WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- The effort by some Illinois Republicans to draft ex-Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka into the U.S. Senate race continues to pick up steam.
Ditka refused to close the door on the possibility of a Senate bid this fall in an interview Monday with Chicago's station WFLD-TV. "If I felt there was enough interest and I really felt that I could make that big a difference," the ex-NFL head coach said, "and once I make up my mind that I can make a difference, I might do it."
Illinois Republicans are searching for a candidate to replace Jack Ryan, who quit the race after salacious allegations made against him by his ex-wife in a child custody pleading were made public, on the November ballot.
Admitting he lacks the resources to mount a self-financed bid, Ditka said his life story, "What it's meant for Mike Ditka to start in Alacoopa, Pa., when he got out of high school in 1957 and end up where he has is today," would be a compelling campaign message.
"The one thing you are promised in this country is opportunity. Nothing else, just an opportunity. Take it or make it I mean make the best you can of it. And I think I've done pretty good," the former NFL coach said.
