Polls point to big political trouble for Emanuel, Alvarez

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - There are strong signs of big political trouble for Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez in two new opinion surveys. She's been hurt by fallout from the Laquan McDonald case.

But one poll also asked voters about Mayor Emanuel and the news for him is not good, either. 

While the mayor has almost three and a half years left in his term, State's Atty Alvarez faces the voters and two challengers in a March 15th primary. The contest looks very close.

“The impact of the Laquan McDonald case on Anita Alvarez is devastating,” said David Ormsby of The Illinois Observer.

The negative impact is tracked in a survey done for IllinoisObserver.com that asked likely Democratic primary voters three questions. First, what about Alvarez's job performance as prosecutor: 61.2% approve, 23% disapprove, with 15.8% undecided.

But, when asked about Alvarez's handling of the McDonald case investigation and whether she should resign, suddenly 61.7% said Yes, 24.7% No, with 13.6% undecided.

The third and final question to voters: whom do they favor in the March 15th Democratic primary for state's attorney? Fully 55% were undecided, with former Cook County Chief of Staff Kim Foxx at 20%, Alvarez 18.1%, Donna More, 6.9%.

“If you're Anita Alvarez, you're looking and you're gonna see that the McDonald case is krypotonite,” Ormsby said.

That refers to a mythical element that supposedly weakened Superman.

Public disclosures about the McDonald case have left Mayor Emanuel about as weak as Alvarez. Only 40% approve of the job he's doing, 55% disapprove, with 5% unsure, perhaps inspiring others to run in 2019.

“You hear about people trying to organize now. So, I think that there's going to be strong candidates in three years,” said Mike Fourcher of Aldertrack.

The Chicago Police Department didn't fare very well, either. A majority of city voters -- 52% -- said they disapprove of the job police are currently doing.  And 64% believe police deliberately withheld from public view the video of an officer shooting McDonald to death.