The GOP appears to have its best opportunity in at least a decade here in 2010. State Democrats have been divided since the indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and many observers consider the Democratic field for the U.S. Senate to be fairly weak.
Illinois traditionally has been a donor state for the national GOP. But, while talk is cheap, the prospect of embarrassing President Barack Obama in his home state indeed may well open wallets.
the accumulation of hard data and real-life experience has allowed more dispassionate analysts to reach a consensus that the stimulus package, messy as it is, is working.
save or create” about 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 is roughly on track, though far more jobs are being saved than created, especially among states and cities using their money to avoid cutting teachers, police officers and other workers.
broad range of economists said the White House and Congress were right to structure the package as a mix of tax cuts and spending, rather than just tax cuts as Republicans prefer or just spending as many Democrats do.
Optimistic assumptions in turn contributed to producing a package that if anything is too small, analysts say.
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