IL-6

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.

IL-6: "GI Jill" Tries To Wrest A Seat From Roskam

Angela Caputo — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:13:12 -0800

Don't be fooled by the bevy of McCain/Palin and Peter Roskam yard signs staked throughout the western suburbs, says Dawn Hall, a waitress from Lombard.

The 49-year-old hit the polling place early this morning, in time to make her 7 a.m. shift at Granny's Diner. And, unlike years past, she wasn't alone in her determination to inject some blue into the Dupage County vote count.

"Even though DuPage County has been a Republican stronghold, I think there's enough disgust for the war and the economy that Democrats have a good chance this year," Hall said.

That's the sentiment that 6th District Democratic congressional candidate Jill Morgenthaler is banking on today. Early voting surveys revealed an enthusiasm among Democrats in the district, who cast a majority of straight-ticket, pre-Election Day votes, according to Morgenthaler, who is criss-crossing the district today in her Ford Mustang with signature "GI Jill" plates.

Here's how she boils it down: "I need every Democrat voting and every independent vote." The magic number is 60 percent, Morgenthaler adds. That's the share of Obama voters she must attract to take the seat from GOP incumbent Roskam.

Her get-out-the-vote strategy is part of a grassroots ground campaign being waged from a shuttered beauty shop in Glendale Heights. Soccer moms are driving the elderly to the polls. Friends and neighbors make phone calls. And her extended family is pounding the pavement, knocking on doors and shaking hands in suburbs where polls show the undecided vote is greatest.

Believe it or not, those folks are still out there. We met up with one, Rosemarie Scanlan, a semi-retired businesswoman from Glendale Heights who walked into her polling place this morning still undecided about the congressional race. Thus far, Scanlan had devoted most of her energy to the choice at the top of the ticket.

"I'm not too political," Scanlan said. "It was a tough choice but I'm going for Obama."

We noted last week how Roskam is trying to attract ticket-splitters through his "Obama Voters for Roskam" website, but voters like Hall think most people have laughed off the idea that the pair is a team.

"People are fed up," she said. "We're looking for [something] different."

CBS News Reports On Jill Morgenthaler

Josh Kalven — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:00:31 -0800

Over the weekend, CBS Evening News reported on the slew of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for Congress across the country this year. The segment highlighted Jill Morgenthaler's bid to unseat GOP Rep. Peter Roskam in the 6th District. Watch her appearance below:

You can view the whole report here.

On a related note, the group VoteVets highlighted their support for Morgenthaler during a Friday conference call featuring Wesley Clark and former Sens. Bob Kerrey and Max Cleland. "The [6th] district is heavy Obama, even though it has more Republican registration," said VoteVets chairman Jon Soltz. "And if there's a race on Tuesday night that has to do with coattails, more than any other race in the country, we feel that this is one of the sleeper House races."

Hardball Highlights "Obama Voters For Roskam" Website (UPDATED)

Josh Kalven — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:40:48 -0700

Just minutes after interviewing GOP Rep. Peter Roskam's former boss -- Tom DeLay -- on Hardball last night, host Chris Matthews briefly reported that Roskam has launched a website intended to lure 6th District supporters of Barack Obama, which we noted on Tuesday. Watch it:

Roll Call reported on Roskam's website today, under the headline: "Nervous Roskam Eyes Possible Ticket-Splitter." The Sun-Times' Abdon Pallasch also devotes an article to the site, getting responses from Democratic challenger Jill Morgenthaler as well as the Obama campaign:

The Web site opens with an Obama quote: "I'm a member of the mutual admiration society with Sen. Roskam. He is always terrific."

Roskam's opponent, former U.S. Army Reserve Col. Jill Morgenthaler, notes the quote is part of a larger one in which Obama explains he disagrees with Roskam.

Roskam is on the opposite side of "virtually every issue" -- the Iraq war, abortion, tax cuts for the wealthy, the bank bailout -- from Obama and Morgenthaler, she said.

"Roskam would continue President Bush's failed policies and [Obama] is supporting Jill Morgenthaler for Congress," Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

(H/T Prairie State Blue)

UPDATE: In his article on Roskam's website, the Daily Herald's Joseph Ryan points to the problem with the 2004 Obama quote that appears there

[Roskam spokesman Matt] Vriesema said the flier and Web site are not meant to indicate an Obama endorsement. However, the Web site does feature an Obama quote from a debate on the state Senate floor in 2004.

The Obama quote says, "First of all, I am a member of the mutual admiration society with Senator Roskam. He is always terrific."

The quote came from a sparring match between Roskam and Obama over legislation the Chicago Democrat proposed to protect workers' overtime rights.

After praising Roskam - typical form for Senate floor debate - Obama said, "Having said that, have I said that he's wrong? I love him, but he's wrong."

Roskam opposed the overtime rules because he said they would chase businesses out of Illinois.

Des Plaines Journal Endorses Seals, Morgenthaler

Josh Kalven — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:44:18 -0700

From the Des Plaines Journal's endorsement of 10th Congressional District Democratic challenger Dan Seals:

During the grueling contest, the usually moderate and thoughtful [GOP Rep. Mark] Kirk has resorted to negative advertising to get his message out. He has also limited his availability to the public, we guess, having made the decision to rely on TV ads and mailings. This oftentimes happens when an incumbent fears that he might not be reelected. If Kirk is not engaged and responsive to his community while campaigning, it is unlikely he would do so while in office. If Seals becomes the next congressman, he would do well to remember that lesson.

The Journal endorsed Democratic challenger Jill Morgenthaler in the 6th District, citing "her fresh approach, sound, cool judgment, and worldly experience."

Other endorsements of note this week: the SouthtownStar backed Democrat Debbie Halvorson in the 11th District and the Sun-Times voiced support for Republican incumbent Judy Biggert in the 13th. We've updated our endorsement round-up accordingly.

Roskam Creates Website To Lure "Obama Voters"

Josh Kalven — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:10:08 -0700

In a recent fundraising appeal, GOP Rep. Peter Roskam noted Barack Obama's "14-point lead in his west suburban district," according to a report yesterday in Crain's. The 6th District incumbent must be pretty scared because he's now launched an "Obama Voters For Roskam" website:

The site features a friendly 2004 quote from Obama -- who was Roskam's State Senate colleague at the time -- and includes testimonials from half a dozen 6th District residents. If you click any of the links on the navigation bar, you're directed to Roskam's main campaign site.

Roskam's decision to tout his amicable relationship with Obama in this way is reminiscent of an ad produced by Sen. Gordon Smith that played up a complimentary statement from the Illinois senator.

The domain name was registered on October 24.

(H/T Lynn Sweet & Archpundit)

Roskam Refuses To Talk To NBC About Abortion Comments

Josh Kalven — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:23:19 -0700

Reporting on the 6th Congressional District race today, NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern noted Democratic challenger Jill Morgenthaler's criticism of a comment made by GOP Rep. Peter Roskam at a recent editorial meeting. Ahern reported that Roskam "would not talk about that abortion statement, refusing to clarify it or even discuss it today":

Here's Roskam's full statement at the Pioneer Press editorial meeting, via Capitol Fax:

You know, my position is the same as Henry Hyde’s. And Henry Hyde put it best when he said, when somebody is the victim of a crime, the law currently says that a rapist can’t be put to death. That’s the law. A rapist under the court doctrines can’t be put to death. He said, why is it that the baby who is the result of that criminal behavior can be put to death? He said, isn’t that a sad, sad thing. So my feeling is, look, in the case of that, that’s the hard case, right? That’s the ultimate painful and difficult case. And what we need to do is love that person and encourage them and support them. But once people are categorized by how they were conceived and the circumstances of their conception, you end up going down a route that ultimately I don’t think we want to be.

Summer Nostalgia (UDPATED)

Adam Doster — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:14:33 -0700

Remember the summer? Only a few months have passed, but it seems like ages since Illinoisans were experiencing warm sun, winning Chicago baseball, and a tight presidential race. In those days, comments like this one from Republican State Sen. Bill Brady didn't raise too many eyebrows:

Brady said Obama's liberal political stance could also be a weak point.

"There's a great number of people in this state who do not agree with what Barack Obama believes in," Brady said.

Fast forward 120 days and Obama appears to be proving his popularity in swing districts outside of Chicago. Crain's Paul Merrion echoes our sentiments, writing "Obama's resurgence amid a souring economy is putting him ahead in some traditionally Republican congressional districts in the suburbs, throwing a pre-Halloween scare into GOP incumbents."

One dramatic case is in Illinois' 6th, where political junkies anticpated an easy victory for GOP Rep. Peter Roskam. As it turns out, polling shows Obama with a 14-point lead in his west suburban district, giving the extreme pro-lifer reason for concern. As Josh noted this morning, CQ mentioned the Obama effect in the 10th district as well.

Looking again at the maps from the last seven presidential elections, you can't help but wonder what this year's is going to look like.

UPDATE: Here's the relevant passage from Merrion's piece (subscription only) in Crain's:

Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton, is putting out an urgent appeal for last-minute contributions, noting Mr. Obama's 14-point lead in his west suburban district. Mr. Roskam, a freshman who replaced longtime Republican Rep. Henry Hyde, faces former Illinois homeland security chief Jill Morgenthaler. Mr. Roskam was narrowly elected two years ago over Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth.

Also, in his latest fundraising appeal, Roskam is raising the specter of "one-party rule":

From what I've seen during my time in Congress, we need representatives who put your needs above partisanship. Unfortunately, our country is facing the prospect of one-party rule that could lead to unchecked, extreme policies.

As your representative, I'll stand up to the partisans who try to push extremist politics and fight for our shared values. That's why I hope you'll show your support for my campai gn with a financial contribution before Election Day.

Roskam: Why Can Women Have Abortions If Rapists Can't Be Executed?

Adam Doster — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:35:49 -0700

GOP Rep. Peter Roskam, uncorked:

Morgenthaler, who vaulted over Roselle businessman Stan Jagla in the Democratic primary election with 77 percent of the vote, calls Roskam an "ideologue" because, for example, he opposes abortion even in the case of rape or incest. Citing the late Congressman Henry Hyde, who represented the 6th District for 16 terms until 2006, Roskam said people cannot be categorized by the way in which they were conceived and asked in the Pioneer Press interview why women can have abortions if rapists cannot be executed.

The late Henry Hyde would be awfully proud.

(H/T Capitol Fax)

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.