Exclusive polling shows Chicago Union President Karen Lewis can beat Rahm

[betterdemsonly]

First The NEA, call for Arnie Duncan to resign, then the AFT joined in the chorus, now it looks like the head of Chicago Teachers Union will run against Rahmbo! All we need after that is for a teacher, possibly Diane Ravitch to toss their hat in against Cuomo, and I suspect many other unions will balk against the neoliberal dems. It will be a full on revolt. The one that we have needed for a long time, not the stupid teabag version.

http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/exclusive-poll-karen-lewis-could-give-rahm-run-his-money/sun-07132014-302pm

If the mayoral election were held today, the lightning rod union leader who was the architect behind a 2012 teachers’ strike would beat Emanuel by 9 percentage points in a head-to-head contest, the survey found.

Lewis was leading Emanuel 45 percent to 36 percent with 18 percent of the likely voters undecided.

And Emanuel could face an even steeper hill if he faces Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, long considered his most formidable challenger.

A head-to-head contest found Preckwinkle in a romp vs. Emanuel by a stunning 24 points.................

It can't happen soon enough for me!

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, betterdemsonly.

[kysrsoze]

2. This is awesome. I really hope one of them runs. I can't wait to see Rahm gone

... and his hopes for Chief Exec absolutely destroyed.

[stevenleser]

4. Hopes for Chief Exec? I thought he was Mayor already?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. You don't think Mayor is the end of the line for him, do you?

He's not beating up teachers for nothing.

[stevenleser]

6. Yes, pretty much, it is.

He's not charismatic at all. He may be a smart guy, but I would be very surprised if he is even able to win any kind of statewide race.

I don't know what fears there are among some about what his aspirations are, but he is not going anywhere.

[betterdemsonly]

14. He can always take a job as a lobbyist

or get a gerrymandered district and get back in the house.

[stevenleser]

15. Those seem like realistic options for him. Then as you say downthread, maybe something in the house

leadership if we eventually get it back.

[betterdemsonly]

21. I don't know

losing Chicago would be pretty bad publicity after all the efforts CNN put into extolling his virtues. I am sure he will try though.

[betterdemsonly]

7. His dream is to be the Speaker of the House

not President. He knows he is not the President type, but he likes to think of himself as a virtuoso deal maker.

[snot]

3. K&R'd!

[ReRe]

8. I'm so tired of dashed hopes...

... but I'll go out on a limb and say it: I hope the people will stand up and make an example out of that man. Feb 2015 is only 6 months away. Wonder when the filing deadline is? Thanks bdo for the OP!

[craigmatic]

9. He needs to go back to Congress anyway where he can do less damage.

[Enthusiast]

10. Kicked and recommended!

I'm with you, betterdemsonly.

Rahm brought this on himself.

Third Way, neo-liberal Democrats have got to go.

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Kicked and recommended

I recalled his role in NAFTA

[Enthusiast]

12. Thanks, Ichingcarpenter.

I wasn't aware that Rahm had such a vital role in NAFTA. Now I know. And he played such a huge part in Obama's first term.

I guess we know where the President stands on free trade. Yet the President acknowledged there was damage from NAFTA. Seems like a whole lot of doublespeak from the administration when it comes to trade.

[betterdemsonly]

13. He also advised Hillary to go all Nixon on the refugee children.

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/secret-rahm-memo-to-clinton-step-up-attack-on-immigrants-be-nixon-on-crime/

[Enthusiast]

18. That's not so good, IMHO.

Not if we like compassionate, kind office holders.

[LWolf]

16. Now THIS is a race I can get excited about. nt

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

17. Would be nice if Obama stays out of the discussion...

*this* time, but I won't hold my breath.

[sabrina 1]

19. That would be awesome, to see the end of Rahm and Arne destroying the Public School System

for profiteering privatizers.

They will be spending huge amounts of money though to try to keep them in power. However, the Unions have lots of money also which, they warned before the last election, could not be counted on anymore by Dems who fail to represent their interests.

[jwirr]

20. What is with Rahm? He worked for President Obama and calls himself a Democrat but his policies do

not seem to fit when it comes to issues. Where is he coming from?

[betterdemsonly]

22. He's just real cynical on most things

and likes to be a goto guy!

[jwirr]

23. Okay, that explains a lot.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

24. Wow, what's Rahm doing that Obama frowns upon?

Obama calling himself a Democrat and all.

[jwirr]

25. I don't think Obama has said much about Rahm since he left DC. I am not trying to put him down I

would just like to understand some of his moves. Especially regarding unions.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

27. Rahm's a douche, but what did Obama do for unions and...

...public schools? I can't see how you distinguish one from the other which is why I asked. You're mistaken if you see daylight between these two who call themselves Democrats.

[jwirr]

28. Interesting. The one thing I have read about them disagreeing on was the ACA. I understand Rahm

did not want to work on it.

[Zorra]

26. Rahm is like Bush at this point; a charismatic Dem Golden Retriever could beat him. nt

[woo me with science]

29. K&R