http://capitolfaxcom.disqus.com/NoneenThu, 11 Jun 2009 16:30:06 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232192<p>Thanks Rich. Though having an empty house in Cook while living in NOLA doesn't exactly mean he's a resident... Heck, does he have a vacation house in Wisconsin? Why not run for Senate against Feingold? :)</p><p>(I just read your post saying he ruled it out anyway.)</p>Rob_NThu, 11 Jun 2009 16:30:06 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232191<p>He has a residence in Cook.</p>Rich MillerThu, 11 Jun 2009 10:45:40 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232190<p>I'll ask again...</p><p>Isn't there a residency restriction on primary candidates.</p><p>The primary is in Feb 2010. Paul Vallas was still living in Louisiana as of Feb of this year.</p><p>...And Peoria isn't in Cook County. ;)</p>Rob_NThu, 11 Jun 2009 10:34:59 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232189<p>It doesn't matter whether or not Vallas has been in elected office before, just look at Blago, Burris, &amp; Stroger.</p><p>Are you telling me that Vallas couldn't do a better job then these guys?? They have all held public office before they were elected to their high offices.</p><p>The anti-Vallas voice isn't making much sense.</p>scootThu, 11 Jun 2009 09:44:27 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232188<p>There's a bit of revisionist history going on about the '06 Peraica-Stroger race. It wasn't that close. Stroger won with 54% of the vote. Fifty-five percent is considered a landslide.</p>reformerThu, 11 Jun 2009 09:40:44 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232187<p>Vallas would have to be nuts to run as a Republican. Clearly he's been gone too long realize there is no GOP here to help him.</p><p>In his defense, Vallas has only run for public office as a Democrat once. That's only half as often as Tony Peraica has run for public office as a Democrat.</p>what's he thinking?Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:18:26 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232186<p>Geez...if Vallas was running as a Dem it would a totally opposite reaction here!!!</p><p>So with all of these overreactions...it means the Dems are scared.</p><p>AND Vallas "may" emphasis on may...may not have a GOP primary opponent so he doesn't need to hurry up and make a decision publicly. It would be exciting if he runs though.</p>scootWed, 10 Jun 2009 22:47:33 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232185<p>I'm a bit shocked. I'm proud of the belief in the strength of the Democrats to win, but I think a Vallas vs. Stroger race makes Todd the instant underdog. Go back and look at the '06 Peraica numbers. It was so close that Tony headed off to the County Clerk's office with pitchforks and torches. Vallas has to perform better than Peraica. In fact, the only losing scenario I could imagine is if Republicans rejected him for being too liberal.</p>Big WestWed, 10 Jun 2009 22:38:00 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232184<p>I worked with Paul Vallas a number of years and I just cannot see him as a Republican.....I hope he comes to his senses.....he could win, but I think his chances would be less than 50-50.</p>freddyWed, 10 Jun 2009 22:13:33 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232183<p>#</p><p>---Perhaps he can join Mr and Mrs Blagoof at 2nd City?<br>BTW who is paying for the Peoria gig?---</p><p>Vallas is driving to Peoria from New Orleans and has refused even gas money. Imagine, an unselfish public servant in Illinois.</p>AnonymousWed, 10 Jun 2009 21:16:07 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232182<p>===Perhaps he can join Mr and Mrs Blagoof at 2nd City?<br>BTW who is paying for the Peoria gig?===</p><p>Vallas is paying for it....driving in from New Orleans and wouldn't even take gas money. Imagine that, an unselfish public servant in Illinois.</p>DisgustedWed, 10 Jun 2009 20:57:10 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232181<p>Perhaps he can join Mr and Mrs Blagoof at 2nd City?<br>BTW who is paying for the Peoria gig?</p>2ConfusedCrewWed, 10 Jun 2009 20:37:44 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232180<p>Vallas would defeat Stroger without difficulty. He could also beat Brown. Preckwinkle would be more difficult than Brown because she would have some lakefront and liberal support - but it's still doable. Vallas would definitely be competitive against Claypool - I thnk the African-Ameican community might punish Claypool for defeating Stroger -therefore a Vallas victory is still plausible -50/50 - against Claypool.</p>Captain AmericaWed, 10 Jun 2009 18:18:02 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232179<p>===Don’t kid yourself County and City workers will come out and vote and they will vote Democratic===</p><p>If it came between Claypool and Vallas County and City workers would not be ashoe in for Claypool.</p>Phineas J. WhoopeeWed, 10 Jun 2009 18:05:56 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232178<p>"so close to his conviction"? Had he even been indicted? Of course not</p>party of oneWed, 10 Jun 2009 17:18:32 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232177<p>I meant not thrilled with either Judy or Rod.</p>Third Generation Chicago NativWed, 10 Jun 2009 17:13:40 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232175<p>Cook County, second most populous county in the nation 5,376,741 people 2,449 kilometers 946 miles biggest city in the county, Chicago.</p><p>The last few elections Democrats running for any office in Cook County had a nice healthy lead over any Republican candidate (if any existed)</p><p>Most Democrats voted for Quinn because they figured he would be Governor, and Blagojevich was the lesser of two evils for the undecided Cook County voters. The undecideds were thrilled with either Judy or Rod, but Judy Baar Topinka comes off as brass, and yes those polka dancing ads with her at the state fair with Ryan, so close to his conviction did not help her.</p><p>Don't kid yourself County and City workers will come out and vote and they will vote Democratic.</p>Third Generation Chicago NativWed, 10 Jun 2009 17:12:18 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232174<p>Vallas started making calls this afternoon, he is NOT running.</p>Left of CenterWed, 10 Jun 2009 16:47:58 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232173<p>==Democratic voters turned on Blagojevich==<br>When did that happen? Did I miss an election?</p>AnonymousWed, 10 Jun 2009 16:18:10 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232172<p>I don't see Vallas winning. Let's not forget that he is still over a quarter million in debt and that a large portion of his campaign funds came from Dean. Furthermore, can you imagine the tantrum that Peraica would throw if a lifelong Dem like Vallas won the GOP nomination over him?</p><p>WaxonWaxoff... I'll help you out here before someone less kind steps in. The population for the entire state of Illinois is just about 13 million. Chicago is just under 3 million.</p>ObamaramaWed, 10 Jun 2009 16:13:27 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232171<p>Reformer wrote:</p><p><i>Five months ago, Tony Peraica got a whopping 25% of the vote in his last countywide race. If Stroger isn’t the Democratic nominee, then the Dem wins.</i></p><p>And the last time Vallas ran, he won Cook County.</p><p>Peraica and Vallas attract a completely different coalition of voters. In my opinion, Peraica loses, even against Stroger; Vallas, though, has a shot against Stroger and possibly some others.</p>the Other AnonymousWed, 10 Jun 2009 16:04:17 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232170<p>--I am sure in a City of 12,000,000 we can find somene better suited than Vallis. –-</p><p>Waxon, his name is Vallas. And what's the population of Chicago?</p>wordslingerWed, 10 Jun 2009 15:35:09 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232169<p>A fact to ponder: Five months ago, Tony Peraica got a whopping 25% of the vote in his last countywide race. If Stroger isn't the Democratic nominee, then the Dem wins.</p>ReformerWed, 10 Jun 2009 15:27:21 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232168<p>Duh CHICAGO, and the guy that lives in New Orleans that the Tribune thinks should save us from ourselves.</p>WaxonWaxoffWed, 10 Jun 2009 15:25:53 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2009/06/10/question-of-the-day-756/#comment-18232167<p>The really interesting thing is what else happens if Vallas runs in the Cook County primaries on GOP ballot. --&gt; Kirk has a chance for Senate seat. :o) (More non-partisans reach for GOP ballot.)</p><p>I tend to agree with all who say Vallas has a real chance of winning, especially that he would run from GOP side - he's a liberal and we all know it and it would give the voter a perfect opportunity to stick it to the Dems without actually betraying one's views. And Cook County Dems deserve it and we all want to stick it to them, oh, we want it sooo much! I just don't see IL GOP smart enough to let it happen. Vallas winning primaries would mean huge changes in GOP. And we need 2 parties. This would be good for all. It could be a blueprint for the entire country. But it's IL, smart things like that don't happen here... The parties are too entrenched to allow change.</p><p>So my bet is he's not going to run. This is just an academic discussion...</p>AliceWed, 10 Jun 2009 14:55:39 -0000