Ill. GOP facing long odds for gains in legislature

Associated Press

JOHN O'CONNOR, AP Political Writer

Updated: Oct 13, 2012 12:45 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Republicans seeking majority control of the Illinois General Assembly have several campaign issues. Unemployment is above 9 percent. Democrats have been in charge as budget and pension deficits soared.

But they also have to contend with a new legislative map drawn by Democrats to favor Democrats.

The GOP needs to pick up 12 seats — six in the House and six in the Senate — to win majority control of either house for the first time in a decade.

They're running against Democrats they say have overspent and shortchanged public pensions even after raising income taxes.

But their gains two years ago — during a landslide year for Republicans nationally — were relatively small. This year there's an unfavorable map and home-state President Barack Obama leading the ticket.

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