All of the investigative reporters looked at this stuff a decade ago. To say there's something new, a smoking gun, means people are going to be suspicious. It does look like you're just dragging up old news and rehashing something that has been vetted before.

For the first time, contributions to Cook County candidates can be tracked through the best database of campaign funding information in Illinois. Anyone with Internet access now will find it easier to search the names of contributors to some of the most influential offices in the state.

He's got an appeal. People don't think of him as your normal politician.

It's sometimes very difficult to come back. You've got voters in their 30s who barely remember him being governor. It's always difficult to re-create that kind of connection you had and the context you had in a particular time.

It's not real clear that all of that money is having much effect. They have to seriously look at that campaign and think about how can they communicate more effectively.

The money situation doesn't really change the dynamic too much.

Why he should be governor and any kind of personal connection ... was never there. I think the money was badly spent.

To have a former governor on trial is a big deal even for Illinois. It just reinforces what is a very cynical attitude among Illinois citizens about politics and politicians. Our expectations and our standards are pretty low. Our politicians try very hard to live up to those low standards.

We just assume politics is corrupt and a little bit of corruption is the cost of doing business.

I think they skate very close to the line.