Yes, in my experience newspapers are equal opportunity slimers. Public corruption is fair game in politics, it takes a special breed to dig through sealed divorce records for dirt. And an extra special one to make a habit of it (see Jack Ryan).

Exactly right. I volunteered for Dan Hynes in that primary, and the stuff that passes for "facts" around here about Obama's win is just ridiculous.

Blair Hull imploded, having spent $28 million of his own money, after his divorce records were unsealed (at the request of journalists) and it came to light that his wife had taken out a restraining order alleging that he beat her. Maybe Obama's operation fed the press the information, I don't know, but it wasn't a ballot challenge that sunk Hull. Moreover, people frequently act like Obama skated to his Senate seat. I assure you this is not the case. Hynes was a very serious candidate. His father was the Cook County assessor, President of the Illinois Senate, and a Chicago committeeman (i.e. unbelievably well-connected in Chicagoland politics); Hynes grew up in the Daleys' neighborhood (and there was glowing press from some of the Daleys before the primary); Hynes was elected to statewide office at age 30, and he was reelected four years later by a margin of 1 million votes. To suggest that Obama has never faced serious opposition is just ignoring facts. Obama crushed everyone (including a couple of other solid candidates besides Hull and Hynes) in a seven-person primary. He just blew away a really crowded, talented, and/or well-financed field.

Full-disclosure: I'm an Edwards supporter. I just get sick of all the crap that gets thrown around here.

It does, and I made note of it.