...take us back to what it was like when Gov. Ryan was the governor.

Kevin Craver writing in today's Kane County Journal,

Hounded by reporters after his hour long speech Thursday, Blagojevich added George Ryan to the list.

"The choice for voters is whether we build on [our] progress or we allow Judy Baar Topinka to take us back to what it was like when Gov. Ryan was the governor and she was the treasurer," Blagojevich said. "That's the story about this race. Gov. Ryan's corruption issues are his issues. But [Topinka] was out this whole election as a self-proclaimed fiscal watchdog while he ran up a $5 billion budget deficit."

Even as his own administration faces a federal investigation into hiring practices, Blagojevich said the election of Topinka, his Republican challenger, would signal a return to Ryan policies that he said dug the city into a fiscal hole and created an atmosphere ripe for corruption.

The Topinka campaign called Blagojevich's remarks ridiculous.

Isn't this Judy as Ryan line a little old now?

Aren't voters going to feel insulted hearing this over and over from a guy who's administration is under investigation?

Someone surely getting big bucks giving Blagojevich advice and I can't believe they've thought this one through.

Update: from WaPo's The Fix,

14. Illinois: If Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) felt comfortable about his re-election this fall, he wouldn't have spent more than $5 million to define state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) before she had a chance to do it for herself. Topinka is now up on television. Let's see if the commercials move any polling numbers. This is an opportunity for Republicans, but the cost of going full-bore on behalf of Topinka may ultimately be too high. (Previous ranking: 15)