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Best republican challenger to rod blagojevich for governor
Judy Baar Topinka A moderate Republican who, according to recent polls, would already have the jump on Governor Blagojevich were she nominated, Topinka represents a voice of reason inside the party that was foolish enough to bring in Alan Keyes as a candidate last time around. In fact, underscoring her forward vision, it was Topinka who insisted on a moderate candidate in 2002, after Jack Ryan`s sex scandal forced him to back away from the election. But aside from her ability to confront the far-right portion of her party with glaring logic (as well as the dignity to not proclaim "I told you so" after Keyes lost by Illinois’ largest-ever margin), Topinka has some flashy credentials. She is the only woman to ever hold the position of state treasurer, and her popularity has earned her three straight terms; she`s won election as both a state representative and senator; also, she was raised in a Chicago suburb, lending the possibility that she won`t be elected exclusively by the twenty-seven or so people who live downstate. Add the idea that a woman—Republican or otherwise—might garner more female votes, and the idea of facing Rod Blagojevich seems too easy.
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Jim Edgar
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Best of Chicago 2005 was written by Dave Chamberlain, Brian Hieggelke, Melissa Lane, Tom Lynch, Ray Pride, David Witter, Michael Workman
With additional contributions by Mike Barr, Ted C. Fishman, Jessica Herman, Adrienne Hill, Mary Susan Littlepage, Nina Metz, Kathy O¹Neill, Trish Smith
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Newcity Communications, Inc.
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