- Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Barack Obama picks up the endorsement today of Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), whose opposition to the Iraq war and liberal politics mirrors his own, bringing to his camp a formidable fund-raiser.

Schakowsky helps Obama, a state senator from the South Side, gain "the progressive vote and money," said Obama spokesman Pam Smith.

Progressives are "his consti- tuency in this race," Smith said. Obama was an early critic of the war, as was Schakowsky, who runs an Evanston-based political organization. A prolific fund-raiser and organizer, Schakowsky already has made her national and state lists available to Obama.

<snip>

Hynes said he would have liked Schakowsky's backing, and the impact of her endorsement "depends on how involved she will get. We will not be outmatched organizationally in any part of the state." The combination of Hynes' father Tom's hold on the 19th Ward, plus the likely help of the 13th Ward run by House Speaker Michael Madigan, state party chairman, gives Hynes a strong Southwest Side base.

more...http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sen161.html

[Frodo]

1. Is Obama even in our "top five" for this seat?

I thought he lost a House campaign last time (or maybe 2000).

Does he give us any shot agains Gen. Boring?

[davidinalameda]

2. this is good for Chicago

but how will it play down-state

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Obama is a bright young man, but

I don't think that a guy named Obama has much chance at being elected to the Senate in the post-911 era. Unfortunate, but that is the world in which we live.:-(

[billyf65]

6. No one will confuse the name...

...and in fact, some jackass put up a web site with his likeness morphed into Osama bin Laden - and Republicans and Dems alike went ape (no one wants to be seen as even a little racist).

This guy is the smartest, most articulate in the field. And if you haven't been into this race - you should know he has a real legit shot of winning.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. I doubt people will confuse the two

But I wonder about the electability of someone with a name that many will think sounds muslim. I agree with you that he very smart and articulate. He is difinitely a rising star. But 2004 may not be his year.

[Logansquare]

15. He has a great opening explanation for his name and accent

When I saw him debate Gary Chico, he said something like, "Hello, my name is Barak Obama--some people get confused and pronounce it 'Yourmama' or 'Alabama,' but I got my name from my father, who is from Kenya and met my mother while he was studying in the United States. I got my accent from my mother, who is from Kansas." I think the latter is for the benefit of African-American voters in Illinois, since many black politicians here still speak with a touch of a southern accent. I like the fact that he doesn't try to hide who he is, and addresses it up front.

[billyf65]

4. If you don't know Barack Obama...

...get to know about him. Hynes is a good guy and would make a good senator. Ditto the other serious contenders in this race. But Obama would become a star.

Whether or not you live in IL - you should all get to know this guy. If he wins - guarantee he'll be a fixture on Sunday mornings.

[La_Serpiente]

5. OBAMA IS THE BEST!!!!

He would be an awesome Senator. I think he is a law professor at University of Chicago. Although he may not have the name recognition, he is WELL INFORMED on the issues.

here is his website

http://www.obamaforillinois.com/

How is he doing in the polls in Illinois? I know he has the SEIU and 2nd largest teachers union in the state endorsement and might get the AFSCME endorsements. He was also endorsed by Bill Bradley.

[billyf65]

7. Polls

The last few polls I've seen (hasn't been one done in a while) - he was third - but there were a LOT of undecideds.

And remember - African Americans are traditionally underpolled.

I have been waiting for Barack to appear on these boards. This guy SHOULD be in the Senate - and it is not at all impossible.

And I don't see Gen. Boring (ha ha) winning. It is probably going to be Jack Ryan on the GOP side. Certainly a toxic name in IL politics - but this guy is tall, good looking, and left a lucrative career in investment banking to teach at an inner-city Catholic school - and he's loaded.

But he isn't perfect, and IL has been trending Dem.

[La_Serpiente]

8. I read about that guy

but he too seems a little right wing, maybe even more than Fitzgerald.

[billyf65]

9. Jack Ryan

...he is right wing - and he tries to hide it by calling his campaign "a new kind of Republican campaign," and trotting out a bunch of African American kids.

And African Americans in IL have voted for Republicans in the past (the presently-being-indicted Gov. Ryan did very well in African American communities).

But it is so transparent with JRyan. Even Jack Conaty -the local Fox affiliate's political editor (local Fox not so politically bent as the parent, but Conaty is no Dem either) saw through it. At Republican day at the state fair, JRyan had a bunch of little African American kids surrounding him, and Conaty said "don't you think this is a bit much?"

JRyan is also very big into the voucher/home school movement.

In short - it will be a tough campaign, but any of the Dems can beat him with a well run campaign.

[NewJerseyDem]

10. That is good

Barack Obama is the best candidate there. He is extremely intelligent and would make an excellent senator. I think that the other candidates like Dan Hynes are also pretty good but Obama appears to the best.

[MattNC]

12. does anyone know

who's leading in the Democratic primary according to the latest polls?

[NewJerseyDem]

14. This is a poll from late September

KRC Communications Research

Hynes 10%
Hull 9%
Obama 8%
Chico 7%
Washington 5%
Skinner 3%
O'Shea 2%
Roberts 2%
Simmons 2%
Johnson-Hunt 1%

This is a poll that I found on dcpoliticalreport.com. I don't know if there are any that are more recent but it pretty much shows that at least a few months ago the race was still very close.

[chiburb]

13. Obama is the real deal...

1st African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review, one of the 2 candidates that was anti Iraq invasion. VERY intelligent, and closest of any to Democratic ideals/programs/principles.
Hynes was pro-invasion, Blair Hull was the other anti, and has a TON of $$$ to get name recognition.
Schakowsky's backing is huge for Obama.

His name will NOT be an issue in Illinois. This is now a Dem state, and besides... we ain't stupid!

[Logansquare]

16. A friend of mine had lunch with him recently

My friend is a professional fundraiser and has met a number of politicans who seem great in public but are jerks in private. He had a lunch with a Congressman (who shall remain unnamed) who was abusive to the waitstaff and answered his cell phone during the entire lunch.

My friend absolutely raved about Obama--thought he was a total class act. He has turned down other pols who sought him for (unpaid) fundraising, but he volunteered to do so for Obama before the lunch was over.