IL-14

2010 Grab Bag: Quigley Endorses Quinn, Kirk Reports Raising $1.6 Million (UPDATED)

Josh Kalven — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:44:41 -0700

The latest from the 2010 electoral landscape ...

IL GOVERNOR

This morning, Rep, Mike Quigley formally endorsed Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, saying that "the best indication of future behavior is past performance." Watch an excerpt from Quigley's remarks:

The Quinn campaign has also posted some highlights from UNITE-HERE's recent endorsement, which you can watch here.

U.S. SENATE

This morning, Republican Senate candidate and congressman Mark Kirk announced a $1.6 million third quarter fundraising haul:

Five-term GOP Congressman and Navy veteran Mark Kirk, the leading Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois, today reported his campaign set a new single-quarter fundraising record for federal Republican candidates in Illinois raising more than $1.6 million. That brings the campaign’s total receipts for the election to more than $2.9 million with $2.3 million in the bank.

The quarter ended last Wednesday and all federal candidates must file their reports by October 15. So far, Kirk is the only U.S. Senate candidate from either side of the aisle to announce his totals. Politico also reported Friday that the North Shore Republican continues to get help from Sen. John McCain, who has provided "counsel" to the campaign and apparently handed over his list of donors as well.

Rep. Danny Davis held a candidates forum on Chicago's West Side this past Saturday, with contenders from a variety of races appearing. Here is Democrat David Hoffman's 10-minute speech to the crowd, posted by his campaign:

We're hoping to get video of some of the other candidates' presentations as well.

Finally, Alexi Giannoulias appeared on WLS Radio's Don Wade & Roma today to discuss his Senate campaign, the ongoing Bright Start settlement negotiations, as well as his effort to crack down on predatory debt settlement companies. You can listen to the full segment here.

(UPDATE, 2:45 pm: Hoffman announced this afternoon that he raised $400,000 in his first month of campaigning and leant his campaign another $500,000 in personal funds. Meanwhile, Giannoulias campaign spokesperson Tom Bowen responds to Kirk's release: "Alexi Giannoulias is the first U.S. Senate candidate in Illinois history to refuse contributions from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists. Mark Kirk has taken over 3.5 million dollars from PACs in his career and they own him. ... Voters should ask why Kirk is covering up the facts and why he won't release his total contributions from federal lobbyists and corporate PACs.")

COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT

Pat Quinn recently appeared before voters at a forum in Chicago's 4th Ward, where he had some extremely positive things to say about local alderman and Cook County board president candidate Toni Preckwinkle. From Sam Cholke's September 30 article in the Hyde Park Herald:

"We don't want people when they hear Illinois to think greed and corruption. We've got to do it the Toni way: honestly," Quinn said. The current governor was complimentary of Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward) and supportive of her bid for the Cook County board but stopped short of an official endorsement.

Preckwinkle, who joined the governor for several campaign stops on Saturday, said she only has high praise for the work the governor is doing in Springfield.

10th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Late last week, Democratic State Rep. Julie Hamos also announced healthy fundraising totals for the third quarter. From a press release:

The Julie Hamos for Congress campaign raised more than $545,000 this quarter. Donations were received from more than 1,000 individuals in nine weeks.

This preliminary number accounts for fundraising from July 28 through September 30 and is subject to change as reports are finalized. The deadline for submitting reports to the Federal Elections Commission is Thursday, October 15.

The campaign also reports that 565 people have signed up to become volunteers.

Hamos also confirmed last week that she has officially moved from downtown Evanston to a new home in the 10th District.

14th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

An Illinois-based conservative group, the Economic Freedom Alliance (EFA), has erected a billboard advertising the following URL: DoNotLetBillFosterKillJobs.com. The website criticizes Rep. Bill Foster's support for the Employee Free Choice Act and is part of a broader campaign that similarly targets 11th District Rep. Debbie Halvorson and three other Midwestern members of Congress. The Beacon News reported over that weekend that EFA has hired Karl Rove and former House Speaker Dennis Hastert as consultants on the project. Hastert's son, Ethan, is attempting to challenge Foster next year. He told the paper that he had no idea about his father's involvement in the EFA effort:

[EFA President Ron] Gidwitz said Hastert's involvement has been ongoing.

"Denny Hastert and Karl Rove have been involved since we got started back in November, early December and have been advising us all the way," he said.

This surprised Ethan Hastert.

"I didn't know that," the younger Hastert said when told of his father's EFA involvement. "News to me."

Meanwhile, the Hill reports on the emerging GOP primary battle in IL-14 between Hastert and State Sen. Randy Hultgren.

Electoral Grab Bag: Cullerton Backs Giannoulias, Kirk's Troubling Tweets, Kelly Introduces Herself

Josh Kalven — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:02:24 -0700

A few updates from the campaign trail ...

This morning, U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias announced the endorsement of Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. From a press release sent out by the campaign:

“Alexi Giannoulias is a rising star of the Democratic Party and will fight hard for working families and against the special interests in Washington,” Cullerton said. “As Treasurer, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of Illinois residents and to fundamentally change how the Treasurer’s Office operates so it functions more efficiently by cutting waste and getting a better rate of return for the state taxpayers.”

For those interested, the Giannoulias campaign has posted the full video of his Chicago campaign launch last Sunday.

On the other side of the Senate race, tweets published by GOP Rep. Mark Kirk while on active duty with the Naval Reserves have attracted the attention of both CNN and NBC Chicago. In typical mainstream media fashion, the former failed to note that the issue was first raised by Capitol Fax's Rich Miller. CNN did go on to note, however, that the military seems a bit perplexed by Twitter in the context of Department of Defense guidelines:

In this new medium of 140 characters, these questions are leaving the military scratching their heads. One Defense official who spoke to CNN seemed almost just as confused as to where the lines are drawn. While the source did not think the congressman revealing his location was a huge deal (in this particular case), the official was less sure of the other questions the incident raised. The source told CNN, "Given who the individual is and how people can perceive things, it is interesting. We are aware of it and we are looking into it."

In other news, Giannoulias chief of staff and former state lawmaker Robin Kelly introduced herself as a candidate for treasurer with a post on Prairie State Blue yesterday:

Over the past few years I have travelled this state to meet, listen and learn from the citizens I serve. The people that I have met and the relationships I have formed are the reason my campaign will be successful. They represent the kind of grassroots campaign that I am seeking to run. In the past week alone, hundreds of new supporters have signed up to learn more about this campaign.

Kelly has posted an impressive list of endorsements to her campaign website. In the Democratic primary, she will face businessman Kip Kirkpatrick, who has so far raised $500,000 for his bid (including a $100,000 loan from himself).

Finally, Politico reports that 14th District GOP congressional candidate Ethan Hastert was riding his father's fundraising coattails on a recent trip to D.C.:

Republican Ethan Hastert may be trying to create his own political brand in Illinois as he challenges Democratic Rep. Bill Foster, but he’s already working in his father’s shadow.

Hastert the younger was in Washington earlier this week for the unveiling of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s official portrait in the Capitol, and he spent much of his time hitting the fundraising circuit with his father, according to a copy of the schedule provided to POLITICO.

Second Quarter Fundraising Figures

Progress Illinois — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:27:13 -0700

The federal filing deadline for the second quarter of 2009 passed this week. Below you'll find the relevant totals for the U.S. Senate race as well as several potentially competitive House races:

Giannoulias' $1.6 million in cash-on-hand has already attracted some headlines, particularly considering that the other talked-about Democratic contenders -- Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson and Merchandise Mart Properties CEO Chris Kennedy -- have yet to start fundraising.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Michael Bond's lackluster fundraising numbers in the 10th Congressional District also raised some eyebrows. But as Capitol Fax noted yesterday, that total only represents a month's worth of fundraising and he plans to pick up the pace once Kirk officially launches his Senate bid on Monday:

Bond told me today he hopes to push hard and fast after Kirk finally announces and quickly report new fundraising numbers. That’s an absolute must.

You'll also notice that both Democrat Scott Harper and Republican Ethan Hastert (son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert) have begun raising money for their respective campaigns in the 13th and 14th congressional districts. Both are off to a slow start, but we'll have to wait and see what they bring in during the 3rd quarter.

Meet Ethan Hastert

Josh Kalven — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:23:31 -0700

After officially announcing his plans to challenge Democratic Rep. Bill Foster in the 14th Congressional District yesterday, Republican Ethan Hastert -- son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert -- has been making the media rounds today. You can listen to his appearance on WLS' Don Wade & Roma In the Morning at this link.

Here he is explaining his experience:

"I've been around the business a long time. I've been following these issues and the policy decisions that get made for a very long time. I worked in D.C. for a couple of years, but I've spent most of my life in the Fox Valley. So I've followed the process and I'm very well steeped in the issues."

An interesting nugget: Hastert spent those "couple of years" working as an aide to then-Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby, later convicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Ethan Hastert Exploring Foster Challenge (UPDATED)

Josh Kalven — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:21:26 -0700

Over at the Progressive Fox, John Laesch shares some second-hand info about a poll reportedly conducted in the 14th Congressional District this week:

The interesting part of the poll was the question about Dennis Hastert.

“If the election were held today, would you vote for Dennis Hastert or Bill Foster.”

The next question was similar.

“If the election were held today, would you vote for Ethan Hastert or Bill Foster.”

Ethan Hastert, you say? That would be the former House speaker's 30 year-old son, currently an attorney at Mayer Brown. There's not much information out there about Ethan, other than these two tidbits: In 2001, at the age of 22, he was arrested for driving under the influence. And from January 2001 until May 2002, he worked at the White House as an aide to Lewis "Scooter" Libby, then-Vice President Dick Cheney's infamous chief of staff.

Anyway, something to keep an eye on ...

UPDATE: More from Capitol Fax: "A GOP friend tells me that Ethan is calling around to the district’s county chairmen."

UPDATE II (4/18): Hastert confirms it to the Daily Herald:

Hastert said he is not running the poll and declined to say who is. However, the Elburn resident did confirm that he is interested.

"I'm talking to people, to local leaders and others whose counsel I respect," Hastert said.

That includes receiving a blessing from his father. [...]

"He is supportive," Hastert said. "He's quite right to point out that it's a rough and tumble game. But I grew up with it, and I know that."

Foster Highlights Oberweis' "Negative Attacks"

Josh Kalven — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:28:21 -0700

As Capitol Fax noted yesterday, 14th District GOP congressional candidate has started running a negative TV ad against Rep. Bill Foster, hitting him for supporting the Wall Street bailout package. Yesterday, Foster hit back with a spot that briefly highlights the new "negative attacks" from Oberweis and whacks him on Social Security. Watch it:

Oberweis Swipes Biden Line: Bailout "Doesn't Represent Change," Just "More Of The Same"

Josh Kalven — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:44:21 -0700

As Capitol Fax noted today, 14th District GOP congressional candidate Jim Oberweis appears to have violated his pledge to run a positive campaign with a new negative ad hitting Rep. Bill Foster for his votes on the Wall Street bailout package. Also of note is a new two-minute radio ad he's running on WLS (and perhaps elsewhere). The spot is narrated by Oberweis himself, who criticizes the bailout at length while never mentioning Foster's name. What's interesting is this passage:

OBERWEIS: This plan is a product of everything that's wrong with Washington: the special interest lobbyists, the campaign contributions to favored members of the key committees, the rush to action with too little consideration of alternatives or consequence. This bailout plan doesn't represent change, it represents more of the same.

Sound familiar?

Read the full script below:

Wall Street is in crisis and Washington's solution just isn't working. This is Jim Oberweis and I've got some thoughts on that.

Congress responded to the financial crisis by passing a plan that will bail out Wall Street bankers by passing the cost of their mistakes on to you. When it was introduced, the plan was a three-page outline. By the time it was passed two weeks later it had grown to 451 pages, loaded with special interest giveaways. This plan leaves taxpayers on the hook for $700 billion so the Treasury Department can deliberately buy bad assets at above-market prices. I have serious doubts that this plan will work and I'm not the only one. Two hundred of the nation's leading economists warned Congress against this bill. In fact, the week after this bill passed was the stock market's worse week ever.

This plan never should have passed, but it did. And that's proof of what I've been saying throughout this whole campaign: Washington is broken. This plan is a product of everything that's wrong with Washington: the special interest lobbyists, the campaign contributions to favored members of the key committees, the rush to action with too little consideration of alternatives or consequence. This bailout plan doesn't represent change, it represents more of the same.

The next Congress is going to have to deal with a very tough economy. I know what it's like to deal with a tough economy. Twenty years ago, after market crashed in 1987, I lost everything. But with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, I was able to rebuild my businesses. And since then I've been able to create thousands of jobs right here in Illinois and help protect the investments of tens of thousands of clients. They let our firm handle their money because they knew we treated it with respect, as if were our own.

Wouldn't it be nice if Congress treated your money with the same kind of respect. Send me to Congress and I'll fight to make sure it does. This is Jim Oberweis and I approve this message. Thanks for listening.

Daily Herald Endorses Morgenthaler, Kirk, Foster

Josh Kalven — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:33:31 -0700

This morning, the Daily Herald endorsed Democrat Jill Morgenthaler in the 6th District, incumbent GOP Rep. Mark Kirk in the 10th District, and incumbent Democratic Rep. Bill Foster in the 14th District. We've updated our endorsement round-up accordingly.

Congressional Endorsement Round-Up (UPDATED)

Angela Caputo — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:41:37 -0700

Editorial boards at some of the state's largest papers have begun announcing their picks for Congress. The Beachwood Reporter's Steve Rhodes makes a good point when he says some of the choices will probably lead readers to check the front page to see if they've got the right paper

The Sun-Times, which describes the paper's editorial voice as "The Progressive Independent Conscience of the City," is backing Republican candidates in three out of the five most contentious congressional races it's weighed in on thus far. Meanwhile, the Tribune board is endorsing some liberal Democrats in three out of five of the state's most heated congressional contests. Following is a run-down (updated on 10/29):

6th District: The Tribune, Daily Herald, and Des Plaines Journal back Democrat Jill Morgenthaler, while the Sun-Times favors Republican incumbent Peter Roskam.

8th District: Both the Tribune and Sun-Times choose Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean over her Republican challenger Steve Greenberg.

10th District: The Tribune, Sun-Times, and Daily Herald favor Republican incumbent Mark Kirk over Democrat Dan Seals. The Des Plaines Journal supports Seals.

11th District: The Tribune and Sun-Times line up behind Republican Marty Ozinga over Democrat Debbie Halvorson and the Green Party's Jason Wallace. The SouthtownStar endorses Halvorson.

13th District: The Tribune, Sun-Times, Daily Herald endorse Republican incumbent Judy Biggert over Democrat Scott Harper and Green Party candidate Steve Alesch.

14th District: The Tribune, Sun-Times, and Daily Herald favor Democratic incumbent Bill Foster over Republican Jim Oberweis.

18th District: Tribune endorses Republican Aaron Schock over Democrat Colleen Callahan.

Rhodes sums up the lack of continuity between the Trib and Sun-Times this way:

In the end, it seems, institutional history and marketing labels don't account for much; both papers are similarly -- even drearily -- located on the political spectrum. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised by any of their endorsements anymore.

Two New Congressional Ads

Josh Kalven — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:01:21 -0700

Two Democratic congressional campaigns have new television ads out this week. First, here's a spot from 18th District candidate Colleen Callahan hitting Republican opponent Aaron Schock over "Notarygate":

As we noted in the Early Bird, the state's attorney in Peoria decided not to pursue charges against Schock, citing the statute of limitations and the absence of any evidence of willfull wrongdoing. That being said, Schock's misleading initial explanation -- that it was all just a "clerical mistake" -- deserves some scrutiny.

Second, here's Rep. Bill Foster's new ad in the 14th District:

Like his first TV spot this fall, this one emphasizes "independent solutions" and never mentions the word Democrat.