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* After raising over $800,000 through mid-January and winning the primary with 71 percent of the vote, GOP congressional frontrunner Aaron Schock has decided he can raise even more and give it away to other congressional candidates…
Schock, the GOP nominee to succeed retiring seven-term Republican Ray LaHood , has formed a “leadership” political action committee (PAC) to help Republican candidates who also are seeking re-election to or membership in the upcoming 111th Congress.
It is hardly unusual for members of Congress to set up leadership PACs. These fundraising vehicles, which collect money from donors and mete it out to other candidates of the same party, once were mainly the province of top party leaders but have proliferated through the ranks in recent years.
But it is still extremely rare for a candidate who has not yet arrived in Congress to establish a leadership PAC — especially someone like Schock, who still is roughly seven months out from the general election that he expects to send him to Washington. Schock faces a viable though longshot challenger in Democratic farm broadcaster Colleen Callahan.
Schock, a 26-year-old state representative from Peoria touted by some Republicans as one of his party’s rising stars, has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to form his leadership PAC, just two months after his victory in the Feb. 5 Republican primary. The committee, which has been dubbed the “GOP Generation Y Fund”, will give donations this fall to Republican candidates in close races for the U.S. House, said Steven Shearer, Schock’s campaign manager and the treasurer of the leadership PAC.
Barack Obama did the same thing a few years ago, and it has helped his presidential campaign a lot.
Schock may be presumptuous, but he ain’t dumb.
* Meanwhile, Hiram informs us of this interesting turn of events…
While the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has long targeted the 6th Congressional District where Democrat Jill Morgenthaler is battling one-term incumbent Republican Peter Roskam, the DCCC now is targeting the 13th District where Democrat Scott Harper faces incumbent Republican Judy Biggert.
Harper is not on the DCCC’s successful “Red to Blue” program, which would indicate serious financial support, but the Dems appear to be expanding the playing field a bit here.
* Harper press release…
Harper reported raising $134,115 this quarter with $103,463.54 cash on hand. By March 31 of this year, Harper had raised $247,410, which is more than any Democratic candidate in this district has ever raised for an entire cycle.
* More congressional stuff…
* Oak Lawn to hire lobbyist
* Pro-Life Women’s Political Group Kicks Off 2008 Election Effort
* Bush signs bill backed by Danny Davis to help ex-convicts
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 10:07 am
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“Oak Lawn to hire lobbyist”
What happened to Lipinski Jr’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Jerry ‘I take care of that’ Hurkes?
Maybe Hurkes only voted against it because he thinks the $55k should go to him for all the pork he claims to have brought home to Oak Lawn thanks to his job as Chief of Staff for a Congressman…
Also from that Southtown Star article:
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Claiming that he had received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls of support, Hurckes said he planned to try to “stay above the fray” in the future.
“That’ll be a refreshing change,” Phelan commented when his turn to speak arrived.
–
LOL.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 10:13 am
far be it from me to tell the DCCC what to do, but wouldn’t their resources be spent in a more wise fashion targeting Kirk?
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 10:18 am
It’s not like Oak Lawn was hurtin’ for earmarks.
The Southtown article also references the fact that Oak Lawn has not exactly been neglected in the whole earmarking process:
“A review of a list of earmarks in the 2005 transportation bill indicates only a handful of communities in northeastern Illinois received as much as Oak Lawn.”
This kinda begs the question…well not really.
But dunno how much they got from State of Illinois, but maybe they should consider a state lobbyist, too.
Or a County lobbyist even
Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 10:27 am
The unfortunate thing with all this political sniping is that the residents of Oak Lawn are the ones who get hurt in the end.
The SouthtownStar also correctly notes that Oak Lawn has been sitting on the federal transportation funds.
They haven’t even gotten back to IDOT to get the earmarked funds released:
“Trustees also have made much of the fact that the amount originally was $4.1 million, expressing bewilderment about the supposed reduction. In fact, the village received two separate earmarks: One for $3.92 million for roadwork and one for $192,000 for traffic signals. The traffic signal money still is available, according to IDOT.
The larger earmark also is administered by IDOT. A letter about the money sent to the village’s former director of public works by IDOT in September 2006 states the agency had not yet heard from the village. It asks the village to contact officials “to schedule a kick-off meeting during which the project’s scope, schedule and budget will be discussed.”
Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 10:34 am
The DCCC is using the damaged rep of republicans in IL and on the national scene to try and make inroads in some other elections. Its probably a good startegy. They put a few additional resoruces (but do not commit one the scale of red to blue) into folks like Harper, hoping a little extra push and a piggy back off an Obama win could change the tide.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 10:54 am
The ongoing evolution of Illinois’ politics is fascinating. To see Democrats in seats formerly held by Phil Crane and Denny Hastert is amazing. With Obama as the likely nominee, it could truly be a rout of suburban Congressional Republicans this year.
The question then becomes, at the next redistricting, do the two parties get together and craft an incumbent protection plan, a la Lipinski/Hastert. Or, assuming that the Dems will get to draw the map, do the Dems go for the throat? My guess is Rahm Emmanuel will get the honor of drawing the Congressional Map and there will be no accommodation with the GOP.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 11:03 am
“I thank you for your interest in my career,” Hurckes later remarked.
This line cracked me up. This from a guy who, AFTER the election was calling empolyers of people who didn’t back Lipinski questioning their lack of support for Lipinski….basically trying to get them fired.
Hurkes has made so many enemies and now all those folks are sitting back enjoying the well deserved attacks coming his way. Keep above the fray Jerry, you have so much experience at that!
Comment by Oak Lawner goner Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 11:46 am
Amazing to me that CQ can run a story like this and NOT mention that Schock is also facing Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer of Peoria. The Green Party is one of only three legally established, major parties in the State of Illinois. Don’t these guys check with the State Board of Elections to see who the candidates are?
Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 12:08 pm
I agree that CQ should have reported on Schafer’s campaign. If more people know about him, he’ll get more votes. That would split the liberal vote and help Schock win.
Comment by PhilCollins Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 1:07 pm
Squideshi - he’s not viable. no green candidates for US House are viable.
Greens are only viable as protest vote recipients against BlagoPinka.
Comment by jerry 101 Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 1:28 pm
“Squideshi - he’s not viable. no green candidates for US House are viable.”
That’s a bunch of baloney. Sheldon is a well-known and respected member of his community.
Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 1:46 pm
Who is Sheldon?
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 3:09 pm
“assuming that the Dems will get to draw the map, do the Dems go for the throat?”
Assuming that 2006 was a fluke because of the anti-war sentiments at the time (which may now have changed), they’ll be holding on to their own throats when they decide what to do.
Illinois will lose 1 seat.
That lost seat will come out of Chicago. What is more, Chicago will lose another seat on top which will go to the western and southwestern suburbs.
4, 5, 7 and 9 will lose one and 11, 13 and 14 will add one.
So, we may see Emanuel v. Schakowsky.
It will be a wonder to behold.
The machine guy against the lake front liberal.
Comment by True Observer Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 3:26 pm
Squideshi,
Your enthusiasm and strong support for your party is admirable, but realistically the way that 18th district leans and the amount of money that Schock can raise plus his name recognize means that Democrats have about zero chance of winning in it and the Greens have even less. Sheldon may well be a respect member of his community but I suspect to about 90 percent of the voters in the 18th district have no idea who is. So given all of that no he is not viable and it will probably be a long time before the Greens are viable in US House race in Illinois and they be far better served to focus their limited resources on local/county and maybe a handful of state house race were they may have some kind of a chance.
Comment by RMW Stanford Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 3:40 pm
Ravenswood,
The DCCC is targeting Cong. Kirk. Dan Seals is on the “Red to Blue” program, as Rich has noted.
–
True Observer,
There are still some Republicans in the Congressional delegation and chances are — since Phil Crane is no longer in Congress
— a 2010/11 remap effort will try to combine two R seats rather than what happened last time. Just because Chicago is losing population quicker relative to the rest of the state doesn’t mean Congressmen from Chicago are going to willingly give up their seats (and it is very likely Dems will continue to hold both chambers and the guv’s office in Springfield).
Roskam might get paired up against another Republican, for instance, as the districts grow larger geographically.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 4:59 pm
Schrock seems to be putting the cart before the horse. I realize the Dem is a longshot but she is sufficiently tested and socially conservative enough to win. It does not seem anyone has played hard ball with him and if her numbers are good the DCCC will do it. The National Republicans may not have the money to support him in the long run because of the other contested races here. The think he is in for a bumppy ride to say the least.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 10, 08 @ 6:29 pm