But what should we think of the mayoral run-off election just a little over three weeks away?
THERE
ARE THOSE people whose political leanings these days are Anybody But Rahm who
want to believe that we’re going to see an overwhelming black voter support
combine with the Latino voter support that Garcia already seems to have from
last month’s municipal elections.
The
result would be a dumping of Rahm that would be politically humiliating and
completely ruin any shot he has as a lasting political career.
Then
again, every time Emanuel appears on a ballot there is always a segment of the
electorate that takes the idea of defeating him to be a personal crusade – and they
never seem to prevail in the end.
Which
is why I’m not surprised by the Chicago Tribune-published polls on Friday that
showed Emanuel developing a significant lead over Garcia – some 51 percent to
37 percent.
THAT
DIFFERS FROM past polls that showed Emanuel with only a slight lead over Garcia
and nearly 20 percent of the potential electorate undecided. Could it be that
all those nice, soft, warm-and-fuzzy television campaign spots that have aired
in recent weeks have caused some people to lighten up on their political hostility?
Could
it be that Emanuel winds up prevailing on April 7 because there won’t be some
sudden burst of outrage – and that apathy might wind up being the lasting
sentiment that comes out of this election cycle?
It’s
why I thought that the roughly 66 percent of registered voters who couldn’t be
bothered to cast ballots back in February was the most significant statistic –
and one that might be matched come three weeks from Tuesday.
As
for the recent Garcia endorsements, I’m really unimpressed with the Wilson activity
– which might have been game-changing if he had come out hard and strong for
Chuy in the days following the Feb. 24 elections.
BUT
THE WHOLE process of “Who will Willie want?” dragged out to the point where I’m
sure it played out as indifference on his part. Combined with the fact that
Wilson said he listened to Emanuel pitches for an endorsement, I’m sure some
think that Wilson was more about puffing up his own ego.
It
will be interesting to see if he’s even the least bit relevant politically in
future years – or if his few weeks of campaigning earlier this year were the extent
to which he was a political persona.
I
also find various newspaper reports concerning the City Council’s views on the
mayoral race to be intriguing. As in black aldermen saying publicly they back
Emanuel (on the grounds that they want the incumbent to remain so things don’t
get shaken up for them), but aren’t really all that enthusiastic about him.
While
when it comes to Latino aldermen, it seems the bulk of elected officials with
Latin American ethnic origins are more solidly for Emanuel – they really want
to be a part of the political establishment, and don’t want to risk the notion
that Garcia’s vision of a future Chicago would not include them.
IT
DOESN’T EXACTLY reek of a mood demanding change in our political structure. It
makes me skeptical that there’s any racial or ethnic revolution in store for us
next month.
While
I don’t doubt the sincerity of those people who are bad-mouthing Rahm Emanuel
the loudest these days, I just wonder if there’s enough of them to seriously
impose any sort of change.
And
if all the people who held off getting too excited about the gubernatorial
election cycle last year because they wanted to focus their public attention on
this year’s mayoral cycle will wind up feeling a bit foolish.
Because
I’m sure a Bruce Rauner/Rahm Emanuel pairing as the two top public officials on
our local political scene ultimately will be their worst nightmare come true!
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