Young Republican on Illinois’s primary | 5 minutes with

How young are young Republicans?
Eighteen to 40. I’m 26.

Illinois’s primary on Tuesday 20 could play a role in the Republican presidential race. You pumped?
Yeah. I wasn’t alive the last time this happened! It was probably the 1980 set between George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

Who’s your horse in the race?
Romney. His experience of bipartisan cooperation as Massachusetts’s governor informs his ability to work with a Democratic legislature. And by far, the reason Romney’s even in this race is his economic agenda: tax incentives, tax breaks, some subsidies, regulation reform. But he’s the guy who comes out with a complex 59-point plan instead of a bumper sticker. So he’s struggling to connect with voters on the most basic level.

Wanna talk some trash about the other guys?
Santorum tends to be reactionary. Gingrich is unfocused; he’s the big idea guy—he just happens to have 150 big ideas. And Paul is just out there to popularize Libertarian ideas.

Does Santorum make you miss Sarah Palin?
No! [Laughs] Her personal negatives are very, very high. She’s very polarizing, even within the party.

Are you guys planning to get crunk on primary night?
We’re waiting to hear from the Romney camp to plan anything. He’s likely to be in the Western Suburbs that night.

If Mitt gets the nomination, don’t you think Ben & Jerry’s—or maybe Oberweis, since it’s run by GOPer Jim Oberweis—should come out with a Mint Romney flavor?
People do like mint! [Laughs]

It would probably be tastier than Santorum’s Frothy Fudge Swirl.
[Laughs] I don’t really think of ice cream when I think of Rick Santorum.