Extreme Makeover Edition: Illinois GOP

By Kalyn Belsha in News on Mar 8, 2009 8:45PM

The ongoing corruption case against Blagojevich, coupled with a projected $9 billion deficit in a Democrat-controlled state, is giving some officials within the Republican party hope that it can rise to its former glory. It's only been three years since George Ryan - the Republican governor who preceded Blago - was convicted on corruption charges himself, but Republicans say following the Democrat governor's ousting and his embattled appointment of another Democrat to the Senate, the party can rightfully hail itself as a promoter of clean government.

Former Illinois treasurer Judy Baar Topinka - the last Republican to win a statewide election seven years ago - says Republicans will succeed if they offer candidates who are fiscally conservative and avoid harping on long-debated social issues like gay marriage and abortion. House minority leader Rep. Tom Cross, who represents Illinois' southwest suburbs, agreed. He points out the Democrats' only solution to the deficit problem has been to raise taxes - an unpopular decision in a recession.

But other Republicans say this departure from the party's traditional messages is troubling. They warn the party won most statewide elections in the '90s based on social conservatism, and should continue to do so. Cross, for his part, says he hopes the public's outrage at how Democrats have handled state business will be enough to overcome these differences. [ABC7]