'There are no liberal Republicans anymore'

Alan Keyes' Senate run never looked promising. But now that committed Illinois Republicans have decided to keep their distance, Keyes' chances are looking even grimmer. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that former Illinois Governor James Thompson refused to endorse the newly minted GOP Senate candidate yesterday because Keyes' positions make Thompson "uncomfortable." Thompson -- a moderate GOPer -- also lamented, "There are no liberal Republicans anymore." The former governor wanted retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John Borling to take Jack Ryan's place on the Republican Senatorial ticket in the Land of Lincoln, not the more extreme Keyes.