Maybe We're Just Light Blue
There's all kinds of talk about the just-released SurveyUSA poll on the Governor's job performance. And while nobody can really be happy about 36% approval/56% disapproval numbers, the breakouts actually look even worse. The only positive-breaking demographics for the Governor are among blacks (46%-43%), self-identified Democrats (48%-44%), self-identified liberals (53%-38%) and Cook County residents (49-46%).Without passing any judgment, I think it's troubling that, given the relevant margin of error of 4.1%, there may not even be support for the top of the ticket by self-identified Dems. There is a lot of messaging to be done over the next several months and I hope that an offshoot of that will be a better definition of a Democratic agenda that can connect with and inspire the voters. Our party has too often been about candidates rather than ideas. If we don't act like we live in a blue state, pretty soon we might not.
posted by Rep. John Fritchey @ 9/20/2005
9 comments
9 Comments:
Outside of the obvious dip in support from his base, I think its the downstaters that feel isolated from the Guv, hence causing the major nosedive.
He has made some actions that have blown the social conservatives out of the water. I'm not saying pander to that group, but don't blatently make them your adversary. Blagojevich cannot win Illinois with Chicago alone. I can't wait to see the PR campaign he has to bump his downstate numbers.
"Our party has too often been about candidates rather than ideas."
That's what happens when you don't really have a party, you have a kingdom run by self-interest. As a life-long Dem, I hope to see the day that my party gets it right in this State.
We did not vanquish the Republican Party in IL, they did it to themselves. But in the blink of an eye, we did let them right back into the hunt.
Sen. Obama understood that if you put forth IDEALS, the rest would follow - and it did. Rep. Fritchey, you understand this too. We need leaders or we will very quickly be the minority party again.
Polls conducted like this poll was conducted, this far before an election are meaningless.
I wonder how Barak Obama was polling in the U.S. Senate race 14 months before the general election and he got 70% of the vote. How was George Bush's approval rating just 3 months ago.
No one at this point can make a correct prediction about how things will go in next years elections in Illinois but one thing for certain we Democratic Committee people will be standing strong fighting the battles and working to get all of our candidates elected or re-elected.
southern illinois democrat,
Good, cause we're gonna need you with Blago at the top of our ticket.
SI Dem,
Good Thoughts! If we stick together and fight for the principles that our party stands for and support our candidates together we will be unbeatable in '06 and beyond. The people are with us now and if we don't self destruct like the opposition we can affect some real and much needed change. As everyone knows there is only one poll that counts.
Bill and SIDem,
I think that we are all on the same page. What I am getting at is the fact that what can unify all of us is fighting for common goals and beliefs. What I think has been missing by and large is somebody to stand up and clearly articulate that agenda and to acknowledge that the ideals are bigger than any one person.
No offense to any of the previous commenters....but to me, it looks as if you all are on the same page but the guv is in la-la land.
Governor Blagojevich is HATED throughout most of this state. Even in Chicago, his numbers are lackluster.
VERY FEW downstate Dems, Reps, or independents will vote for him. They want anyone but him.
Illinois is a Democratic state, but Blago is the one person who could turn it Republican in one year.
Just got back from two days in So Illinois. Went to a local restaurant in Murphsyboro, a diner in Carbondale and on campus at SIU -- NOBODY stood up for Blago. These are die-hard dems, and they despise him. They are toying with the Edgar idea, but all ask the same question: Why doesn't anyone in the D party take him on?
1. survey usa was the only poll to call Obama's huge primary margin of victory, so i'd give it some respect.
2. why stick together because of shallow party labels in this state? where was Hartigan when Washington won the mayoral nomination in '83 and '87? ignoing the party's nominee and hunting for any white hope regardless of party affiliation. i voted for Edgar against Hartigan and i'll do it against a-rod, too, or maybe i'll be voting for Judy. Or writing in Paul if the republicans nominate Uberweis (seems unlikely though).
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