Dispatch/Argus endorses Jacobs

Putting their editorial fingers to the wind and hedging their bets, the editors of the Dispatch/Argus praise Rumler to the moon and then endorses the likely winner, seemingly impressed by the fact that he finally acknowledged making some mistakes.

The Dispatch/Argus firmly supported the Republican candidate for Moline mayor as well.

Watch for the Jacobs camp, who absolutely trashed the paper and it's editors as hacks, and accused them of making up news stories, to now praise the paper. Maybe the paper did this to avoid further temper tantrums by the candidate who thinks he's entitled to postitive press no matter what he does or says.

Along the way he’s made more than a few less-attractive headlines (one comparedg his efforts on riverboat gambling to Rosa Parks’ battle to ride at the front of the bus) and often appeared unapologetic about them. That’s why we were pleased when, during a meeting with our editorial board, he acknowledged both having made freshman mistakes and recognizing that he still has much to learn despite the years he spent at his father’s side and as a political consultant in his own right. He is right when he says he’s not the typical freshman. He says he knows where the bathrooms are, and he also knows how things get done and that’s invaluable when there are things that need doing.

Though we do not rarely give political parties advice about their business – they’ve done fine without us for a number of years – we can’t fail to think Rock Island County Democrats would be foolish if they fail to keep people like Mr. Rumler active and interested.

We have no doubt Mr. Rumler would be an excellent representative for the Quad-Cites in Springfield once he learned the lay of the land. However, we’re convinced that we need someone who understands what is needed and has the experience and connections to make it happen. Time is critical if we are to get the WIU project and others in the works going, particularly with the economic challenges that continue to plague the state.

At the end of the day, Mike Jacobs will need to emerge from his father’s shadow and become the leader the Quad-Cities desperately needs in Springfield. He is clearly eager to do so and he says he has spent 20 years preparing for that moment. We hope he succeeds. We recommend giving him the chance by returning him to the Statehouse.