"Pete Couvall, first vice chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said the success of the Oberweis campaign in the county may indicate a split between moderate Republicans who support Topinka and conservative voters who favored Oberweis. "I was very surprised that he not only took Lake County but also McHenry and Kane counties," he said. "In my opinion, it means that Judy Baar Topinka could be in for a very tough race come November."" (quoted in a rather uneven Lake Zurich Courier article on Oberweis Primary election victory in Lake County.)

Frankly, I disagree. The Primary election campaign is the proper venue for selecting party candidates, and as such, can and should be an election campaign marked by differences. Having said that, one would hope that the party members at all levels would demonstrate greater unity of purpose throughout the slating and Primary election process. When there is little unity among Illinois GOP members about who would best represent Republicans in November, important voting blocks become split, rendering them ineffectual in achieving desired goals.

But all of that discussion is in the past, and the GOP voters who managed to show up March 21st have spoken. One would hope that the Illinois GOP Primary election outcome, widely predicted last Fall, will serve as a lesson about the importance of unity for conservative Illinois Republicans. It also must serve as a lesson in overall party unity going forward, because the political stakes are high.

The task at hand today is the removal of Rod Blagojevich from office, a task that transcends intra-party differences. Republicans recognize the importance of that mission despite lingering concerns about Judy Baar Topinka heading the GOP ticket in November. Illinois can ill-afford another four years of Rod's 'leadership'. Nor can the Illinois Republican Party afford four more years of Democrat rule in Springfield.

Regardless of circumstance, the job for Republican party members remains the same... Build a grassroots Republican movement that delivers a high percentage of Republican votes in key elections. That same movement must make itself heard at all levels of the IRP, including the State Central Committee, so that Illinois Republicans can become more competitive in critical elections.

 

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