Bad hair day in Ill. politics
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois candidates passed an landmark last week on the road to election day: Filing opened, letting politicians officially submit paperwork to get on the ballot in February. And Andy McKenna jumped into the race for governor by focusing on hairdos and don’ts. Here’s a look at action on the campaign trail:
SFlbAnd they’re off
After months of talk, candidates got a chance to take official action by submitting petitions to get on the primary election ballot. Statewide candidates had to find 5,000 people willing to sign their petitions, and many candidates filed twice that many to demonstrate their strength.
Hundreds of candidates lined up outside the State Board of Elections. Anyone in line when the doors opened had a chance of being listed first in their particular race.
Some big names didn’t file immediately, however. In the governor’s race, McKenna and fellow Republican Jim Ryan hadn’t turned in their paperwork. And Senate hopeful Cheryle Jackson, a Democrat, hadn’t filed either.
Commercial appeal
McKenna wasted no time in making ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich a central figure in the governor’s race. He launched a TV ad (see it at www.mckennagov.com) using Blagojevich’s signature helmet of hair as a symbol of corruption.
The mop of dark hair is plopped atop the Capitol dome and on the domes of three former Illinois governors who have served time in prison – Otto Kerner, Dan Walker and George Ryan.
“For far too long, Illinois has been ruled by the hair,” intones the narrator.
The ad suggests Republicans think their best shot at recapturing the governor’s office is to make Blagojevich, who was removed from office in January and faces federal corruption charges, a centerpiece of the campaign.
