Friday, April 23, 2010

Obama Reluctant to Rescue Alexi Giannoulias Senate Bid

Unsurprisingly, Politico is reporting that a plea from Illinois Senator Dick Durbin to the White House to help save struggling candidate Alexi Giannoulias is apparently falling on deaf ears.

Politico reports:

Durbin told [White House Chief of Staff Rahm] Emanuel that Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias could use some serious presidential intervention in his uphill race against Republican Rep. Mark Kirk.

At the moment, the White House seems open to the idea of losing Obama’s old seat rather than putting the president’s prestige on the line for Giannoulias, the brash and boyish Illinois state treasurer — and onetime Obama basketball buddy — whose campaign has been rocked by the financial meltdown of his family’s bank.

Durbin said Emanuel was sympathetic to his pleas but ultimately noncommittal, telling him that the White House was “considering the race, weighing their options and weighing a decision on what to do.”

Given yesterday's developments regarding former Governor Rod Blagojevich's attempt to involve Barack Obama in his upcoming trial, it's not hard to see that Obama is likely to stay far, far away from the Giannoulias-Kirk matchup, even if, as Politico suggests, it may mean a black eye for Obama in losing his former Senate seat.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

TA, the POLITICO piece this a.m was simply priceless, the best way to begin the week-end. Can't you just imagine Durbin sneaking in the back door at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and begging, pleading for some help. Poor Dick, he's backing a born loser and needs help. And then his buddy, Rahm, tells him that it might not be in Barack's best interest to come home and help the young guy who wants to be Senator. Can't you just imagine the conversation? Stay tuned. It was just the lead story on WGN radio news at noon.

Kendra said...

Alexi is made of tougher stuff and wont drop out. With months to go, he will show you how Blue this state is.