Birkett Bails - Again

Once again, Joe Birkett withdraws from a campaign without even making the effort:

• Faced with a rematch against Democratic Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, Republican DuPage County State's Atty. Joe Birkett dropped out of the attorney general's race today.

  On his campaign Web site, Birkett essentially told supporters that he couldn't beat Madigan.

  "I have assessed the political environment, the anticipated costs, and the commitment of time, among other factors. It has become clear to my advisors and me that it will be virtually impossible to compete financially with Lisa Madigan," he wrote. "She has the power of incumbency and her father continues to control the flow of campaign contributions. It would be wrong for me to run and to ask people to contribute to a race that that is virtually unwinnable under the circumstances."

We think Joe might have underestimated the disgust that is building amongst the electorate. Here's a novel idea - make Mike Madigan the issue. Hammer the cronyism and nepotism that is Illinois politics. Lisa is part and parcel of the corrupt Combine that is running this state into the ground. It wouldn't take much effort at all to tie her to her father, the mayor, Blago, and all sorts of crappy politics here.

And a Republican with a set of nuts that doesn't run away the minute a tough fight looms.