Blagojevich beats probes for 2nd term

Huge money edge lets gov trumpet big-ticket programs while tying Topinka to convicted Ryan

They want more.

Illinois voters gave Gov. Blagojevich a second term Tuesday, ending a bitter campaign in which he argued that his big-ticket programs such as preschool for kids and expanding health care trumped the federal investigations plaguing his administration.

Illinois voters gave Gov. Blagojevich a second term Tuesday, ending a bitter campaign in which he argued that his big-ticket programs such as preschool for kids and expanding health care trumped the federal investigations plaguing his administration.

The Northwest Side Democrat beat Republican Judy Baar Topinka 49 percent to 40 percent with 85 percent of the precincts reporting. Green Party candidate Rich Whitney garnered 11 percent.

The Northwest Side Democrat beat Republican Judy Baar Topinka 49 percent to 40 percent with 85 percent of the precincts reporting. Green Party candidate Rich Whitney garnered 11 percent.

"I think it's fair to say I'm all shook up," Blagojevich said, quoting his beloved Elvis Presley as he declared victory.

"You ain't seen nothin' yet," he told supporters at A. Finkl & Sons, the North Side steel company that employed his father and has been a major campaign donor.

"Strap on your seat belts, put on your helmets, get ready to roll. We got a lot more work to do for the hardworking people of our state."

Four years ago, Blagojevich won with the aid of his father-in-law, Ald. Dick Mell (33rd), but the two had a bitter falling out. Not only did Mell not share the stage with his son-in-law Tuesday night, but in a strange twist the alderman attended the victory party of Democratic state treasurer nominee Alexi Giannoulias three miles away. Mell spoke at that event as a floor-to-ceiling TV showed Blagojevich declaring victory.

This time, Blagojevich won with the aid of a $15 million campaign war chest and nearly seven months of TV spots that ridiculed Topinka as out of touch, with the withering tag line "What's she thinking?"

The relentless spots -- more than 19,000 by Topinka's count -- drowned out the GOP challenger's attempts to capitalize on the Blagojevich scandals with her own TV spots that asked "had enough?"

As he declared victory, Blagojevich thanked Topinka for her years of public service and told the crowd "she loves the state of Illinois."

It's the first nice thing he has said about the outgoing state treasurer from Riverside since the campaign began.

"He was able to define her in a way that made her out to be George Ryan's twin sister," former GOP Gov. Jim Edgar said.

Topinka called Blagojevich to concede about 9:40 p.m., but then gave her speech after Blagojevich spoke.

"I wish him well in his future endeavors," she said at the Swissotel on East Wacker Drive. "That's the way it goes. God bless him."

The victory makes Blagojevich, 49, the first Democratic governor to win a second term in Illinois since Otto Kerner in 1964. Kerner was later sent to prison for corruption, but it was the more recent fallen GOP ex-governor whose shadow dominated the campaign.

Blagojevich aired TV spots dubbing Topinka "George Ryan's treasurer" and showing her lauding Ryan at a past Illinois State Fair. Ryan was convicted of corruption this year.

Topinka, 62, countered that Blagojevich's scandals make "the George Ryan administration look amateurish in comparison."

Blagojevich has not been charged with any wrongdoing, but the feds are probing his administration on multiple fronts.

Last month, top Blagojevich fund-raiser Tony Rezko was indicted on charges he tried to collect kickbacks on government deals and unsuccessfully sought to shake down a Hollywood producer for contributions to Blagojevich.

Beyond skewering Topinka with attack TV ads, Blagojevich touted his accomplishments like a mantra, including providing health care to children in his All Kids program, raising the minimum wage and making Illinois the "only state in America where every 4-year-old and 3-year-old can go to preschool."

And he capped it off with a string of big promises for the future -- moving the state to universal health care, leasing or selling the state lottery to raise billions for schools, raising the minimum wage again and adding $100 million in funding for stem cell research.

Blagojevich often sounded like he couldn't believe anyone would question whether he deserved a second term.

"Don't you think I've been a great governor?" he asked a reporter last month. "You must believe that."

ROD BLAGOJEVICH (D)

JUDY BAAR TOPINKA (R)

49%

40%

85% of precincts reporting