GOP Hit: A Dem a Day

The Illinois Republican Party launched a new Web site that it says will link 12 different state Democrats to scandal-ridden Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The site, Friendsofblago.com, is the latest incarnation of the state party's hopes of turning President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat over to the GOP.

It comes on the scene just days after the governor's arrest on charges that he'd tried to sell Obama's vacant seat to the highest bidder. And it even adopts Obama's signature mantle, urging visitors to "Join the fight - Bring change to Illinois."

Prior to the arrest, the seat had been certain to remain Democratic since the governor has sole discretion to appoint the new senator.

Now, though, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is calling on Blagojevich to resign or be ousted, and the may be filled by a special election, giving Republicans a chance to win just their second senate seat in the state in 38 years.

"Blagojevich Democrats are all part of the same tainted Web in Illinois," a banner on the site reads.

The state GOP drives this point home with a spider web image that features a picture of Blagojevich in the middle.

Currently, though, the web with strands connecting 12 postage-stamp sized squares to the embattled governor, links Blagojevich to only one other Democrat, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. The other slots contain a question mark, and the words, "WHO'S NEXT?"

It'll be over a week before visitors to the site find out.

The state GOP says it will "unveil a new Democrat and their Blagojevich connection each day to remind voters that Blagojevich Democrats should not be choosing our next U.S. Senator."

Clicking on Quinn connects to a page detailing his alleged connections with Blagojevich, written in the first person, as in: "Who Am I?" "Pat Quinn Is The Lieutenant Governor Of Illinois," and "What I say about Blagojevich."

After looking at the Web site, Democratic strategist Phil Singer noted, "Democrats across the board have said Blagojevich has got to go so I'm not sure that this Web site has a point other than to continue the divisive politics that have haunted America in recent years."

Copyright POLIT - Politico
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