52 Comments - IrishPirate - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:30 am: and who would young Hynes like to see replace President Obama in the Senate? A. Dan Hynes B. Daniel Hynes C. Danny Hynes D. All of the above - Cassandra - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:32 am: Is Hynes contemplating a gubernatorial run in 2010? Or is he going after one of the senate seats? If so, it makes sense to get out in front in case Obama moves up in the political world. Must be getting kind of boring at that obscure state govt job too. And it might be a good idea to distance himself from Blago by ardently championing transparency and the fight against corruption, as Obama is doing. Who knows what the next four years may bring for the state Dems; damage control should start now. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:34 am: Obama speaks at the Harkin Steakfry in Iowa this weekend. - Pat Collins - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:41 am: Clinton - Obama 08. I predicted it some time ago. First “totally diverse” White Male free ticket. No way Dem primary voters can resist it. You heard it here first. - Levois - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:41 am: Irish pirate stole my comment I was about to say the exact same thing. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:42 am: Dan’s polling, like everyone’s, is showing Obama to be the most popular IL pol in a generation. The next best thing to having Obama appear at an event and endorse you is to simply create a press conference where you can talk about what a great guy he is. It’s kind of pathetic when you think about it. But Rich bit on it, and I’ll bet it gets plenty of coverage elsewhere. This would be actual news if Dan was Iowa’s comptroller. - Tim - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:43 am: Pat…I think we heard that months ago and at other sites, but it’s fun you think you came up with it! - Left Leaner - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:44 am: Smart move by Dan! - Squideshi - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:12 am: Obama should start planning on how to best reach out to Greens now. Hint: Make a public committment to support Instant Runoff Voting. - grand old partisan - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:13 am: Well, obviously, Hynes wants the seat. His only other option for advancement is to challenge Lisa for the Gov nomination in 2010, and Dan is way to smart to do that. After seeing how Mike reacted to someone beating his pick for Treasurer, I think it’s safe to assume that even if Dan managed to beat Lisa in the primary, Mike would probably tank him in the general just out of spike. But, in an almost Shakespearean twist of fate, Obama’s ambitions are tied, for the moment, to Blago’s electoral success this November. If Topinka wins, Obama’s potential successor then becomes a Republican. And unless the DNC has polling data that shows he is the only potential candidate within the margin of error of beating whomever emerges as the GOP frontrunner, they will move heaven and earth to keep him in the Senate. So, it appears that the Democrat’s only chance of nominating an admittedly clean, respectable, honest-to-goodness statesmen for president or veep in ’08 depends on whether or not Illinois Democrats successfully re-elect a corrupt, blow-dried, politician (in the worst sense of the word) as Governor in ’06. My God, this is why I love politics!! - Bill Baar - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:14 am: Gore-Obama… Hillary stays put. Gore-Obama loses… …does those American Express ads for the remainder of his career. - OneMan - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:26 am: Doesn’t a US Senate replacement have to be aproved off by the State House or Senate? I don’t really know. Also I would argue Clinton-Obama is a little too progressive for most tastes. - The Realist - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:36 am: grand old partisan– love the irony Rich– love the new color scheme - anon - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:05 am: If clinton is really running, why does she or why would she need another liberal from a blue state (her state)as a running mate. Clinton needs a proven vote getter conservative dem from the south or west. Same with Obama if he intends to run. - Platitudinus - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:13 am: Obama Edwards ‘08 - Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:14 am: My opinion is that I don’t like the new color scheme of the Capitol Fax Blog. IMO, it clashes with the very nice picture of the capitol building. - Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:17 am: How ’bout Obama-Webb, Obama-Schweitzer or Obama-Selebius? - Wumpus - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:20 am: Edwards would not take a seat to Obama, it is “his time”. Unless he is too busy curing paralysis, he will seek the numero uno position. - Taos - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 11:47 am: Were’s the LOVE! What about President Rod Blagojevich? - Ivory-billed Woodpecker - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 12:06 pm: Richardson - Obama ‘08 - Cornelius - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 12:13 pm: Carl: Schweitzer wants nothing to do with running for President. Although he would be the BEST quote machine. Warner-Obama, and you have a winner… - Phocion - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 12:17 pm: Obama - Spitzer - Bubs - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 12:47 pm: My goodness, the overheated, overhyped Obamamania is zooming right over the cliff! Two years ago, this man was an Illinois State Senator. He has less than two years experience in the U.S. Senate, and none in the U.S. House, and no executive experience either at the state or federal level. Now that’s what I call “qualified”! LOL By contrast, when JFK ran in 1960, he already had 14 years of experience in Congress, both as a Representative and a Senator, and was in his second term in the Senate. Get real, people. - OneMan - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 12:52 pm: Here is what happens Obama becomes President or VP, then Pat Quinn becomes US Senator (we can’t replace a sitting LT. Gov according to the state consitituion), Gov G-Nad goes to jail and Lisa Madigan ends up Governor as her father planned 6 years ago. Brilliant! - ZC - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 1:05 pm: I am heading out to the Harkin steakfy this weekend. Will see if there are any “Obama in 08″ fliers or buttons circulating, and if so who seems to be passing them around. If he really is planning on making a move, this is the kind of event he needs to be doing it at. Waiting for a draft ain’t gonna happen - nobody gets drafted anymore in Democratic primary politics, you either run full-tilt or you get cut out. - Lovie's Leather - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 2:04 pm: It’s gonna be Feingold-Warner v Giuliani-Lott or some other southerner. I would like to see a McCain and Feingold run against each other and take bets on who will first violate McCain-Feingold…. - Captain America - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 2:16 pm: Way to go Dan! I am supporting Obama for president on the theory that he has tremendous potential to be President. He’s a favorite son of Illinois. He has the intelligence, rhetorical skills, and charisma to become POTUS. He’s very likeable and also has trancendant crossover appeal to Republicans and independents. I think it’s bad news for Hilary if he runs - but he could be the saviour of the Democratic party for those who believe that Hilary is unelectable. Obama could become a stalking horse for a more moderate electable Democaratic nominee by taking away vote from Hilary. Given Hilary’’s high negatives, I’d like her to assume Democratic leadership of the United States Senate. If Obama doesn’t run, I don’t think any other Democratic candidate will be able to stop Hilary from getting the nomination.My only reservationa about Hilary are that so many people seem to have very strong negative feelings about her. I believe Obama will run and end up being the Vice- Presidential nominee on somebody’s/anybody’s ticket. Then I fully expect Obama to be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2012 or 2016. - Jaded - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 2:39 pm: What makes anyone think that Dan Hynes has a snowballs chance in the hot place of being appointed to anything by Blago? Hynes has been as critical of the Governor as any of the Constitutional officers. My guess is that if Obama were to move up (and that is a very big IF), the US Senate seat would go the most generous of the Governor’s friends. So all you wannabees out there need to start writing checks to the college trust fund today! - Tick Duck - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 2:48 pm: I’m sorry to see that this was not a prank involving purloined letterhead and a gullible journalist. I’m happy Rich has a scoop and that the Comptroller has at least a firm grasp on his letterhead. - Anon2 - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 3:01 pm: Motivation? Wonder what it might be? Can you say: U.S. Senate seat Doesn’t get much clearer, nor stanger, than this! - Ron - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 3:09 pm: Wow! We might actually have someone in the press ask Obama a tough question, which no one has done to date. Makes for nice blog commenting, but this Obama guy ain’t no prime tome player. Wait until Steele or Ford gets elected and Obama becomes yesterdays news. - Scoop - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 3:50 pm: Someone call the John F. Kennedy foundation and tell them we’ve got this year’s “Profiles in Courage” award winner! Way to go out on a limb Dannyboy. - TeeBone - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 3:53 pm: Ron…that is why Obama has to make the run in ‘08..he can’t waitl until 2012 or 2016, his star will have faded by then. It’s now or never…he knows it, and that is why he’s testing the waters in Iowa. - Randall Sherman - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 4:01 pm: Note to OneMan… under provisions of the United States Constitution, a vacancy in the United States Senate is filled by appointment of that state’s chief executive officer (the governor). This appointment does not need anyone’s approval, and is effective until the next general election or until the term would have run out (whichever comes first). So should Judy Baar Topinka win in November, Obama would be replaced (under the assumption that he is elected President or Vice President in 2008) by a Republican for two years. - John Lee Pettimore - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 4:01 pm: Ron: What exactly would be these “tough” questions you suggest the media seems to be reluctant to ask? - Levois - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 4:28 pm: I wonder what is the point of coming out in favor of something that may or may not happen. Might Hynes get egg on his face. - One Man Can Make A Difference - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 5:34 pm: Notwithstanding Barack Obama’s politics, but before he can do anything in this country besides look good for the camera’s and run around like the next “Rico Suave”, he needs to learn how to separate politics from governing. Having his governmental spokesperson silmulteneous be is campaign spokesman is out of line and it is bottomline unethical. The trip last month to (I believe) New Orleans to give a graduation speech was paid for by whom?????????? - Buck Flagojevich - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 6:41 pm: Uh, Obama however special he may be, will not get past Biden or Edwards in ‘06. They can both talk as good as he can and they have a record in congress. - Anon - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 6:41 pm: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060913/OPINION/609130311/1285 - anon - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 7:37 pm: Does Obama scare the #$*@ out of anyone else? - Cal - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 7:55 pm: Biden? Are you serious? Wow, talk about having no political sense. Good try though Buck. - WARDOG - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 8:11 pm: Too little, too soon for Obama to be there in 08. Let’s see how he works out between now and 2012. What do you think, Big Mike ? - Buck Flagojevich - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 8:49 pm: Ooops. I meant Obama will not get past Biden or Edwards in ‘08 not ‘06. Trust me, Biden will be in the thick of it. - David P. Graf - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:09 pm: Does anyone really think that a President Obama would have a long life in the White House. It just takes one dedicated racist with a sniper rifle to put an end to the dream. That’s a a big part of why Colin Powell never seriously went into the presidential horserace. To our shame, this country is still not ready to accept a black man as President. - anon A - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:14 pm: I bet Blagojevich is pulling his hair out on this one. Watch out Dan, you might get tossed for not suggesting Blago for president. - Snidely Whiplash - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 9:54 pm: Hynes is just pathetic. Move the Messiah up, and take the spot Daddy said you could have but the Messiah bullied away from you. Sad thing is, the masses of mindless morons will fall for it. Should (God help us all) the Messiah become president, they’ll vote for Danny Boy in droves for his “vision” in coming out for the Messiah. Marion Barry’s gonna have a new “pal” in D.C., eh? - Nameless - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:06 pm: I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that if Illinois Republicans spent more time self-censoring they might actually be competitive electorally. Obama is the right choice for ‘08, precisely because he is the one viable candidate who has a prayer of not polarizing the country (Clinton would make a valiant attempt at that, but her unfavorables are too high and there are too many people across the aisle who hate her). To win in 2008, the Democrats have to (a) not self-destruct and (b) discredit the GOP’s politics of fear. Obama stands as good of a chance as anyone of pulling that off. - nameless II - Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 10:08 pm: Squideshi is right on. - anon - Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 12:00 am: One Man- criticize Obama for his spokesman? What do you think about the Speaker and his spokesman that is a registered lobbyist? - Team Sleep - Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 12:45 am: Obama currently polls at a higher approval rating than John McCain. That says something on many levels. The problem with Obama is that his voting record is a near-mirror image of Dick Durbin’s. I know the Dems think that’s good, but on a national level that is the death knell for a politician. Obama has (so far) gotten by on good looks, a wonderful speaking ability and a message that conveys togetherness and bipartisanship. However, unless the Dems recapture the Senate, he will have to rely on those character traits for any national primary voters to flock to him. Even with the Iraq sentiment and a general distrust of Republicans in power, John McCain would handily beat Obama in a presidential race. Of course, John would have to pick a good running mate, but McCain has been there before and he is the ornery grandfather type that voters feel comfort in. Yes, I’m biased but he is a war hero, a patriot, a true compassionate conservative and an excellent Senator. - Team Sleep - Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 12:47 am: Oh, and Hynes is bored. He and his campaign staff were probably tired of throwing pencils at the ceiling and repeating “65-35, 65-35″. - Pat Hickey - Friday, Sep 15, 06 @ 11:00 am: Levois and Irish Pirate got it right. Hynes would be a dope, or a progressive, not to get out in front of Obama now. Leave the deep thinkers in the dust Mr. Hynes - they do not win elections. Obama/Edwards - not bad McCain/Obama I like much better! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.