regarding Sen. Obama (D-Chicago Way). The real election was not the general but the Democratic Primary. Even without the 7 of 9 scandal Jack Ryan was at best competitive in the general election but no Republican could have won that election except the incumbent, Peter Fitzgerald, who was dumped because he was too independent of the Chicago Way Combine. However, until a few weeks before that primary the clear favorite in the polls was one Blair Hull, an independent millionaire with no obligations to the Chicago or Illinois machines. Well guess what. Someone released previously sealed records from his divorce proceedings that indicated that Hull had abused his ex-wife. Immediately his standing in the polls collapsed to the benefit one of Barry Obama, who by this time was a fully made member of the Chicago machine complete with his own real estate fairy. Without this out of nowhere release of sealed records Barry remains an obscure member of the IL State Senate (BTW all members of that body are obscure except the majority leader). So lets look at this. Barry O is gifted in one election cycle with damaging divorce papers against both his primary and general election foes. Me thinks the fix was in. Of course, it is Illinois (i.e. Chicago machine).