Abstract

Corruption--a Proven Winner

The article focuses on the popularity of the Democratic Party in Illinois due to Republican Party corruption. Such is the state of politics in Illinois: a world inverse of the rest of the country, where Democrats dominate all branches of government, set the debate and drive policy, while Republicans are beset by public squabbles between moderates and extremists and grasp for a coherent message. Election night 2004 saw Barack Obama win his Senate seat by a forty-three-point margin over Alan Keyes, and newcomer Melissa Bean defeat Phil Crane, the Republican incumbent in the House. Are there any lessons to be gleaned for Democrats elsewhere? Demographic changes are far from the whole story behind Illinois's political makeover; the indicted former Republican Governor George Ryan has a lot to do with it as well. It is here, in the dregs of corruption and ethical violations, that there are some lessons for Democrats outside of Illinois.