DECATUR - The campaign message of party leaders at the Illinois Republican Party Convention on Saturday in Decatur mirrored that of the national Democratic Party: The chief executive has got to go.

But in this case, state GOP leaders were talking about Gov. Rod Blagojevich, not President Bush.

Senate Minority leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said Republicans have Blagojevich, a Chicago Democrat, to thank for uniting their party.

"We thank you, Governor Blagojevich, for everything you've done to organize us!" Watson said before the assembled delegates.

But even though the governor's term won't expire until 2010, some members of the Republican Party have already stated their aspirations for taking the spot.

Among those who have hinted at a run are state Sen. Dan Rutherford of Chenoa, who has expressed interest in a statewide office, and state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, who ran an unsuccessful primary bid against Judy Baar Topinka in 2006.

Brady said he has been asked to speak at many events and sees himself as being in a leadership role going into 2010, though he said it is too soon to make any announcements.

"I'm honored to have been asked to step up and be that leader for our party," Brady said.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross said it is important not only to fight for the governor's office, but also for control of the General Assembly.

"We need to have a different person (as governor), and I don't know who it's going to be, but it has to be a Republican," Cross said.

Watson said no matter who captures the Republican nomination for governor, he hopes for unity within the party.

"I don't want to see a divided or divisive primary where we just spend money, split the party, and nothing gets accomplished," Watson said.

While some were looking toward 2010, Republicans have a more immediate fight on their hands in November now that Barack Obama has secured the Democratic nomination for president. His emergence last week was expected to draw more Democrats to the polls to vote for the junior senator from Illinois.

Despite the likelihood of what he called a "favorite son effect" for Obama, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna said Democrats have a tough record to defend.

"People come to me - particularly reporters - saying, 'Jeez, isn't it hard? Senator Obama's going to be on the top of the ticket here in Illinois,'" McKenna said. "I say to them it gives us both the opportunity and the responsibility to say to people, 'What does Democratic leadership mean?"'

Brady said Obama's liberal political stance also could be a weak point.

"There's a great number of people in this state who do not agree with what Barack Obama believes in," Brady said.

Obama's prominence comes at the same time that President Bush is suffering from a very low approval rating that former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said has rubbed off on the Republican Party as a whole.

Watson said Republican presidential nominee John McCain could turn that perception around.

"I'm thankful we have John McCain," Watson said. "I think we will offset the anti-Bush attitude we're seeing out there."

In addition to looking forward to the November election and beyond, attendees at the state convention Saturday elected former Bloomington attorney Pat Brady of St. Charles as national committeeman and Demetra Demonte of Pekin as national committeewoman.