By Kirk Mottram and Travis DeNeal

As Democrats regroup from a bitterly contested gubernatorial primary, officials are anticipating almost unanimous support for their candidate Glenn Poshard, who seized the nomination for governor Tuesday after a topsy-turvy day at the polls.

Low turnout in key areas and a costly split among liberal voters plagued both of Poshard’s closest challengers, John Schmidt and Roland Burris, who, according to recent polls, remained deadlocked with the Marion native last week.

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Tuesday’s results told a different story, however, anointing Poshard as the decisive winner.

A wealth of scenarios were spun Tuesday, some claiming Burris as the benefactor of low turnout and others claiming Schmidt, with his last-minute surge in polls, as the hot candidate going into the primary. The fourth candidate in the race, Jim Burns, already had been discounted when the polls opened. Both scenarios turned out to be wrong though, as Poshard summoned the gods of rain to stomp out the flames of his competitors.

Poshard won handily, garnering 36 percent of the vote, while Burris captured 31 percent and Schmidt 26. Burns finished fourth as expected with 6 percent.

With bad weather keeping many potential voters away from the polls, the task of getting a candidate’s supporters out to vote was daunting. Yet, handicapped by his own self-imposed limits on fundraising and his conservative views typically shunned by primary voters, Poshard showed the state his constituency is tenacious and abundant.

But, with the primary behind him, Poshard now must face a Republican challenger heading into the general election with a massive warchest and a fresh campaign sans any primary battle-scars. Ryan’s only challenge in the primary was little-known ex-libertarian and sod farmer Chad Koppie, who reaped a mere 14 percent of the vote Tuesday.

Another problem facing Poshard is his striking resemblance to Ryan on the issues, especially abortion and gun control. Come November, the liberal wing of the Democratic party may decide there is not enough of a difference between the two candidates, even on issues of education, health care and jobs. Subsequently, they may abstain from voting or find an alternative. However, Democratic officials are adament that Poshard is substantially different than Ryan and possesses the support and momentum to beat the GOP nominee.

Both Ryan and Poshard have the support of pro-gun groups, though they recently have softened their stances on weapons. As a Congressman, Poshard voted to repeal the nationwide assault weapons ban, reaffirming his pro-gun leanings. Since then, he has spoken in favor of banning assault weapons after he visited a Chicago hospital and met with shooting victims.

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On education, Ryan and Poshard favor shifting the burden of education spending from property taxes to the income tax. Both support the construction of a third airport in Peotone.

Despite these similarities, Democratic party leaders say Poshard has the momentum and the backing to defeat Ryan.

David Wilhelm, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said voters in the general election will see a swelling of organized party support for Poshard rather than dissension within party ranks.

We have a good, strong Democratic nominee for governor in Glenn Poshard, he said. We have been out of power for 22 years in this state. Democrats don’t need to be reminded of that.

Wilhelm also said Poshard will win over voters with his positions on many of the issues.

During those 22 years, school systems got weaker. The tax system has become less fair. The child welfare system is in tatters. The transportation has fallen apart, he said. There are a lot of economic pocketbooks to run on against George Ryan, the ultimate symbol of the status quo.

Porter McNeil, a Democratic media consultant, said Burris, Schmidt and Burns will be working together for Poshard’s run at the governor’s mansion.

Anyone in the state who is interested in having a Democratic governor has to tip their hat to Glenn Poshard and his voting station, McNeil said. I can tell you that anyone I talked to in the John Schmidt campaign is ready to roll up their sleeves for Glenn Poshard.

John Schmidt will play a leading role in uniting the party behind Glenn Poshard. There is no Democrat I know that wants to see the Republican dominance of the governor’s mansion continue for the next four years.