[Editor Note: See my updated consideration of the “Alan Keyes effect” on Oberweis’ “I’m from Illinois!” message - but what I wrote below still stands.]
Former U.S. Senate hopeful, Republican dairyman and investor Jim Oberweis is officially running for Illinois governor - but his message hasn’t changed much. I don’t know who’s running communications for the candidate, but if you’re perceived as having immigrant and racial “issues” you might not want to emphatically herald “I’m from Illinois!” on your home page as the first text people read (after the basic slogan). Just a thought. In fact, if you are against immigrants, and races other than your own, it might be in your interest to broaden your appeal by not sending signals to your base. “I’m from Illinois!” Really, Jim, based on your positions I suspected you weren’t from Mexico - or Canada for that matter - but thanks for clarifying where you’re from. Illinois. Who knew?
I don’t know much about former DeKalb County Board member Joseph Wiegand, who registered Oberweis’ website domain, but it is notable that Republican House Minority Leader Tom Cross, who is trying to moderate the GOP image in Illinois, endorsed Wiegand’s GOP opponent in a recent Illinois state representative race - along with the local GOP establishment. Wiegand lost the race. I’m not being coy here - I really don’t know (feel free to tell me) - but it may be significant that Bob Pritchard, the eventual winner, described himself during the campaign as not being “an ultra-conservative Republican.”
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