Edgar's decision has area Republicans bummed, Dems not so much.

Jim Edgar's decision Friday not to run for his old office came as bad news to some Republican lawmakers who saw him as the party's best shot at beating Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat.

"It's a huge disappointment," said Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo.

This time they wanted him to run for governor and because he was taking such a long and deliberate look at it, Sen. Sieben said he thought this time Edgar might be willing to jump back into the race.

"I really felt that he was getting all his ducks in a row," he said.

Rep. Jerry Mitchell, R-Sterling, was skeptical early on, but even he had come to think in recent days that Edgar might be leaning toward a run.

"Mine was more hope than belief," he said, adding he can understand some of Edgar's reluctance.

"How many times do you want to inherit a state that's financially strapped?" Rep. Mitchell said.

Even Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, thought Edgar might try to run for one more term, if for no other reason than to shape his legacy on education.

In his second term, Edgar tried to reform the way the state funds education, but his idea went nowhere in the Republican controlled Senate. Now, Democrats control the House and Senate and have shown a willingness to consider the idea, so he might have been able to push it through, Mautino said.

If Republicans are disappointed, Democrats have to be relieved.

Edgar's decision to run might have prompted many in the growing field of Republican gubernatorial hopefuls to drop out and could have eliminated what will likely be an expensive and divisive Republican primary.

Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, was pleased with Edgar's choice and said that by holding out for so long, it will make the other Republican candidates look like second choice.

If nothing else, though, a battle between a former governor and the incumbent would have made for good political theater, Jacobs said.