Dan Drezner reminds us of what is going to be the one of the more unusual senate races: the one in Illinois between Obama Barack and Alan Keyes. The latter has already fired a few opening salvos labeling Obama a “terrorist” and suggesting the repeal of the 17th Amendment, which established the direct public election of senators as opposed to an election by state legislators. Keyes’ assertion that that was a critical campaign issue was enough to get Dan to move into Democrat territory and lie down for a while. Many have ridiculed the GOP’s choice - some even suggested a Democrat plot - and believe that this race will be won hands-down by Barack.

Yet, Alan Keyes is hardly an idiot. In fact he is one of the more cerebral Republicans with an impressive academic background and on the public front he served as ambassador to the UN under Reagan. Most will remember him as a candidate in the 2000 presidential primaries where during one debate he addressed George W. Bush as “Massa Bush”. Still he got some decent results during those primaries and his ability to debate and orate combined with the color of his skin turned him into material to set the Illinois senate race on fire. And that’s what he’s doing. There will definitely be more interesting stuff from both the Republican and the Democratic candidates for this senate seat than what is coming from the two men slugging it out for the White House. Barack is the face of tomorrow’s Democrats; Keyes is an influential intellectual who will help shape conservative thinking for years to come.

Barack’s chances are far better than Keyes’ whose career as a behind the scenes thinker who can make the odd public appearance to stir up the base, whenever that’s necessary, suits him far better than elected office. In fact extreme positions don’t work in elections where there are no life and death issues at stake (although Keyes would dispute that) but they can certainly help direct the discussion on a national level in a certain direction. Phyllis Schlafly however believes that Keyes can replicate the upset in the 1950 senate race in the same state by the illustrious Everett Dirksen. While interesting, I think the comparison goes of track on a number of points but I am prepared to be surprised.

And, repealing the 17th Amendment is not as odd as it seems, there are some democracies where to this very date the Senate is indeed appointed by regional legislators. But it is hardly a critical campaign issue. Alan Keyes however got what he wanted by raising the issue: attention, although debating him on it would be a perilous undertaking. That’s why the 2004 Illinois senate race is indeed an amazing race.