Elections: December 2007 Archives

BY MIKE CETERA

State Sen. Chris Lauzen, here's your answer.

The Chicago Tribune on Friday ran a story about politicians using their clout to get tickets to the Rose Bowl, which will feature the Fighting Illini versus the USC Trojans. A Tribune blog entry expanded on that story with what appears to be a near verbatum conversation with Lauzen, who took acception exception to a reporter questioning why he called the U of I's president's office to inquire about getting tickets.

BY MIKE CETERA

Dennis Hastert was all sunshine when talking about his friend Jim Oberweis earlier this week. The former speaker handed his endorsement -- "for me, the choice is clear" -- to the Aurora businessman.

But it wasn't that long ago that Hastert was using words like "stumbled" and "demogogue" to describe Oberweis and his aspirations for office. Hastert was clearly disappointed three years ago in the positions and postures that Oberweis made in his several failed attempts at elected office.

On Thursday, Hastert tried to mute his past criticisms, saying he was concerned more with the tone of Oberweis' past campaigns, not the positions he took. It seems to me that's a bit of subtle revisionist history on the former speaker's part.

Let's review.

BY MIKE CETERA

The timing of Kevin Burns' announcement that he's dropping out of the race is curious. Did he think he had a shot at gaining former Speaker Dennis Hastert's endorsement? If so, did he have reason to think this?

Burns gave no indication he expected Hastert's endorsement in announcing his campaign "suspension," either during an interview or in a subsequent press release. But you have to wonder if he was wishing for Hastert's blessing to keep his flagging campaign afloat.

BY MIKE CETERA

The mess of a special election to replace former House Speaker Dennis Hastert isn't getting any less messy -- for the voters or the candidates, or as it turns out, for the people who have to work the elections.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, in setting the two election dates on Monday, made the surprising move of putting the special general election to fill Hastert's vacancy on a Saturday, March 8. The special primary will be held on the same day as the regular primary -- the traditional Tuesday election -- on Feb. 5. The Chicago Tribune reports the governor moved the special general election to a Saturday to help increase turnout. According to the Trib, election officials say "It'll also lead to greater costs for taxpayers because workers will be owed overtime pay."

Putting the extra cost aside -- and that's annoying, too -- will a Saturday election actually increase turnout?