Former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar said his party and its supporters should remain optimistic about the next election cycle despite heavy losses on Nov. 7.

“I don’t think the Republican party is dead in Illinois,” Edgar said. “Our race was closer than most of the other races.”

Edgar was on hand at the University’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs, 1007 W. Nevada St., Thursday afternoon to address the party’s future in Illinois. A future, he said, that depends on their ability to remain near the center of the political spectrum and the Democrats’ ability to steer clear of corruption.

“Illinois is a liberal moderate state,” Edgar said. “Republicans shouldn’t move far to the right.”

Edgar said Republicans could “lose the center” if they fail to recognize that the electorate in Illinois is leaning slightly to the left on social issues.

He said Republicans could also gain the upper hand going into the 2008 general election if Democrats continue to stumble over ethical issues. Edgar said corruption became a Republican issue in the wake of former Republican George Ryan’s scandal, which haunted the party on Election Day.

“Winning elections is difficult but governing is even more difficult,” Edgar said, adding that the next two years could see further indictments of prominent Democrats in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration.

Edgar said he was surprised to see so many Illinois voters saying in exit polls that corruption was a core issue with 58 percent still voting for Blagojevich. Edgar said he took this to mean that there is some disconnect between what voters wanted and how they actually voted.

Edgar was also joined by Robert Rich, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Rich said the Democrats’ decisive victory in Illinois could be their downfall.

“Over the next few years, the best news for the Republican party may be the super majority in the (state) Senate,” Rich said, as he referenced the Democrats’ veto-proof majority.

Rich said that too much of a majority could lead to division within the Democratic party.

Edgar said that in his experience it was easier to get things done when there was a split on Capitol Hill because party members felt obligated to support their party in a close vote.

Tough issues such as funding the pension system and managing the budget could end in stalemate if Democrats resort to fighting among themselves, Edgar said.

Edgar said he was also concerned that the Hispanic vote for Republicans was lower than the African-American vote.

“At the state level, we’ve got to win back the Hispanic vote,” he said.

Edgar said he is holding out hope that the Republicans can come up with a viable candidate for governor in 2010 even though he could not think of any specific names. Edgar said just because there is no frontrunner now, it does not mean that the Republicans will not put forth a strong candidate closer to the election, noting that no one knew who U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was before his rapid rise to political stardom.

The former governor said half jokingly that it would not hurt to find a multi-millionaire, like Blagojevich, who has not been stained by intense public exposure.

“Maybe I’m a little cynical,” he said.