Dean hits jackpot in Illinois

[unfrigginreal]

December 4, 2003

BY LYNN SWEET WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF

Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean, who has worked Illinois more successfully than his rivals, returns to Chicago today and picks up the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn. So far, Quinn is the highest-ranking Democrat in the state to choose up sides. Quinn is valuable to Dean in the all-important January Iowa caucus because of his years of exposure in the Quad Cities media market.

Then on Sunday, Dean gets an assist from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) when Jackson travels to Columbia, S.C., to make formal the endorsement he gave to the former Vermont senator last month in Chicago. The South Carolina primary in February, coming after New Hampshire and Iowa, is a crucial 2004 battleground for Democrats because it could be decisive in choosing the nominee.

Taken together, Quinn and Jackson represent a coup for Dean if the presidential primary is still in play by the time of the March Illinois primary. Quinn will introduce Dean today at a $50 fund-raising reception at Sidetracks, 3349 N. Halsted.

''He is independent-minded and willing to take on the powers that be,'' Quinn told me Wednesday. Quinn, a master political organizer, said he brings to Dean "the best grass-roots network in the state.'' On a related matter, Quinn, who has an appeal to independent and Green Party voters, said that Ralph Nader should not run again for president. Nader, who drew crucial votes from Al Gore in 2000, just launched an exploratory 2004 presidential bid. "I discourage Ralph Nader. We need to get behind the Democrat nominee,'' Quinn said.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-edt-sweet04.html

[helleborient]

1. This is great news for Dean!

Quinn is a classic pro-consumer outsider politician.

He is definitely from the Naderish wing of the party.

Thanks, Pat!

[CMT]

2. hurrah

This is a very good and solid endorsement for Dean which should be helpful both in Illinois and the quad cities.

[mandyky]

3. According to the Dean calendar

John Mellencamp will be at the Chicago reception!! Wonder if he'll endorse Howard, too??? Hope hope hope!

[Larkspur]

4. Awesome news from my former home state! Yippee!

I was born in Chicago and grew up 60 miles south in the village of Bradley, next to the city of Kankakee, the home of the previous Illinois governor, George Ryan, who was once the mayor of Kankakee.

I'm really glad that my former home state is turning Democratic and supporting Howard Dean.

[XNASA]

5. I wonder...................

....what the Freeps and Pukes and other troglodytes would say if they knew that Sidetrack is a Gay bar? Which it is.

Can you imagine a Repuke candidate getting an endorsement in a Gay bar?

Go Howard. If he's being endorsed by my esteemed Congressman and by Pat Quinn, a man I greatly admire, then he's got my support as well.

[LuminousX]

7. Gay Bar

Sidetracks may be a Gay Bar, but it is the most elegant gay bar in all of Boys Town. I bet the Repukes have a lot of fundraisers in Gay Bars, oh wait, I guess those are just Men Only clubs - easy to get confused.

[realFedUp]

6. Congrats Doc - n/t