IG Quits for Politics?

Who the hell has been whispering into Hoffman's ear?

• Chicago's corruption-fighting Inspector General David Hoffman has resigned to enter the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, removing what appeared to be a giant thorn from Mayor Daley's side.

  Hoffman enters a Democratic field vying to replace U.S. Sen. Roland Burris that already includes Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Cheryle Jackson, the president of the Chicago Urban League.

  A former federal prosecutor who specialized in breaking up street gangs, Hoffman was hired away from the U.S. attorney's office in 2005 at a time when Daley was besieged by the Hired Truck, city hiring and minority contracting scandals.

  It wasn't long before an office that had concentrated on low-level corruption and almost never conducted criminal investigations was working hand-in-glove with federal investigators.

We suppose the Inspector Generals job can be viewed as a stepping stone. The trouble is his name recognition seems low and the Democratic party in Illinois is a closed shop. Hoffman is going to have a heck of a time ginning up support and raising money, especially if the Machine is lining up behind Giannoulias.

Hoffman has a long road ahead of him if he's is truly serious about a grass-roots type run. Our only fear is that Shortshanks engineered this to remove Hoffman, the Machine goes balls out for Giannoulias and after the dust clears, Hoffman is on a train out of town. Hoffman did a lot of good here. Going to Washington DC doesn't seem like a continuation of the corruption fighting