From the Daily Herald  
 
 Ryan trial could cast cloud over GOP governor candidate 
By Eric Krol Daily Herald Political Writer Sun Oct 16, 
Republicans lost the 2002 statewide election in part due to then-Gov. George Ryan's corruption scandal. 
 
Little did the Illinois GOP suspect that, four years later, Ryan's federal corruption trial would again threaten their prospects. 
 
Attorneys warn the trial will last at least four months, which would mean early February. Considering the light holiday work schedule in December, the trial's slow pace thus far and perhaps a week or more for jurors to sort through 22 combined charges for Ryan and his co-defendant Larry Warner, it's quite possible Ryan's fate could be decided the same month voters head to the polls for the March primary. 
 
And the inevitable barrage of headlines, especially if Ryan is found guilty, could leave the Republican nominee politically wounded, as if Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's likely fund-raising advantage won't potentially be a big enough obstacle on its own. 
 
"It's not good news for the Republicans if people are still remembering the bad old Ryan days as they head to the polls," said Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield. "It could impact who wins the primary and who wins the general (election)." 
 
Whether the trial wraps up sooner or later, the shadow it casts will be felt by the GOP governor field in several ways. 
 
The high drama of closing arguments and Ryan potentially taking the stand in his own defense during the heart of the primary campaign will hurt candidates' ability to get attention from a media and public that will be focused on the trial. 
 
"Certainly it has the potential to confuse voters through media coverage," said Republican campaign strategist John McGovern. "The challenge for the primary candidates will be to articulate a compelling message that can cut through the clutter and establish him or her as a strong and viable candidate." 
 
But the trial also means that stopping corruption in state government will be the dominant issue in the primary. The candidates will have to explain to the party's faithful exactly why they're the best candidate to end pay-to-play politics. 
 
Chicago millionaire Ron Gidwitz put out a five-point plan in July that would ban campaign donors from getting any state contracts and put in place campaign contribution limits. 
 
Aurora businessman Jim Oberweis said he simply wouldn't take campaign donations from those with state contracts if elected governor. This, he argues, would end "the cycle of cash" from companies to politicians back to companies in the form of taxpayer-funded contracts. 
 
Bloomington state Sen. Bill Brady is calling for laws to end no-bid state contracts for campaign donors and to competitively bid state bond sales. DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett, who's apparently still weighing a governor run at this late date, also has called for bond sales to be bid to avoid insider profiteering. 
 
Elgin state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger argues the easiest solution is to elect an honest candidate to be governor. 
 
"All the ethics laws and ethics training in the world will not stop someone who has malice in their heart," he said last month. 
 
But railing against the political insiders also carries a risk factor: Those same folks tend to be the ones who can help the most with campaign fundraising. Attacking money men like Springfield's Robert Kjellander, the treasurer of the Republican National Committee who has made millions from state bond deals, could come at a price. 
 
Illinois Republican Chairman Andy McKenna has his hands full trying to keep the peace. "I think a measure of their character is how they lead. People with strong character raise themselves up," he said. "They don't tear other people down. We want a nominee who can raise themselves up." 
 
Republican governor candidates who make corruption a top issue also will have to be mindful of their own ties to Ryan and former House Speaker Lee Daniels of Elmhurst, who's long been under federal investigation for allegations that staff members did campaign work on state time. Opponents could cry hypocrisy if the would-be reformers once embraced those under investigation or on trial. 
 
Then again, there's also the possibility the corruption issue might not only cut against Republicans next year. 
 
Federal authorities are looking into Democrat Blagojevich's campaign finances and there are a few other ongoing state and federal probes as well. All of the announced and potential Republican governor candidates, including Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, have strongly ripped Blagojevich for what they say is a failure to live up to his promise to end business as usual. 
 
That leaves next year's race volatile, Redfield said. "The last thing you want to do is say the election is about corruption and then have people think you're corrupt," he said. 
 
Many Republicans privately were hoping Ryan would strike a plea bargain to avoid a lengthy trial and further embarrassment of the political party he served for so many years. 
 
With that hope now dashed as the trial plays out in a federal courtroom, the GOP's best hope may be that enough political corruption swirls around both parties to make the issue a wash with voters. 
 
Trial: Federal authorities looking into Blagojevich too ~
~~~