Hare

Edgar

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - That odd but familiar dance of politicians’ endorsements of one another is underway in Illinois’ campaign for governor, promising as usual to whip up all kinds of excitement among insider politicos while going utterly unnoticed by the electorate.

The electorate is right. Unless you’re Ted Kennedy and Barack Obama, in-party political endorsements are 99.9 percent meaningless.

But the latest one here — Republican ex-Gov. Jim Edgar giving his stamp of approval to GOP candidate Kirk Dillard – does at least help identify who in the sprawling Republican field is settling out as the “establishment” candidate for a deeply fractured party.

Edgar’s nod has been anticipated because he’s the epitome of the centrist wing of Illinois Republicanism, which has been hotly at odds in recent years with the party’s smaller but louder right wing. Edgar, who left office 10 years ago, is still generally well-regarded in both parties for what was seen as sober fiscal management. (He also holds the honor of being the last Illinois ex-governor who wasn’t led away in federal handcuffs.)

Dillard primary opponent Bill Brady responded with a statement lauding Edgar for his service to the state “a decade ago” (they must have been tempted to underline and bold-face that part), while going on to say: “My campaign is about tomorrow, not yesterday.” Which may fall under the category of, What else is there to say?

On the Democratic side, Gov. Pat Quinn continues in his strategy of presenting himself as the inevitable nominee over state Comptroller Dan Hynes, with another insider endorsement, this one from U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, Democrat of the 17th District in northwestern Illinois. 

I keep re-reading Quinn’s announcement, wondering if I’m missing something. Nothing against Rep. Hare, but Congress in general is about as popular these days as Swine Flu, so why turn there for an endorsement? Anyway, the two of them are making the rounds today, including a stop this afternoon in Springfield.