* Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom has a new TV ad. It’s a modest buy, but I really like this spot. Have a look…
* Democrat US Senate candidate David Hoffman also has a new ad with a tiny buy. It’s mainly designed to provoke publicity, at least at the moment. Watch it…
Giannoulias is running two campaign ads that include the Consumer Reports logo and a quote from the magazine. But the watchdog publication tries to stay strictly neutral and doesn’t let businesses or politicians use its name.
On the Republican side, former Attorney General Jim Ryan received a total of $75,000 in recent days in $25,000 donations from the three men who head ATI Physical Therapy and operate a group of clinics that deal with orthopedic rehabilitation, including sports medicine. Among the schools where ATI is recognized as the “official sports medicine provider” is Benedictine University in Lisle, where Ryan taught after losing his 2002 bid for governor to Rod Blagojevich.
Speaking of sports, Ryan also reported a $5,000 donation from James Irsay, the owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Previously, Republican contender Andy McKenna, a former state GOP chairman, reported that his wife had loaned his campaign for governor $800,000.
Another Republican candidate, GOP consultant and commentator Dan Proft, reported a contribution of $20,000 from Richard Uihlein of Waukegan, the CEO of Uline, a packing and shipping supply company based in Waukegan.
* Illinois Review reports that Bill Brady went after JRyan and Kirk Dillard today at the City Club debate…
Former Attorney General Jim Ryan and State Senator Kirk Dillard were the targets of State Senator Bill Brady, who challenged their refusal to oppose an income tax increase, as well as Dillard’s participation in an Obama ad during the Iowa primary. Observers say Ryan appeared undisturbed by the verbal punches, and pointed the conversation elsewhere. Also on the panel was Dan Proft and Adam Andrzejewski.
While the candidates jabbed each other and missing candidate Andy McKenna, emcee Paul Green joined in the poking at McKenna when awarding the club’s traditional token of appreciation - a City Club coffee mug. When one rolled to the floor and broke, Green joked, “That one’s for Andy McKenna”.
* Related…
* Hurckes connection, clout dog House race: Officer Joseph Hurckes, brother of Oak Lawn Trustee Jerry Hurckes, is serving a 30-day unpaid suspension for using the LEADS system to download photographs to help Southwest Side state Rep. Michael Zalewski’s re-election campaign, two sources familiar with the investigation confirmed.
* Tension arises at 62nd House forum: Some visible tension occurred late in the forum when, as part of an answer to an unrelated question, Mitchell said Cole has favored charging in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants.
Alexi is reaping what he sewed. Had he not claimed Bright Start failure as success, this victim never would have come forward and this ad never would have happened. It’s not helpful for Alexi.
The schillerstrom ad is really good. It’s hard to do a non traditional ad well, and have it connect, but that one does.
the hoffman ad is really awful, the woman’s words are mangled, it takes a fastball down the middle of the plate-alexi’s screw up and instead of hitting it out of the park, turns into a weak groundout. The message is confused and the wording is poor, roulette wheel? Not good.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:45 am:
Too much there just let me know if anyone reported which “reformer”’s law firm was slurping up ome legal fee gravy from IL bond work?
Chairman Bob’s ad is pretty good. I enjoy humor in ads way more than negativity. Paul Vallas’s ads in 2002 put a smile in my face instead of a wont to change the channel. Bob’s ad is not too far off.
Alexi is going to win this primary unless some big changes happen, fast.
This ad has everything to help spur that change. It’s a really solid ad.
The Alexi ad is an outrage. Everyone referenced in it– families who lost money, Consumer Reports, newspapers referenced in the ad– they have all denounced it.
Question: do Illinois Democrats really care that they’re about to send an immensely flawed candidate against the Republicans this Fall?
We all know about Bright Start. How about some other issue?
Time to come up with more stuff, Mr. Hoffman. You have their attention, but Giannoulais is still standing at home plate with only one strike against him. At least foul him out.
I like the Schillerstrom ad too, and I’d rate this as the best I’ve seen posted here so far. It will give him a nice bump in name recognition and appeals to the perfect demographic for him.
Two other observations: with the sound off, I thought it was a negative spot and the “fans” were ripping on some poor candidate. Sound dramatically changed the ad.
Also, if he can’t afford enough TV time, and if he isn’t already doing so, he should use the audio of this ad on radio. If you close your eyes and listen, this would be a great ad on ESPN or the Score.
- Will County Woman - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:57 am:
Mark Kirk is Illinois’ best hope for the U.S. Senate period! irrepsective of political party.
If there is one bright spot on this year’s election ballot, it is him.
I am 100 percent + confident in his abilities to be a U.S. Senator, as demonstrated by his service as a U.S. House of Rep member and other credintials.
SchillerStorm ad is great. One of the few political ads in a very long time that I would actually look forward to seeing multiple times. Good use of sports metaphors also shows he spends some time in the real world and “gets” Illinoisans.
A+
- Big Policy Nerd - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:06 pm:
Decent ad from Schillerstrom, appeals to the angry/talk radio GOP primary voter. But Proft or Adamjewski are going to win those votes. Shillerstrom will finish dead last. Andy McKenna is all over Chicago TV even though he doesn’t’ have the cojones to show up at the City Club debate or any other GOP forums. Sometimes you see two of his ads during the same two minute commercial break. It’s going to be tough for the others to get a message through on TV if he keeps this rate of spending up. I am not saying his ads are working, but the TV airwaves already are saturated with political spiels.
That is a nice, logical endorsement for Mr. Kirk, WCW. It is bipartisan, and based on some measureable facts.
Let’s see Mr. Hoffman’s and Mr. Giannoulais’ supporters do the same. An endorsement based on bipartisan appeal, and measureable historical facts.
I can say that Mr. Hoffman has done a very credible job in public service and while not in an elected position, his record is admirable. I see his public stands on the issues to be less partisan than our current Senator, and the previous one, now in the White House.
Mr. Giannoulais has exceeded expectation a few times. While Bright Start is a black eye for him, and it is not entirely his fault, Alexi hasn’t hurt himself in office during the worse administration in Illinois history. Mr. Giannoulais has only one term in a second tier statewide office. However, Mr. Giannoulais is most definately partisan in his politics. Moreso, that either Mr. Kirk or Mr. Hoffman. Considering the last two US Senators in this seat, Mr. Giannoulais’ partisanship isn’t unnatural. Compared to Dick Durbin, Mr. Giannoulais looks almost like a centrist, which would be a plus.
I wouldn’t tear my hair out with any of these men in office. I think they would all do a pretty decent job based on what we know about them.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:15 pm:
While you are lookin’ for the legal fee answer here is another CFS moment that points to a D pick-up in Lake Co after the GOPs are done chewing on each other ….thanks a ton
Hoffman’s ad is HALF an ad; it is very weak in explaining the issue to anybody not already aware of it. I would re-cut it and add narration explaining this argument more succinctly.
Shillerstrom’s ad is a knockoff of the Bleacher Bums stage play setup, but all I got out of it was that he hates Lovie Smith:-P It will be about as useful as that musical jingle one last week about D… Do… um, what’s his name again, Dole?
I don’t agree with Proft on, well, anything, but his ad last week was really well done.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:33 pm:
Giannoulais has just lost my vote — he can get it back by dropping the use of the Consumer Reports logo. This ticks the heck out of me –C.R. does wonderful work, far more good for you and I than Giannoulais will EVER DO. The fact that he’d just blow off a policy that every respectable company follows says a lot about his character.
Where did all of Schillerstrom’s money go?? the guy had close to $1 million over a year ago and now he can only afford small buy (read: microscopic) 3 weeks before the election.
- The Alexi Ad Hoffman Should Run - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:14 pm:
I think Hoffman is missing a huge opportunity to redefine Alexi as an empty ambitious phony who doesn’t really stand for anything.
Watch Alexi’s announcement speech. It looks just more like a young Greek guy doing an Obama impersonation than Alexi giving a speech about who he is and what he’s about. The delivery, the intonation, the cadence, the gestures, the pregnant pauses, yes, even the dialect–it’s all an Obama imitation, and a darn good one.
Then a message like, we need a senator not a copycat, an innovator not an imitator, a leader not a wannabee.
This kind of ad would speak directly to Alexi’s character, his lack of individual substance, his willingness to follow any playbook to win.
His announcement speech is such an outright mimic when I watched it I almost felt embarrassed for Alexi for wanting so much to be Obama-lite. This kind of ad would make him look like an empty jacket w/ no substance. And it’s a better approach than trying to land a punch on the same issues Hoffman has been hitting at all along.
CR has asked him not to use it, as has Morningstar. He completely misrepresents the CR and Money Magazine articles. It’s as if someone gave a buy recommendation for Enron or Madoff right before the collapse. Kind of misrepresents the world as it really is.
Glad I’m not the only one who noticed. It’s just hard to turn that into a 30 second spot. Maybe he’ll do something about that during the debate.
- The Alexi Ad Hoffman Should Run - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:24 pm:
Even if it can’t be done in 30 seconds, a funny web video could make the point very well and get forwarded around quite a bit.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:50 pm:
This may be the only time I’ll get to “scoop” Rich: I just got an email from Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign: they are dropping both the logo and the use of C.R.’s name. I think they underestimated how protective people are of institutions that protect them, but whatever the reason glad to see they didn’t dig in their heels.
Voted (early voting) for BOB. He had me worried there for a second - BOB - the real Springfield outsider - was looking lost in the Andy McKenna hair weave.
An excellent point and one I normally would get right. And while I would grant you a “touche” on the ag term point lofted up to the big city, I have to say I spent about eight summers working on farms so I’ll just have to chalk it up to a brain fart.
Oh, and glad Alexi finally backed off of using CR. Now maybe he’ll tell the truth about their rankings. Nahhh.
Martin has a new radio ad knocking Mark Kirk. I will NOT state the content here, it is…I do not have words for it…this is terrible way to try to get elected.
Really, he’s not trying to win. He’s trying to get attention. Unfortunately Channel 7 and the League of Women Voters decided to give him some at this week’s debate by throwing out their 5% threshold for participation. Wonder if he’s going to call Kirk a “defacto pedophile” on TV too?
Why does anyone treat “Andy Martin” like a remotely legitimate candidate? He was a nut when he was “Anthony Martin-Trigona” and he’s still a nut. Doesn’t anyone remember the outrageous accusations he made in the 70’s against federal judge Harold Baker (among others)? They had to bring in federal judges from other states to hear his numerous and invariably ridiculous lawsuits.
I like the B-Storm Ad. It’s funny. Probably too late for name recognition, but funny. What’s the buy?
The Hoffman ad is great, and a whole lot better than the lame stuff he was putting out before.
“I lost money because of Alexi.” Sweet. They should get their digital cameras out there and get some more, diverse, testimonials. Then you need the money to put them on the air.
Well, well, well, Hoffman has another as designed to be put on Miller’s blog. Great. I can’t wait for election day for Rich to get a good look at his influence in Illinois. I don’t mind looking a candidate over, but when are you going to look into Hoffman? Why not start by asking where he got all the cash he put into his own campaign?
BTW, Hoffman got both the Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune Endorsement. My favorite line from the Trib:
“Hoffman is what Illinoisans deserve — and should expect — in a United States senator. He’s an incorruptible man who tells truth to power, and his commitment to open and honest government is unquestioned.”
Chicago Cynic, I question the statement that Hoffman is “incorruptible” and “his commitment to open and honest government is unquestioned.”
The facts are he took a position that should be non-political and politicized it. One example is his parking meter report was a rush job of dubious quality. It looked and smelled of political opportunism to me. This hurts not only future IGs for the City of Chicago, but IGs everywhere. If he was truly a good government person he would not be using the IG post as the platform for his campaign.
I must admit that I always have a bit of disdain for someone who never has run for office in their life and wants to start out at the top of the ticket. It doesn’t help when that person has inherited money and has a sense of entitlement.
To be honest, I’m close to describing Alexi, but at least he has worked his way up (a small bit).
The bottomline is I’m equally unimpressed with all the candidates on the Dem and Rep sides. I may sit this race out.
Not sure I agree with your characterization of the parking meter report. Hoffman’s promotion of the various forms of cronyism and corruption in the Daley Administration was a hugely helpful development. Exposure is in and of itself a necessary step in rooting out corruption.
And while I’ve heard arguments about the quality of Hoffman’s parking meter report, I happen to think he was right. It was a bad deal, not just a bad implementation. And given how the Daley Administration played hide the pea with the deal, I’m not sure he had a choice in how to go after this deal.
Hurckes brother gets 30 days off right before the election? Even if it’s unpaid, I’m not sure that was the way to handle it. I think I’d make him serve it a month from now.
- knightandbishop - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:28 pm:
bob’s ad reminds me of the old “schmidt happens” ads…those were axelrod’s play if i recall correctly…
- knightandbishop - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:33 pm:
IMHO, whatever your politics, hoffman’s ad is good business…nothing worse than getting punched by mom…
LIVE session coverage...
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:25 am:
Alexi is reaping what he sewed. Had he not claimed Bright Start failure as success, this victim never would have come forward and this ad never would have happened. It’s not helpful for Alexi.
- shore - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:27 am:
The schillerstrom ad is really good. It’s hard to do a non traditional ad well, and have it connect, but that one does.
the hoffman ad is really awful, the woman’s words are mangled, it takes a fastball down the middle of the plate-alexi’s screw up and instead of hitting it out of the park, turns into a weak groundout. The message is confused and the wording is poor, roulette wheel? Not good.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:45 am:
Too much there just let me know if anyone reported which “reformer”’s law firm was slurping up ome legal fee gravy from IL bond work?
- Team Sleep - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:46 am:
Chairman Bob’s ad is pretty good. I enjoy humor in ads way more than negativity. Paul Vallas’s ads in 2002 put a smile in my face instead of a wont to change the channel. Bob’s ad is not too far off.
- NoLikeAlexi - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:47 am:
Alexi is going to win this primary unless some big changes happen, fast.
This ad has everything to help spur that change. It’s a really solid ad.
The Alexi ad is an outrage. Everyone referenced in it– families who lost money, Consumer Reports, newspapers referenced in the ad– they have all denounced it.
Question: do Illinois Democrats really care that they’re about to send an immensely flawed candidate against the Republicans this Fall?
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:51 am:
We all know about Bright Start. How about some other issue?
Time to come up with more stuff, Mr. Hoffman. You have their attention, but Giannoulais is still standing at home plate with only one strike against him. At least foul him out.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:56 am:
I like the Schillerstrom ad too, and I’d rate this as the best I’ve seen posted here so far. It will give him a nice bump in name recognition and appeals to the perfect demographic for him.
Two other observations: with the sound off, I thought it was a negative spot and the “fans” were ripping on some poor candidate. Sound dramatically changed the ad.
Also, if he can’t afford enough TV time, and if he isn’t already doing so, he should use the audio of this ad on radio. If you close your eyes and listen, this would be a great ad on ESPN or the Score.
- Will County Woman - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:57 am:
Mark Kirk is Illinois’ best hope for the U.S. Senate period! irrepsective of political party.
If there is one bright spot on this year’s election ballot, it is him.
I am 100 percent + confident in his abilities to be a U.S. Senator, as demonstrated by his service as a U.S. House of Rep member and other credintials.
- just sayin' - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 11:57 am:
The Bob S. ad is crass and kinda juvenile. Not what he needs to be doing if he’s planning to finish above 5%.
- Will County Woman - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:01 pm:
The Schillerstrom is very good. I give an A. But, I just don’t see him being able to pull ahead at this late point.
- Responsa - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:05 pm:
SchillerStorm ad is great. One of the few political ads in a very long time that I would actually look forward to seeing multiple times. Good use of sports metaphors also shows he spends some time in the real world and “gets” Illinoisans.
A+
- Big Policy Nerd - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:06 pm:
Decent ad from Schillerstrom, appeals to the angry/talk radio GOP primary voter. But Proft or Adamjewski are going to win those votes. Shillerstrom will finish dead last. Andy McKenna is all over Chicago TV even though he doesn’t’ have the cojones to show up at the City Club debate or any other GOP forums. Sometimes you see two of his ads during the same two minute commercial break. It’s going to be tough for the others to get a message through on TV if he keeps this rate of spending up. I am not saying his ads are working, but the TV airwaves already are saturated with political spiels.
- Levois - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:09 pm:
That vid from Bob Schillerstrom even made it onto MSNBC’s First Read blog
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/11/2170094.aspx
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:14 pm:
That is a nice, logical endorsement for Mr. Kirk, WCW. It is bipartisan, and based on some measureable facts.
Let’s see Mr. Hoffman’s and Mr. Giannoulais’ supporters do the same. An endorsement based on bipartisan appeal, and measureable historical facts.
I can say that Mr. Hoffman has done a very credible job in public service and while not in an elected position, his record is admirable. I see his public stands on the issues to be less partisan than our current Senator, and the previous one, now in the White House.
Mr. Giannoulais has exceeded expectation a few times. While Bright Start is a black eye for him, and it is not entirely his fault, Alexi hasn’t hurt himself in office during the worse administration in Illinois history. Mr. Giannoulais has only one term in a second tier statewide office. However, Mr. Giannoulais is most definately partisan in his politics. Moreso, that either Mr. Kirk or Mr. Hoffman. Considering the last two US Senators in this seat, Mr. Giannoulais’ partisanship isn’t unnatural. Compared to Dick Durbin, Mr. Giannoulais looks almost like a centrist, which would be a plus.
I wouldn’t tear my hair out with any of these men in office. I think they would all do a pretty decent job based on what we know about them.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:15 pm:
While you are lookin’ for the legal fee answer here is another CFS moment that points to a D pick-up in Lake Co after the GOPs are done chewing on each other ….thanks a ton
- Amalia - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:18 pm:
Hoffman’s ad is great. he’s probably sending it around via email, especially to women, and he should buy more time if he can.
- Some Guy - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:28 pm:
Hoffman’s ad is HALF an ad; it is very weak in explaining the issue to anybody not already aware of it. I would re-cut it and add narration explaining this argument more succinctly.
Shillerstrom’s ad is a knockoff of the Bleacher Bums stage play setup, but all I got out of it was that he hates Lovie Smith:-P It will be about as useful as that musical jingle one last week about D… Do… um, what’s his name again, Dole?
I don’t agree with Proft on, well, anything, but his ad last week was really well done.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:33 pm:
Giannoulais has just lost my vote — he can get it back by dropping the use of the Consumer Reports logo. This ticks the heck out of me –C.R. does wonderful work, far more good for you and I than Giannoulais will EVER DO. The fact that he’d just blow off a policy that every respectable company follows says a lot about his character.
- Easy - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 12:53 pm:
Where did all of Schillerstrom’s money go?? the guy had close to $1 million over a year ago and now he can only afford small buy (read: microscopic) 3 weeks before the election.
- The Alexi Ad Hoffman Should Run - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:14 pm:
I think Hoffman is missing a huge opportunity to redefine Alexi as an empty ambitious phony who doesn’t really stand for anything.
Watch Alexi’s announcement speech. It looks just more like a young Greek guy doing an Obama impersonation than Alexi giving a speech about who he is and what he’s about. The delivery, the intonation, the cadence, the gestures, the pregnant pauses, yes, even the dialect–it’s all an Obama imitation, and a darn good one.
Then a message like, we need a senator not a copycat, an innovator not an imitator, a leader not a wannabee.
This kind of ad would speak directly to Alexi’s character, his lack of individual substance, his willingness to follow any playbook to win.
His announcement speech is such an outright mimic when I watched it I almost felt embarrassed for Alexi for wanting so much to be Obama-lite. This kind of ad would make him look like an empty jacket w/ no substance. And it’s a better approach than trying to land a punch on the same issues Hoffman has been hitting at all along.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:15 pm:
LCD,
CR has asked him not to use it, as has Morningstar. He completely misrepresents the CR and Money Magazine articles. It’s as if someone gave a buy recommendation for Enron or Madoff right before the collapse. Kind of misrepresents the world as it really is.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:16 pm:
The Alexi Ad,
Glad I’m not the only one who noticed. It’s just hard to turn that into a 30 second spot. Maybe he’ll do something about that during the debate.
- The Alexi Ad Hoffman Should Run - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:24 pm:
Even if it can’t be done in 30 seconds, a funny web video could make the point very well and get forwarded around quite a bit.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 1:50 pm:
This may be the only time I’ll get to “scoop” Rich: I just got an email from Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign: they are dropping both the logo and the use of C.R.’s name. I think they underestimated how protective people are of institutions that protect them, but whatever the reason glad to see they didn’t dig in their heels.
- girllawyer - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 2:21 pm:
Um, Chicago Cynic, you reap what you “sow” not what you “sew”. It’s an agricultural term so perhaps little known in Chicago.
- washedmyhands - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 2:23 pm:
Voted (early voting) for BOB. He had me worried there for a second - BOB - the real Springfield outsider - was looking lost in the Andy McKenna hair weave.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
Girllawyer,
An excellent point and one I normally would get right. And while I would grant you a “touche” on the ag term point lofted up to the big city, I have to say I spent about eight summers working on farms so I’ll just have to chalk it up to a brain fart.
Oh, and glad Alexi finally backed off of using CR. Now maybe he’ll tell the truth about their rankings. Nahhh.
- really? - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 2:39 pm:
Martin has a new radio ad knocking Mark Kirk. I will NOT state the content here, it is…I do not have words for it…this is terrible way to try to get elected.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 3:00 pm:
Really, he’s not trying to win. He’s trying to get attention. Unfortunately Channel 7 and the League of Women Voters decided to give him some at this week’s debate by throwing out their 5% threshold for participation. Wonder if he’s going to call Kirk a “defacto pedophile” on TV too?
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 3:45 pm:
Is there a good reason Joe Hurckes isn’t being fired and prosecuted?
- Amuzing Myself - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 3:56 pm:
Schillerstrom’s ad wins points for “cute” and getting attention, but sure not very flattering for a candidate for Governor, IMO.
Somebody mentioned a “three-week” buy, but you called it “modest”, Rich. What’s “modest”? And don’t say “less than McKenna.” ;)
- Patrick McDonough - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 4:15 pm:
David Hoffman was on the Tom Roeser WLD Radio show last night. He held his own despite the grilling by Tom and Republican Journalist Russ Stewart.
- girllawyer - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 4:29 pm:
Why does anyone treat “Andy Martin” like a remotely legitimate candidate? He was a nut when he was “Anthony Martin-Trigona” and he’s still a nut. Doesn’t anyone remember the outrageous accusations he made in the 70’s against federal judge Harold Baker (among others)? They had to bring in federal judges from other states to hear his numerous and invariably ridiculous lawsuits.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 4:33 pm:
I like the B-Storm Ad. It’s funny. Probably too late for name recognition, but funny. What’s the buy?
The Hoffman ad is great, and a whole lot better than the lame stuff he was putting out before.
“I lost money because of Alexi.” Sweet. They should get their digital cameras out there and get some more, diverse, testimonials. Then you need the money to put them on the air.
- T.PeterSimmons - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 4:42 pm:
Well, well, well, Hoffman has another as designed to be put on Miller’s blog. Great. I can’t wait for election day for Rich to get a good look at his influence in Illinois. I don’t mind looking a candidate over, but when are you going to look into Hoffman? Why not start by asking where he got all the cash he put into his own campaign?
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 6:05 pm:
T.,
It’s not a secret that Hoffman’s grandparent’s founded Geico.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 6:08 pm:
BTW, Hoffman got both the Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune Endorsement. My favorite line from the Trib:
“Hoffman is what Illinoisans deserve — and should expect — in a United States senator. He’s an incorruptible man who tells truth to power, and his commitment to open and honest government is unquestioned.”
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 7:10 pm:
CFS, I saw that in The Bond Buyer last week.
Aside from that change, it’s the same old gang.
- Objective Dem - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 7:36 pm:
Chicago Cynic, I question the statement that Hoffman is “incorruptible” and “his commitment to open and honest government is unquestioned.”
The facts are he took a position that should be non-political and politicized it. One example is his parking meter report was a rush job of dubious quality. It looked and smelled of political opportunism to me. This hurts not only future IGs for the City of Chicago, but IGs everywhere. If he was truly a good government person he would not be using the IG post as the platform for his campaign.
I must admit that I always have a bit of disdain for someone who never has run for office in their life and wants to start out at the top of the ticket. It doesn’t help when that person has inherited money and has a sense of entitlement.
To be honest, I’m close to describing Alexi, but at least he has worked his way up (a small bit).
The bottomline is I’m equally unimpressed with all the candidates on the Dem and Rep sides. I may sit this race out.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 11, 10 @ 10:33 pm:
Objective Dem,
Not sure I agree with your characterization of the parking meter report. Hoffman’s promotion of the various forms of cronyism and corruption in the Daley Administration was a hugely helpful development. Exposure is in and of itself a necessary step in rooting out corruption.
And while I’ve heard arguments about the quality of Hoffman’s parking meter report, I happen to think he was right. It was a bad deal, not just a bad implementation. And given how the Daley Administration played hide the pea with the deal, I’m not sure he had a choice in how to go after this deal.
- irving & ashland - Tuesday, Jan 12, 10 @ 1:14 am:
Hurckes brother gets 30 days off right before the election? Even if it’s unpaid, I’m not sure that was the way to handle it. I think I’d make him serve it a month from now.
- knightandbishop - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:28 pm:
bob’s ad reminds me of the old “schmidt happens” ads…those were axelrod’s play if i recall correctly…
- knightandbishop - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:33 pm:
IMHO, whatever your politics, hoffman’s ad is good business…nothing worse than getting punched by mom…