Secret to an election landslide? Maybe it’s getting the Punch 30 spot on the ballot. That was Mayor Richard Daley’s number Tuesday. It was also the number for a straight GOP ticket in last November’s general election.
Bad timing: The Illinois Supreme Court didn’t do anyone any favors by issuing its 62-page “Baby Richard” opinion Tuesday-a day when the Chicago primary dominates news. Nothing new, however. Three years ago, the justices issued their much-anticipated state legislature redistricting decision on a Friday-another day that makes it difficult for news organizations to give it appropriate attention.
Martinized: Lynn Martin announces her political plans Wednesday. We’re not looking for anything definitive. Martin’s trying to position herself to become someone’s VP choice. Everything we see ranks New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman as the leading candidate among GOP women-and that’s nice news for Illinois Comptroller Loleta Didrickson. Whitman stumped in Illinois last fall for Didrickson.
On the rocks: Will Eric Clapton tour the U.S. this summer? That’s the way it sounded, at least when Clapton harmonica player Jerry Portnoy, currently performing with the guitarist at Royal Albert Hall, chatted with WLUP-FM’s Scott Dirks in a live-from-London interview aired earlier this week.
Great Scott: The Pentagon just let Alan Dixon off the hook. Scott AFB, near Dixon’s Belleville home, was not on Tuesday’s list of recommended closings. The former U.S. senator, head of the Defense Base Closure Committee, said he would’ve removed himself from the decision-making process if Scott had been on it. More concern to him now is this-the balanced budget debate has delayed Senate confirmation of his committee’s other seven members, and base hearings start Wednesday.
Phil ‘er up: Sen. Phil Gramm’s campaign touches down Sunday in Chicagoland, where he’ll make an eight-stop tour. He’ll be accompanied by wife Wendy, who’s on the Chicago Merc board. His son’s a U. of C. student. Gramm returns March 20, when we’ll probably learn more about his formal Illinois campaign structure.
Vegas glitz 1: Expect celebs Billy Idol, Kelsey Grammer, Tim Allen, Rosie Perez and Chicago’s Urge Overkill to cruise through Peter Morton’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas when it opens March 10. Can’t make it out there? The opening night concert, with comic David Spade hosting and Al Green, Duran Duran, Sheryl Crow, Weezer and an all-star band led by Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses performing, will air March 11 on MTV.
Vegas glitz 2: Looks like Chicago comic Pudgy, who’s been taking pokes at folks for close to 20 years, is setting up a permanent residence in Vegas, thanks to a long-term deal with the Riviera there.
Sitcom redux: Tony Danza (“Who’s the Boss”) and “Taxi” producer James Burrows team up again, this time for an ABC-TV project, with Danza playing a divorced cop sharing custody of his son with his ex-wife.
INC.lings: Carly Simon’s headed to Park West for a rare concert March 20. . . . Wednesday birthdays: Catherine Bach, 41; Harry Belafonte, 68; Harry Caray, 76; Robert Conrad, 60; Roger Daltrey, 51; Timothy Daly, 39; Barrett Deems, 82; Ron Howard, 41; Pete Rozelle, 69; Alan Thicke, 48. . . . Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will be in Chicago Wednesday p.m. for a screening of “Exotica,” his prize-winning-in Cannes and Toronto-movie at the Film Center of the Art Institute, followed by a Q&A session. . . . Model-turned-actress Cameron Diaz (“The Mask”) has been cast in “Feeling Minnesota” with Keanu Reeves and Vincent D’Onofrio.
With a twist: Consider the options Gov. Jim Edgar will have when he co-chairs the 6th Annual Bozo Ball benefiting several children’s charities at the Sheraton Hotel April 29. He can play the Grand Prize Game with the eve’s host, WGN-TV’s Bozo the Clown, or Twist with the benefit’s entertainer, Chubby Checker.
