POLIS

Looks like Rauschenberger may already be out:

[Peter] Fitzgerald also accused Topinka of setting up a vetting process for replacement candidates so it would exclude candidates such as state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, who lost to Ryan in the March primary.

Fitzgerald said Topinka wants screeners to review certain documents, such as drunken driving arrests, and credit histories of candidates.

Rauschenberger was arrested for drunken driving in 1994 and had furniture and hardware stores that closed in the 1990s. He has said he closed the stores because they did not make money and that he never filed personal or corporate bankruptcy.

"I think she has designed the criteria to rule him out," Fitzgerald said.

[…]

The party hopes to have a replacement candidate by mid-July, [GOP Spokescritter] Gerwig said.

Rauschenberger questioned why he would have to go through a screening process at all.

"If the screening process is for novice candidates, I guess I would understand," Rauschenberger said. "What are the implications for a candidate like myself, having won a number of elections, if they were to find me not qualified?"

If he's making public statements like this … Doesn't look good, Steve.