Illinois Senate: Could Mike Ditka Win For the 'Pubs?

[liberalpragmatist]

http://www.thehill.com/news/070804/ditka.aspx

Okay, so the Repubs are talking about running former Bears Coach Mike Ditka for the Illinois Senate seat.

Shit.

Listen, I'm not panicking, and it may appear that way on paper. I still think Obama'd be favored. But I really do think it will be competitive and far more bloody than we'd like. A Ditka win doesn't look impossible. Never underestimate the power of stupid people. You know, the kinds of people who vote for someone because they're famous and kind of "cool"? (Can anybody say "Schwarzenneger"? And I'm not even an Arnold-hater.)

The fact is, Arnold's one thing. Though I don't support him, he's a moderate Republican who's governor, not affecting national policy. I don't want ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE idiot Mike Ditka as Illinois Senator, no matter how good a coach he was! Especially when we have someone like Obama - a fantastic candidate who has the potential to be the next RFK.

Ditka strikes me as somebody who could do better than expected in the Chicago area, esp. amongst white working class voters and do well in S. Illinois.

Can anybody persuade me that my thinking is wrong?