AP via Bloomington Pantagraph:

Despite scandal, Blagojevich wins re-election
By Christopher Wills
Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Overcoming the stain of scandal, Gov. Rod Blagojevich muscled past Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka to win a second term Tuesday.

"We have gotten a lot done for the people of this state, but I want the people of Illinois to know you ain't seen nothing yet," Blagojevich told a cheering crowd of supporters.

The Democratic governor won over voters by promising a long list of solutions to the state's social problems and by flooding the airwaves with ads portraying Topinka as clueless and corrupt.

Topinka, with far less money for ads, failed to get voters to focus on a federal investigation of corruption in the Blagojevich administration.

With 7,015 of 11,692 precincts counted in unofficial returns, Blagojevich had 50 percent, or 993,572 votes, to 39 percent or 774,168 for Topinka. Green Party candidate Rich Whitney had 11 percent, or 210,787.

Blagojevich thanked Topinka for her years of public service.

"She loves the state of Illinois," he said.

Topinka wished Blagojevich well and said she has no regrets.

"I've had a great journey here and a great run," she said.

Blagojevich, 49, becomes the first Democrat to win back-to-back terms as Illinois governor since Otto Kerner in 1964.

The governor asked voters to focus on a long record of accomplishments from his first four years, from raising the minimum wage to cutting government jobs to expanding health care programs.

He had an equally long list of promises for a second term: raising wages again, offering universal health care, banning assault weapons and selling the lottery to increase school funding.

Topinka, the three-term state treasurer, wanted voters to focus on a different part of Blagojevich's record.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has said he is investigating "very serious" allegations of hiring fraud at multiple agencies under Blagojevich. One Blagojevich appointee has pleaded guilty in a kickback scheme, and a top-level Blagojevich friend and fundraiser has been indicted.

Blagojevich accepted a $1,500 gift from a friend after the man's wife received a state job. Blagojevich's wife, a real estate agent, has made thousands of dollars working with the indicted fundraiser and a couple whose businesses depend on decisions by the Blagojevich administration.

Neither Blagojevich has been charged with any crime.

Exit polling found that most Illinois voters considered corruption and ethics extremely or very important in their vote for governor. Voters who considered it an important factor split their support between Blagojevich and Topinka.

While Blagojevich and Topinka bickered, Whitney offered himself as a fresh alternative with big ideas, and both major-party candidates wondered whether he could tip the election.

Topinka struggled to overcome a slew of negative ads — some showing her with convicted former Gov. George Ryan, quoting her comparing assault weapons to rolling pins, and questioning her support for veterans. The ads' closing line — ``What's she thinking?'' — was drilled into voters' brains.

Blagojevich had nearly $17 million to spend on his campaign. Topinka had only $6 million, making it far more difficult to reach voters with her message about Blagojevich's performance.

She wanted voters to remember that, despite the governor's claims of a balanced budget, the state still is far behind in paying Medicaid bills and couldn't afford to make its normal pension payments this year and last.

Topinka argued that Blagojevich cut jobs to the point of endangering important services, particularly at the Department of Corrections, and said his education and health care programs are empty promises the state can't afford to fulfill.

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