(a topic i'll be watching over the next six months... - promoted by bored now)
I hate to write the obvious but the conservative talk-radio crowd has a habit of sticking to their talking points in the face of reality. And the corporate press has a habit of adopting their narratives.
In the US Senate primary, Patrick Hughes was the darling of conservatives and the reactionary tea-bagger crowd. He ran against Mark Kirk, who became a talk-radio target after voting for Obama's climate change bill. Limbaugh and Beck commanded their forces to flood Kirk's office with angry calls after the cap-and-trade vote.
Their poutrage didn't amount to much in the Republican primary. Hughes' campaign never gained momentum and Kirk won resoundingly with 57% of the vote against five challengers.
Despite suggestions that Dem US Senate candidate David Hoffman is a regional candidate, Mayor of Urbana Laurel Prussing expanded Hoffman's endorsement reach by joining influencers like IVI-IPO, the Daily Herald, the Trib, and, today, the Chicago Sun-Times. In this cold, short election season, where one of the fastest growing FaceBook pages is the "No February Elections" page
http://www.facebook.com/group.... is that going to be enough to overcome Giannoulias' name recognition and residual good will lead? Only God (or FSM, if you prefer), and the pundits on this page know!
Early voting has started. I've done my duty. How about you?
Statement from Tom Bowen, campaign manager for U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias: "The only candidate who is funding his campaign with bank money is David Hoffman. His holdings in JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup were protected by the very TARP money and system Hoffman rails against. Now Hoffman has put $500,000 of that money into his campaign. Bailout dollars saved Hoffman's investments and now he's using that money to fund his campaign."
So, if the whole banking system were destroyed, Alexi would have been able to fund his campaign? Where is the logic in this. And by the way - are banks really what Alexi wants to draw attention to right now?
I have been a fairly strong Alexi supporter, who is seriously rethinking this position. My first exposure to David Hoffman at the NDFA meeting was underwhelming, but I thought he was really strong at the IVI-IPO session. I disagree with him on several important issues, which is troubling - but I am equally troubled by the fact that Alexi (or his campaign) appears to be unwilling to commit to debates (Hoffman has asked for five state-wide), didn't attend a downstate forum (all the others did), and is not bothering to respond to groups like IVI-IPO's requests to participate in their endorsement process. What I like about IVI-IPO's endorsement process is that I now know which of Hoffman's positions I disagree with and whether I can live with them - I can't say the same about Alexi.
Mark Kirk (IL-10) has a 100 rating from Planned Parenthood. And he has a zero (0) rating from the National Right to Life Committee. Kirk appears to be the only Republican to earn the 100 rating from Planned Parenthood.
As reported by the Washington Post's The Fix by Chris Cillizza, Mark Kirk is seeking an endorsement from ex-governor Sarah Palin. Of course, what he really wants is an under-the-radar endorsement, a promise to not get his nuts teabagged. He wants just enough endorsement for a loud and clear dog-whistle to the wing-nuts in Illinois to back off.
Cause if it's too loud that will tarnish is long and carefully crafted "moderate Republican patina". So if it's really a patina then surely he can show that to his hard authoritarian buddies here in Illinois and get Palin's blessing. But if it's real, his "moderation", then he will actially have to fight to get past the primary. If he makes it past the primary without Palin's blessing, then the question becomes does that lack of Palin blessing really help him in the end?
Use this thread to comment on the race. In the poll below you can vote for as many candidates as you feel you want. If you could give a sincere recommendation to vote for any of the four, you can vote for all four. I included Roland Burris because he did make a statement that he might re-enter the race.
Mark Kirk's been caught tweeting while on duty in the Naval Reserves. Capitol Fax has this:
Kirk is a Naval Reservist, and he appeared to be on duty when those posts were made, and his Twitter site is clearly a campaign site...
Be sure to check out our Senate campaign splash page at www.kirkforsenate.com
11:36 AM Jul 23rd
But the other question I had was whether this violated some sort of anti-campaigning rule.
I had asked the Kirk campaign for comment around the same time, and eventually received this e-mail, which I then forwarded to the Pentagon...
"Congressman Kirk did not post while on duty. In situations when he is unable to use Twitter, (i.e. while on reserve duty) a staff member posts a preapproved tweet."
But, notes Rich Miller:
4.3.3. Any member on active duty who is permitted to be, or otherwise not prohibited from being, a nominee or candidate for office as described in subparagraph 4.2.1. may NOT participate in any campaign activities. This includes open and active campaigning and all behind-the-scene activities. For example, such members described in this paragraph who are candidates or nominees may not:
4.3.3.1. Direct, control, manage, or otherwise participate in their campaign, including behind-the-scene activities.
In the least surprising development regarding the race for Obama's old Senate seat, Chicago Public Radio is reporting that Burris will announce tomorrow that he will not run for election in 2010.
Greg Hinz, Lynn Sweet, Rich Miller and others are reporting that Kirk is deciding on a U.S. Senate run. Tip of the hat to Eric Zorn on FB for collecting links.
Greg Hinz is reporting that the Urban League's Cheryle Jackson has formed a Senate exploratory committee. Per Hinz, Jackson, 44, will make her decision "within a couple of months." Meanwhile the Urban League will host its national convention in Chicago.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has met with President Barack Obama and his senior political aides to talk about running for the U.S. Senate seat he once held.
Ms. Madigan's spokeswoman says the meeting occurred in Washington at the White House late last week, with the Senate race the subject.
Ms. Madigan reportedly has not made up her mind, but the meeting came after weeks in which White House operatives reached out to Ms. Madigan and urged her to run for the seat now held by Roland Burris, and after Ms. Madigan said she would agree to think about it.
In the meeting besides Mr. Obama were senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and presidential Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Ms. Madigan also talked with David Axelrod, who ran Mr. Obama's presidential campaign.
The attorney general "is still considering all of her options," the spokeswoman said. "She is trying to figure out how she can best serve the public, and talking to the president is an important part of that process."
So what's keeping her from announcing? Is it just for the drama build-up?
Alexi Giannoulias is taking a step onto the "Great Orange Satan" , starting a national grassroots organizing campaign for a Senate run...
Illinoisans deserve a Senator who will honor the seat formerly held by President Obama. They deserve what every American deserves--a representative worthy of their vote, one free from the taint of political insiders and kingmakers and one who shares their vision for true change and real progress.
I believe that the choice of who will represent Illinois is too important to be left in the hands of the DC insiders. Both the President and the people of Illinois will need a progressive advocate as the Senate fights for health care, as it seeks to end two wars, and as it enacts policies that benefit America's families.
...
So, I've set a goal for my campaign: 5,000 grassroots volunteers signed up on website. If you believe that the person elected to President Obama's seat should wage a campaign he would be proud of, then join us today.
I also look forward to coming back in the next week or so and talking with members of the community about an example of an issue where Washington is failing us -- bankruptcy reform.
We heard across the board -- in private -- substantial, continuing and rising concern," Representative Mark Kirk said after a trip to China that included talks with government officials and central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan.
It's clear that China would like to diversify from its dollar investments, the lawmaker said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think-tank.
Isn't this contrary to what Sec Geithner said, who represented our government in China last week? Geithner told "the Chinese leaders had expressed justifiable confidence on the future of the recession-hit US economy."
As many of you know, over the last five days, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in partnership with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, asked those in the netroots, "Should a Draft Sestak movement be created to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary?"
The results are in and they are overwhelming. 85% of Pennsylvanian respondents and 86% of respondents nationally want Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic Senate primary. The poll has even gotten the attention of Congressman Sestak, as the PCCC points out:
"I am honored that so many of you took the time to vote in the recent grassroots Straw Poll. Let me tell you, I and many others were paying attention. If I decide to run it will be in large measure because of the grassroots energy of so many people like you. Until I and my family make that decision, please accept my thanks and my best wishes as you continue be active participants in our people-powered democracy. Thank you so very much!"
Due to such an overwhelming response, a Draft Sestak Fund has been created on ActBlue. To contribute and further encourage Congressman Sestak to enter the race, click on the image below:
If you need any additional motivation to contribute to this effort to draft a real Democrat to oppose Specter in the primary, consider Specter's actions since announcing his Party switch:
1) Specter opposed the Obama budget.
2) Specter opposed the "cramdown" mortgage/bankruptcy reform, siding with banks over families.
3) Specter reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
4) Specter reiterated his opposition to President Obama's nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Office of Legal Counsel.
5) Specter announced his support for Republican Norm Coleman over Democratic Senator-elect Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
6) Specter promoted a website that appeared to raise money for cancer research but, in actuality, simply raised money for his campaign.
7) Specter denied reports that he told President Obama that he would be a "loyal Democrat" despite multiple reporters sticking to their story.
The netroots have displayed overwhelming support for Congressman Sestak to take on recently-Republican Arlen Specter. Help the effort by contributing to the Draft Sestak Fund.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is reconsidering the possibility of running for the Senate in 2010, according to several sources familiar with her thinking.
