Bean/Crane Race

Keyes helps yet another Democrat (from the Trib):

Despite Crane's considerable advantages, Republicans remain worried that an upset is within reach, in part because their party has been rocked by scandals in recent years and embarrassing missteps in its struggle to field a candidate in the 2004 U.S. Senate campaign. "People are nervous, there's no two ways about it," said Gary Skoien, chairman of the Cook County Republican Party. "If something bad happens, if [President Bush's] people sit on their hands or if there's a national meltdown of any kind, then Phil's got to be worried." A recent Tribune/WGN-TV poll showed Democrat John Kerry with a comfortable lead over Bush, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama running away with his race against Republican Alan Keyes. Such developments could suppress Republican turnout and hurt Crane, Skoien said.

Thanks, Alan.