As I reported in my feature article last week, the new crop of young progressives running for state and local office across Illinois will have a difficult time unseating their incumbent rivals. But if a certain Illinois senator sits atop the national ticket, it could get a whole lot easier:
If Obama, Illinois' junior senator, wins the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, some Republicans feel it could boost the candidacies of Democrats seeking a variety of posts in the state, including in the General Assembly and on county boards.
"It's got everybody working harder," said veteran Lake County Board member Larry Leafblad, a Grayslake-area Republican who launched his re-election campaign earlier than usual because of Obama's bid. "In 20 years of campaigning for the county board, I've never done this much organizing."
The local excitement generated by Obama should drive Democratic turnout, as it did on Super Tuesday, when 20 percent more voters cast ballots than in any other primary in state history. If John McCain writes off the Land of Lincoln like his party did in 2000 and 2004, Republican volunteer and fundraising efforts might dry up statewide as well, resulting in reduced GOP turnout.
That's worrying Grant Eckhoff, a DuPage Republican hoping to retain his position on the County Board:
[Eckhoff] said he expects the county-level races will be much closer than usual even in DuPage, which has long been dominated by the GOP.
"Obama is not going to make that any easier," said Eckhoff of Wheaton. "I don't think anybody's taking anything for granted."
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