"Blagojevich a distraction for Democrats; Former governor’s retrial complicates campaigns in Ill." by Deanna Bellandi and Christopher Wills, Associated Press | August 22, 2010
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Alexi Giannoulias had planned to talk jobs. The Democrat in a tight race for President Obama’s former Senate seat wanted to take the opportunity to say his Republican opponent had helped wreck the nation’s economy.
That name rings a bell:
"It was at these “pick up” matches where Obama first met Emanuel and a young Democratic campaign worker and senior bank vice president named Alexi Giannoulias."
Reporters, though, only wanted to talk about the ousted Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, a newly convicted felon who is expected to be retried on some counts.
Maybe Alexi should be grateful.
The unfinished business of the Blagojevich trial poses a major new hurdle for Illinois Democrats, who are already facing a difficult election season. Despite hopes that Blagojevich’s trial would wrap up well before the November vote, a retrial could begin as soon as this fall, in the final weeks of campaigning.
Blagojevich’s saga will keep diverting attention from the pocketbook issues Democrats want to talk about as they try to keep Obama’s old seat, hold on to the governor’s mansion, and maintain their lock on the state Legislature. The publicity-loving Blagojevich, convicted on one count of lying to the FBI, will give Republicans endless opportunities to question Democrats’ ethics....
So far, the Blagojevich saga hasn’t resonated in Democratic campaigns outside Illinois, unlike the ethics scandals surrounding US Representative Charles Rangel of New York and US Representative Maxine Waters of California.
See: Charlie Rangel's Farewell Party
But the Obama seat is an important one numerically for Democrats to maintain their power in Washington.
It had seemed like Illinois Democrats would escape much of the damage of the trial because testimony wrapped up earlier than expected, with no big-name Democrats hauled to the witness stand.
That changed last week when the jury deadlocked on all but one of the 24 counts against Blagojevich and prosecutors vowed to retry the case as soon as possible. That means the impeached governor and the allegations that he tried to sell Obama’s old Senate seat will stay in the news as Illinois voters make their choices....
--more--"Related: Blago Beats Crack Government Prosecutor
Also see: Slow Saturday Special: The Blagojevich Media Blitzkrieg
Blagojevich won’t rule out return to politics
I will rule out a return to the Globe.
