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2 Black Candidates Vie to Challenge Obama Wednesday August 4, 2004 7:16 PM AP Photo NY132 By MAURA KELLY LANNAN Associated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP) - After weeks of searching for a U.S. Senate candidate, Illinois Republicans have narrowed their choice to two black politicians, a development that all but assures Illinois will produce the fifth black U.S. senator in history. State party chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka said Republican leaders would interview Alan Keyes, a two-time presidential candidate, and Andrea Grubb Barthwell, a former deputy drug czar in the Bush administration, on Wednesday and then choose one to take on...

Final Two-- Barthwell vs. KeyesTuesday, August 03, 2004 Illinois Republican would-be kingmakers have weaned their election elimidate down to a final two-- Alan Keyes and Andrea Barthwell. The final episode is tomorrow at 2 p.m. at a as of yet undisclosed location. Keyes will fly in from Maryland to address the State Central Committee. All in all, committee members were pleased with the day's process. "It was a very democratic process," said Ron Smith of the 6th District (Henry Hyde).

Inquiry accused Senate prospect of 'lewd' behavior By Ken Guggenheim The Associated Press Published July 15, 2004, 8:21 AM CDT WASHINGTON -- A potential Republican candidate for the Senate seat from Illinois -- where the party's nominee withdrew over sex club allegations -- engaged in "lewd and abusive behavior'' while she served as a top official in the White House drug policy office, an internal inquiry found last year. In front of her staff, Andrea Grubb Barthwell made repeated comments about the sexual orientation of a staff member and used a kaleidoscope to make sexually offensive gestures, according to the...

Drug expert to get GOP Senate look Published July 10, 2004 ILLINOIS -- Dr. Andrea Grubb Barthwell resigned Friday as a deputy director in the Office of National Drug Control Policy, clearing the way for her to speak with leading Illinois Republicans about her interest in replacing Jack Ryan as the GOP's nominee for the U.S. Senate. If chosen by the state's Republican leadership, Barthwell's candidacy against Democratic nominee Barack Obama would create a historic matchup between two African Americans seeking to become the third black elected to the Senate since Reconstruction.

Bush Aide Resigns to Explore Ill. Senate Run Friday, July 09, 2004 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The deputy director of President Bush's drug-control office resigned Friday to explore a run for the U.S. Senate in place of Jack Ryan (search), the Republican nominee who dropped out over sex club allegations. Andrea Grubb Barthwell (search), a Chicago-area physician, had been deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (search) in Washington since 2002, focusing on reducing demand for drugs. Federal law barred her from seeking the Republican nomination while she worked for the government. Michael Barnes, an attorney and Barthwell...