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Meeks talked to the press yesterday during an event with AFSCME.
State Sen. James Meeks on Tuesday still wouldn’t say if he plans to launch a third-party bid for governor.“If I was going to run for governor, I’m sure you wouldn’t want me to give the answer standing on the sidewalk,” he said at a news conference outside an Illinois Department of Human Services office on the city’s South Side. […]
Meeks said Tuesday that a new poll he commissioned shows him taking voters away from the Republican candidate, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.
Capitol Fax subscribers saw that poll yesterday.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 6:10 am
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I think all this guy is doing is getting his 15 minutes of fame.He is not going to run so why don’t he go away.People that run for office runs not talks.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 6:33 am
DOWNSTATE-
I don’t believe Meeks is going away. It’s the press that keeps on hounding him. I am originally from the 15th senate district and researched some of the public policies affecting the area.
Meeks has been around for YEARS! His consideration to run as governor - is not merely to get his 15 minutes of fame.
So as long as the press thinks this is a story - believe me you will hear more of him.
Comment by Marta Elena Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 7:50 am
Sorry Marta but so far all this guy has shown the rest of the state is a big mouth.He said he was unhappy and might run.It is and was him that took his own poll,visited state facilities and does what he can to keep it going.When the oress dies down he does something to stir it up.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 8:05 am
I see Meeks complained about the pork-laden budget because it still doesn’t address funding for education. I wonder how much of that pork is going to his district. I think this guy is all talk and won’t run.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 8:16 am
His getting some Republican votes makes sense to me. Meeks is pro-life. But unless you’re a single issue voter, his other positions so far are straight Dem. I’m still waiting for something substantive to bring real reform to Chicago schools.Not to mention East St. Louis.
Comment by Backyard Conservative Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 8:30 am
Yes, all those AA’s in the city that will vote for Meeks are GOP. And two people that Meeks takes away from JBT are still cale voter-s. He may take a few from JBT, but will take many more from Rod. I guess that whole run Burris to take votes from Vallas is coming back to bite Blago.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 9:03 am
meeks is nothing more than a opportunistic self- serving preacher, in the same vein as the all time leader of holding someone or some company hostage for personal gain, jesse jackson. SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!
Comment by ron Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 9:19 am
Meeks is using his threat to demand action from Blagojevich to one of the most loyal Democratic regions of the state. We have been ignored for forty years, and demand that our loyalties get results! If Meeks runs, Blagojevich is history, and even with a loss, Meeks would come out ahead.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 9:21 am
If Meeks gets some money, I want some money or I will run for Governor. Might even vote for myself.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 10:31 am
With the gay referendum on the ballot and abortion a constantly hot topic, Meeks may actually draw more conservative Republican votes away from Judy, despite his gun and tax/spend views.
Sounds like he may actually run because he retains the flexibility to adjust his message to appeal more to Republicans or Democrats…a very powerful position in a tight race.
His 3rd party run may even become essential for Blagojavich to retain control…making Meeks the go to man.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 11:11 am
Anyone who believes that Meeks would take votes away from JBT knows nothing of Illinois politics. Conservatives who vote for Meeks would never vote for JBT and would either skip the office or protest vote for Blago. Meeks votes would come right out of Blago’s base.
I am also predict that if Blago sells the store to appease Meeks he will have about as much a chance of re-election as the Cubs have of winning the World Series this year.
Comment by Merlin Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 12:14 pm
I guess it is Repub day at the old capitol fax blog and you are all out of the woodwork again hating Meeks even more than you hate the governor.Whatever, let’s see, you have got spending gun-hater Rod, tax raiser extrordinaire Meeks, or that old baby killer Judy. What is a good ol’ right wing, fundamentalist Christian Bush lover to do nowadays?
Comment by The original Bill Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 12:56 pm
You guys are sOOOOOOOOOooooo bad!!
But at least it’s entertaining.
Heaven forbid if anyone stands up against their own party, especially in Illinois.
Comment by Marta Elena Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 1:24 pm
He’s not running…this is about showmanship, about a so-called man of God putting his own vanity and ego first, it’s sad really.
Comment by Damon Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 1:43 pm
Meeks is all about the Benjamins. I know groups who’ve spoken to him, and his only policy in education is to raise taxes and pour more money in the public education sink hole.
He doesn’t favor funding the student, rather than the system, by supporting the developing academic achievement scholarship initiative.
He has no ideas about how to improve public education services, cut the bureaucracy, or reform the system to get more resources to the children.
He just knows he wants to take money from other communities and spend it in his.
He’s really no different from Topinkavich. Both Topinka and Blago are almost indistinguishable in policy, character, and core values IMHO.
Comment by PalosParkBob Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 2:42 pm
Speak for yourself, Merlin. I know a lot of conservative Christians in the deep downstate who will be taking a very careful look at Meeks.
Comment by HoosierDaddy Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 3:38 pm
Yah, and if Meeks does not run, I’m sure they will race right out and vote for JBT. The point is she ain’t getting their votes anyway HoosierDaddy.
Comment by Merlin Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 4:15 pm
Is Meeks actually on the street circulating petitions? (I don’t think so!)
Time’s a-wasting. He needs (1) a full slate of constitutional officers and (2) twenty-five thousand good signatures — by the third week of June. (And he really needs 50,000 signatures to survive challenges. In 2004, Ralph Nader’s folks turned in 32,000 sigs, and that wasn’t enough: MJM’s minions cut him down.)
(And BTW, 25,000 sigs in ninety days makes Illinois ballot access requirements some of the most daunting in the whole USA. Which is just the way the Dems and Repubs want it, of course.)
Meeks is blowing smoke. Ain’t no way, no how he’s gonna get a full slate together and turn in 32,000+ signatures in the next six weeks.
Comment by Crank-tankerous Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 4:26 pm
No, Merlin, they are more likely to hold their noses and vote for Judy, if Meeks does not run. They SURE are not going to vote for Blago.
To win in a 3-way race, Meeks needs to take a large chunk of undecideds, a large chunk of the African American vote from Blago, and a large chunk of the conservative Christians from Judy.
He doesn’t have to win all of anything.
Nobody thought Jesse Ventura had a chance, either.
Comment by HoosierDaddy Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 5:50 pm
In fairness, tho, you are probably right that a large percentage of them will stay home. I just don’t like blanket statements. Probably something to do with being a lawyer….
Comment by HoosierDaddy Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 5:54 pm
Don’t sell Mr. Meeks short; he can come up with the signatures, easily. With a congregation of 23,000+, and 1000 AFSCME members walking the precincts, he can do it.
As far as the slate goes, it’s put together, if necessary.
I’m behind Rod 100%, but I know Mr. Meeks isn’t just, “showboating.â€
Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 5:57 pm
A lawyer’s opinion is worth nothing unless paid for.
Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 6:06 pm
This guy is starting to remind me of Jim Edgar.
Comment by Veritas Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 7:18 pm
HoosierDaddy,
When I write in blanket statements I am merely writing in electoral outcomes and of course there will be exceptions.
I listen to Christian radio and the callers sure sound adamant about not voting for JBT.
Your scenario of Meeks winning is extremely unlikely but not impossible. It is hard for me to imagine the undecided breaking for Meeks, however, an indictment here and a stupid statement there and who knows.
Comment by Merlin Wednesday, May 3, 06 @ 7:36 pm
I’m not a fan of any prechers running for office, but since I’m sick of the Democratic Party, I would vote on Meek just to upset the balance of power…
Comment by Cynthia Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 11:32 am