Is the Fix On In Cook County?

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Chanting, "Let us in," Cook County Board president nominee Tony Peraica and dozens of supporters stormed the County Administration Building early today, insisting thousands of votes risked being stolen in his close race with Todd Stroger.

"They run better elections in Baghdad," Peraica said. "This is a disaster."

Stroger was building a sizable lead -- 56 percent to 44 percent -- with about half of the suburban precincts counted.

Peraica was thumping Stroger in the suburban precincts, and he disputed Cook County Clerk David Orr's claims that the ballots were secured by law enforcement officials.

But around 2 a.m., Orr emerged from his office to say "hooligans" were trying to break into boxes with election cartridges inside.

"Drunks or whoever, they were trying to block people from bringing them up," Orr said. "And the freight elevator was broken."

Still, Orr said the integrity of the election hadn't been compromised.

Media cameras captured boxes being ripped open by unknown people, and others lying over the boxes to protect them. One man was arrested for allegedly damaging the elevator.

There's only one Cook County.