July 09, 2004
"Daaaaaa Bears. Mike Ditka. Daaaaaa Senate."
The Hill Reports...
In the wake of Steve Rauschenberger’s withdrawal from the Illinois Senate race, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka has surfaced as a favorite of many Hill and state Republicans, according to interviews with GOP members and staff in Illinois and Washington.The Super Bowl-winning coach and Hall-of-Fame player is a Chicago icon whose name identification and stature would make him a well-known, if inexperienced, candidate in the race to replace Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R), who is stepping down at the end of this legislative session.
Ditka has not made a public statement about his candidacy, but Republicans on the Hill and in Illinois said they would be eager for him to enter the race.
“If Ditka ran, Democrats would claim to vote for Obama and then secretly vote for Ditka,” said Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) “It would immediately put Chicago in play.”
Kirk said Ditka could campaign with his former players in minority areas, like Chicago’s South Side, that other Republican candidates could not previously touch.
"OK, just Ditka vs. Barack Obama and the entire Illinois Democratic Machine, with Michael Moore filling in at Wide End. I think it'd be a little tough for Ditka under these circumstances. Ditka 88%, Democrats 12%."
All together now...
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Bears!"
Posted by Thief at July 9, 2004 03:31 PM