Salvi Mulls Senate Run -- With A Difference

CHICAGO (AllPolitics, Aug. 15) -- Republican Al Salvi, who lost a 1996 Senate race in Illinois to Democrat Richard Durbin, is mulling a 1998 run -- with an important difference.

Salvi now says his opposition to gun control hurt him in the race against Durbin, and he will change his stance if he runs against Democratic Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun.

Salvi writes in today's Chicago Sun-Times that the issue has haunted him since his loss to Durbin.

"The most common comment I receive -- something my wife and I heard every day from people at the grocery store, at the library, at restaurants and baseball games -- is, 'Your family values theme was inconsistent with your gun position.' I agree," he wrote. "Voters were right, I was wrong."

Salvi also said he'll abandon his bid for the GOP Senate nomination if two other Illinois Republicans -- Governor Jim Edgar or Attorney General Jim Ryan -- decide to run.