Dems should look downstate for candidate

Democrats across the state are breathing a collective sigh of relief after Scott Lee Cohen tearfully stepped aside Sunday from the lieutenant governor’s nomination that he won Feb. 2.

Party leaders now will choose a replacement running mate for Gov. Pat Quinn in the Nov. 2 election.

Cohen, who faced intense scrutiny for a 2005 domestic violence arrest and steroid use allegations, definitely would have been a drag on the governor’s chances.

Now, party leaders and Quinn need to find someone with the appropriate credentials, proven leadership skills, and a good campaign style to enhance Quinn’s prospects, not drag him down to defeat as Cohen would have.

Whatever qualities are being considered by the powers that be, we believe a little ticket balancing is in order.

Currently, all major statewide offices are held by Chicago Democrats, with the exception of the empty lieutenant governor’s post and the Senate seat held by Dick Durbin of Springfield.

Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Dan Hynes and U.S. Sen. Roland Burris all hail from the Windy City.

For 2010, suburbanites and downstaters had some hope of cracking the Chicago glass ceiling.

When the dust cleared, however, Quinn, White and Madigan kept the Chicago banner flying with primary wins. So did Giannoulias with his U.S. Senate nomination victory.

So did Cohen, the Chicago pawnbroker who won a surprise victory for the lieutenant governor nomination.

That left treasurer and comptroller, whose nominations were won by Robin Kelly of Matteson and David Miller of Lynwood; both towns are in Chicago’s south suburbs.

With Cohen’s departure, Democrats have the opportunity to place someone on the ticket who can’t see Sears Tower – excuse us, Willis Tower – from his or her front porch.

We have no particular candidates in mind.

However, among all the current and former downstate Democratic senators, representatives and other officeholders, there must be a highly qualified candidate who could fulfill the duties of the office while being a good campaigner and a loyal lieutenant to Quinn.

Republicans don’t face such a quandary. Of their statewide candidates, two hail from Cook County, but don’t live in Chicago itself (Steve Kim, Northbrook, attorney general, and Judy Baar Topinka, Riverside, comptroller), two are from the suburbs (Robert Enriquez, Aurora, secretary of state, and Mark Kirk, Highland Park, U.S. Senate) and three are from downstate (Bill Brady, Bloomington, governor; Jason Plummer, Edwardsville, lieutenant governor; and Dan Rutherford, Chenoa, treasurer).