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* Press release…
The Kirk For Senate campaign launched a new television ad, titled “Even More,” that highlights Senator Mark Kirk’s courageous and independent record in Congress. The ad, airing on Chicago broadcast and cable networks, details Kirk’s independent and bipartisan record, including his demand for a vote on Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland along with Kirk’s refusal to support Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“As the partisanship and gridlock in Washington intensifies, Senator Kirk remains an independent-minded, reform-driven solution seeker,” said Kevin Artl, Kirk For Senate campaign manager. “Senator Kirk continues to put partisanship aside to to find common sense solutions for the people of Illinois.”
* As I told you yesterday, this is about a $250K buy, and it’s only running on Chicago TV, prompting one Democrat with the Duckworth campaign to crack wise earlier today…
Thinking we won’t respond to Kirk’s ad, we’ll just run the same ad in Downstate markets….
Heh.
It’s most definitely not your usual GOP ad.
* Rate it…
* Script…
Long before his stroke, Mark Kirk was independent, ranked as one of the most bipartisan Senators.
After facing death, Kirk returned even more committed to serve Illinois.
Mark was the first Republican to support a vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.
He’s a leader on protecting a woman’s right to choose.
And Mark Kirk bucked his party to say Donald Trump is not fit to be commander in chief.
Mark Kirk, courageous and independent.
I’m Mark Kirk, and I approve this message.
…Adding… So, they did decide to respond…
In response to Republican Mark Kirk’s new campaign spot, released today and running only in Chicago according to reports, Duckworth deputy campaign manager Matt McGrath issued the following statement:
“Republican Senator Mark Kirk has lied for years about his military record, falsely claiming to have served in combat and claiming an award he never earned, and now he’s not being straight with Illinois voters by portraying himself as a liberal Democrat in Chicago while apparently hoping no one else across the state notices. You can always count on two things from Kirk: dishonesty and crude political calculation, and this ad has an abundance of both.” — Matt McGrath, campaign spokesman
* Meanwhile, here’s the Tribune…
But in a new twist on [a scheduled August workplace retaliation trial in Downstate Union County involving two workers at the Anna Veterans Home], the court docket shows that a pretrial settlement conference has been scheduled for Friday. Duckworth is being represented by the Illinois attorney general’s office.
Kirk campaign manager Kevin Artl jumped on the idea of a settlement, suggesting that Duckworth “does not want the truth to come out.”
“After weeks of dodging questions about whether or not she will testify at her own trial, Duckworth is now answering that question by engaging in behind-the-scenes settlement talks in order to avoid a trial and having to take the stand,” Artl said.
“What makes this situation even more egregious is that Illinois taxpayers will ultimately have to pay the bill for Duckworth’s improper actions,” he said.
…Adding… So, Duckworth’s campaign responded to the TV ad, but not about the trial?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:07 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Solid Ad by kirk for chicago audience. reinforces his independent street cred. B+
duckworth trial issues are like a festering rash that will not go away and she just keeps making it worse.
Comment by Peets Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:09 am
I’m Mark Kirk, and I hope you think I’m a democrat.
Comment by Saluki Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:13 am
The ad probably works for Kirk pretty well. Sometimes it’s worth it to watch without sound. If you do that you see the stroke through to a successful rehab (at least in the commercial it looks almost complete) Downstate GOPers have always had to plug their nose and vote for Kirk. They’ll do it again. The ad is a strong pass.
On the settlement….it’s pretty damaging too. Any settlement is read as an admission of guilt. There must be some concern that a trial would not just be time consuming, but even cause more damage. Interesting turn. She should have settled this years ago. If she did, it’d be a footnote now.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:14 am
Keep in mind some courts require pre-trial settlement conferences to potentially avoid trials and excessive use of court resources. Even those that don’t, when the judge suggests one, you usually go. Just because a conference has been scheduled, I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:16 am
“Never mistake activity for achievement” - John Wooden.
A buy this small a seems to be pointing more at just showing “Hey! We’re here!” than moving any significant numbers.
To the “trial”, yikes. It’s like impinging your hopes on a phone bill, Danny Kaffee style.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:17 am
I sure miss CANDIDATE Mark Kirk from 2010. Wonder what ever happened to him?
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:18 am
The trial seems to be just a surprise gift for the kirk camp. the schedule and court action keeps it in the press. Can’t believe Duckworth has allowed this to happen to her.
Comment by Matlock Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:23 am
You would think he’s hoping to be selected for vice president on the democratic ticket.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:32 am
The ad is fine, provided you don’t consider his being in office for the past six years with nothing to show for it…other than the open letter to Iran.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:35 am
So Kirk’s message is , “Hey, I’m a Democrat too!”?
So now he’s pretty much kicked any GOP rank and file support he may have had to the curb, lost even the most moderate conservative voters, lost any “right to life” support he needs to get elected, and doesn’t have a chance in heck of getting any military support over Duckworth.
If you want a liberal Senator who’ll do exactly what Schumer tells her to do without question, you vote for Duckworth.
What did Kirk think would happen to give him a chance at winning? Why is he even running?
Finally, how badly will the coming electoral disaster affect Kevin Artl’s career prospects? This won’t look good on his resume’.
He’s got NO chance here
Comment by Illinois Bob Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:35 am
If the Dem’s retake the Senate, especially in the class 2 election of 2020 ( 22 GOP seats) watch Kirk pull a Richard Shelby and switch parties.
Comment by Susan B. Anthony Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:36 am
The Kirk reference to Judge Garland is the perfect illustration of why Kirk’s supposed moderation is meaningless from an actual policy perspective. Kirk only takes “stands” supported by moderates and Dems when his vote has no chance to actually effect policy. Kirk was great at staging the Garland photo op but not so great at actually getting his Republican colleagues to hold a hearing, much less hold a vote for Garland.
There just isn’t any reason to believe that if Kirk were the deciding vote on an issue of importance, that he would go against his own party. Kirk is the same guy who claimed that Obama wanted to get Iran nuclear weapons, and the same guy who backed Trump for 3 months even after all of Trump’s overt racism, xenophobia and misogyny. The reality is that he’s not a moderate, at least not when it matters.
Comment by slow down Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:43 am
Great. Ad.
Comment by View from the Cheap Seats Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:59 am
Many here seem to be rating the ad as if everyone is a policy wonk. They are not. This ad makes Kirk look reasonable and moderate. Something many voters are yearning to see. Solid A.
Comment by Stand Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 10:07 am
Simple yet effective ad.
Comment by Clark Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 10:10 am
CommandoMakeItUp really was for
Trump then got orders from BigBrain….no time to let him off the hook
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 10:23 am
The ad underscores Kirk’s dilemma. He needs to get as many moderate and independent votes he can find while hoping that he gets the support of the Republican “base” as it exists today. Talk about trying to thread the needle. The RINO crowd will yell he’s not a conservative while the liberals claim that he is.
Comment by pundent Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 10:34 am
==- A guy - Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:14 am:==
==Downstate GOPers have always had to plug their nose and vote for Kirk.==
“Always” being a single time in one of the biggest wave years in the history of the country where they barely got him over the hump.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 10:35 am
===Downstate GOPers have always had to plug their nose and vote for Kirk.===
“Always”?
How many times has downstate had the opportunity to vote for Kirk… you know… so it’s always.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 10:50 am
“You can always count on two things from Kirk: dishonesty and crude political calculation, and this ad has an abundance of both.” Specifics?
Re: the settlement conference. Ron Burgundy is right. This is standard. As for “behind the scenes”, I’ve never in all my years of practice heard of a pre-trial conference being open to the press and public.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:02 am
Looks familiar, Art…
https://youtu.be/ZUpWRAJEBJo
Comment by Cmon Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:10 am
Meh. If I want someone pro-Garland, pro-choice, and anti-Trump, I’m just gonna vote for the Democrat, thanks. Best he can do, though.
Anything that keeps Duckworth’s case from going to trial is a gift to her (and trial is by no means fatal, the fervent hopes of the beleaguered Kirk campaign aside). Persuadable voters aren’t going to be moved by talk of a settlement. They won’t even be able to stay awake for it.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:11 am
Artl*
Comment by Cmon Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:11 am
===How many times has downstate had the opportunity to vote for Kirk… you know… so it’s always.===
2 primaries and one general. 3 times, going on 4.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:16 am
- A Guy -
The Primaries you speak of had Kirk comfortably winning, no holding their noses to protect Kirk from certain defeat.
One race, ONE… Six years ago had Kirk face a General Election voter universe, and it wasn’t a POTUS voting universe.
Something that has t happened, “4″, doesn’t count as having happened yet.
One. One time.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:22 am
Let me copy and paste and repeat your question verbatim:
“How many times has downstate had the opportunity to vote for Kirk”
Asked and answered. Simmer down Sparky. They’ll plug their noses and vote for him again.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 11:57 am
- A Guy -,
This holding of noses is the question. Substantial primary victories do not resonate with holding of noses, especially when you have no criteria to measure that bar of equivelancy.
How do you measure that, the holding of all these noses?
There was one race, ONE… that the “squeaking by” can be a measurable to choosing one or another in a tight race, choosing Kirk over Alexi, with a spoiler thrown in too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 12:04 pm
If you want to make the case Kirk was in trouble in both primaries, and asking GOP voters to hold their noses and vote for Kirk, please make that case.
“Always” gives this impression of vulnerability.
Both primaries had no such feel.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 12:07 pm
Guns are conspicuously absent from the spot.
I doubt the Duckworth campaign will let him remain silent on that.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Mark Kirk is a true independent leader. We cannot elect Duckworth! She is going to trial for ethics violations!
Comment by Sam Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Still won’t vote for him, matter how good/bad/indifferent his ads are on tv.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 12:45 pm
Oh Willy, you’re trying too hard here and it ain’t that big a deal. Most Republicans, from right of center to conservative, hold their noses when they vote for Kirk. In any race. Fortunately, the other party continues to retool with very, very left leaning candidates. That actually helps Kirk tremendously with the indies. It’s a tight formula, but it’s been a winning formula. The Stroke changes some things. Had he not had it, he’d be an excellent bet.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 12:55 pm
- A Guy -
The two Primary results say otherwise, with Kirk winning handily, and ONE race… one… where Kirk could face that ridiculous “always”
That’s one.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:02 pm
Lots of conservatives “no vote” in primaries with Kirk. In a general, they have (once) rationalized the vote to hold the chamber. And they’ll do it again. Begrudgingly for a lot of them.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:09 pm
“The Stroke changes some things. Had he not had it, he’d be an excellent bet.”
Nope. Never in this life time. To me, lying about military service and claiming medals which were not earned or awarded is stealing valor and is indicative of very low character.
Holding ones nose to support somebody of such low character is never an option.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:13 pm
So “always” is now “once”
That’s fun.
Words matter.
===And they’ll do it again. Begrudgingly for a lot of them.===
You continually speak for many, and use words that at times mean very little to their meaning.
So always is now once.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:15 pm
I think I hear your mother calling you.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:29 pm
Oh - A Guy -
You “always” seem to… entertain, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:34 pm
===slow down - Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 9:43 am:==
Thank you! I have been saying this about Mark Kirk since he was my congressman in IL10. It kills me when people buy his faux moderate act, based on a few token votes that didn’t matter. By merely continuing to caucus with the Republicans, he undermines any moderate causes that he may claim to support.
Comment by Dr Kilovolt Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 1:56 pm
C- level spot. It sounds more directed to a 10th District audience than state-wide. So, great, north-shore moderate republicans can be happy to vote for him. Whoopee!
People seem to forget that the Plaintiff’s can ask for a pre-trial conference seeking a settlement. And those Plaintiffs are still operating with some discovery sanctions on them. The delay in bringing the case to this point was over the plaintiffs’ failure to produce discovery materials.
Comment by Springfieldish Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 2:17 pm
==The Stroke changes some things. Had he not had it, he’d be an excellent bet.==
Ha ha, the stroke is one of the best things he has going for him politically.
HINT: The VERY FIRST THING your positive TV spot mentions about you is one of your assets, not something keeping you from being “an excellent bet”.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Dr. Kilovolt, I too am an IL-10 voter and I’ve felt this way for a while. Bob Dold is exactly the same. He claims to be moderate and makes constant public statements to appeal to moderates, but he’s still a reliable vote for Paul Ryan and the tea party when they actually need him.
Comment by slow down Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 3:30 pm
Sorry Ars, the first thing your positive TV spot does here is take your biggest challenge out of play and turn it into a positive. This ad does that extremely well.
The pre-stroke Kirk voted and acted the same way with an edginess, feistiness, and superior way about him. His brand was Mr. Moderate. Afterwards, his votes have been the same, but his persona is far more vulnerable than the naval intel, physically fit guy he was. His filters got a little less effective too.
Thanks for playing.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 3:35 pm
==The Stroke changes some things. Had he not had it, he’d be an excellent bet.==
– the first thing your positive TV spot does here is take your biggest challenge out of play and turn it into a positive. This ad does that extremely well.–
These two guys are having quite a debate, don’t you think?
Maybe a third guy will chime in for the tiebreaker.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Sling, you really can’t sort that out?
I don’t think it’s ever an advantage to have a stroke, do you?
However, it has occurred, and I believe a big mission in this ad is to reassure people he’s functional. Make up your own mind on that.
Kirk had been an extremely effective campaigner, pre-stroke. The stroke needs to be seen as a challenge he overcame.
If you can’t get this, you should get a refund on your Hooked on phonics program.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 4:20 pm
Guys, no worries. Words just have different meanings on your planet.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 6:34 pm
Eh, not the campaigns best work, their ads are better when they belittle Duckworth.
Comment by UKAnon Thursday, Jun 23, 16 @ 7:19 pm
When did he become a Democrat? Oh yeah, about the same timeframe as the last time he ran.
Comment by Keepin' Track Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 10:16 am