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* The governor’s Tony Rezko problem is not just bad news for the governor…
‘’I think this strikes fear into the Blagojevich administration and the Statehouse Democrats but not into the Obama campaign,'’ says state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Westmont, a John McCain delegate to the GOP convention but an old friend of Obama.
* The governor is having a big impact on how local campaigns are being run…
A visitor peeking at Illinois’ legislative elections this year might assume that every Republican candidate is running against the same unlucky Democrat: Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The website for Dwight Kay, Republican challenger for the Collinsville-area seat in the Illinois House, touts an impeachment petition — not against his Democratic opponent this year, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, but against Blagojevich, who isn’t up for re-election for two more years.
John Cavaletto, the Republican candidate for the open House seat in the Carlyle area, names Democratic opponent Patti Hahn exactly one time on his website — while giving Blagojevich six mentions (none of them flattering).
And in deep Southern Illinois, Republican businessman Ken Burzynski is challenging incumbent state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton — though that’s not at all clear from the television ad Burzynski cut last month.
“Say ‘no’ to Blagojevich,” intones the announcer. “Ken Burzynski for state Senate.”
* Literally every contested state legislative race this fall features GOP attacks on Blagojevich. The Republican message is clear…
[State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna] McKenna hopes Blagojevich has more of an impact than Obama.
“In the state races, you’ve got this Blagojevich factor,” he said.
McKenna said voters are aware of problems in Springfield, and that the state Senate, House and governorship are all in the hands of the Democratic Party.
“There’s only one party to blame,” he said. “If you want change in the state, you want to vote Republican.”
* It’s not just Rezko, either…
The 86-acre farm is one of 24 state parks and historic sites set to close at the end of November, part of a plan by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to balance a more than $2 billion budget deficit that he blames on the General Assembly.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Crow, the economic development director in Randolph County. “The people in southern Illinois and Randolph County, we’re mad as hell. We’re tired of being caught between the leveraging that goes on between Chicago and Springfield.”
* And it’s not just state legislative races…
Democratic challenger Dan Seals and U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk have launched a new ad battle over tax hikes and the Iraq war. […]
Kirk’s new broadcast ad attempts to link Seals to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. The ad says Seals wants to raise taxes that 10th District residents can’t afford. […]
Kirk said Seals, Blagojevich and Stroger all represent “a philosophy of continuing tax hikes.”
The Rod and Todd show is appearing in just about every Chicago-area mailer and TV ad these days.
* More…
West suburban Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam is facing a political newcomer with comparatively little campaign money and no TV presence, yet he is spending money on a new ad blitz in an attempt to tie his foe to unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich and convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko.
A campaign spokesman insists Roskam is not concerned ahead of the Nov. 4 election, just being aggressive.
“We don’t take any opponent lightly. Any person who puts their name on the ballot is a credible opponent,” spokesman Matt Vriesema said.
Nobody knows yet whether any of this will work, but it’s about all the Republicans have this year to counter the growing national discontent with their party and their party’s presidential candidate, and the fact that Barack Obama is sure to carry Illinois in a big way.
*** UPDATE *** Oops. I forgot to mention a video I posted over the weekend. The DCCC is attempting to link Republican Marty Ozinga to Gov. Blagojevich…
Thoughts?
* Related…
* Governor shirks responsibility on restoring cuts
* State Capitol Notebook: Pharmacists eat cost of drugs
* Leadership gets swept away
* Delay in park closing court case
* Political murals get ax at Jaycees’ Haunted House
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 10:28 am
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==one of which featured thinly veiled representations of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan strangling each other. ==
Seems like that in poster form might be a good fund raiser for the womens shelter…
Comment by OneMan Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 10:49 am
I’m waiting to see if any Dems try to tie Repubs to Blago as well. It would be a neat trick but I won’t be surprised.
Comment by Watchin close Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 10:55 am
Watchin, it’s sort of ecumenical in my state senate district. Sen. Kotowski is not necessarily tying hie republican opponent to Rod, but he has sent out at least one mailing that almost makes it look like he’s running against the Gov.
Comment by corvax Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:05 am
Tying the GOPs to Blagoat should take about three fingers of one hand.
Easy list:
votes for gamblers bill
secret MOUs last May
the list goes on…
Comment by EmptySuitParade Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:09 am
What the Repub.’s are missing with their ads attacking the Gov is telling how voting R will change any thing. A guy like Kay is tied to Cross and the Chamber who are tied to GRyan and Keyes. What is different???
Comment by left of here Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:12 am
Kirk is trying to link Dan Seals to Todd Stroger and Blagojevich?!
I was worried Seals might not win this race. Now, I’m almost certain Kirk will lose.
The attack is so nonsensical Kirk might as well buy TV commercials that say, “My internal polling has me trailing Seals. I’m desperate. Please vote for me. I really like being in Congress. I’ll feel like a loser if you don’t vote for me. Please vote for me. I really don’t want to lose.”
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:16 am
counter the growing national discontent with their party and their party’s presidential candidate,
Well, it is certainly legitimate to point out that the SAME party controls the Governor’s seat and the legislature and has failed badly.
If the local Rs must take a hit for how badly McCain is running his campaign, surely the local Ds must take a hit for how badly they’ve run the state.
Comment by Pat collins Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:20 am
Rod and Democratic fighting should be a real gift to the state GOP. But as we talk about regarding Con-Con, how many districts are competitive enough that it would matter, anyway?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:28 am
“Rod and Democratic fighting should be a real gift to the state GOP”
Might have been a “gift” had StateWideTom and Vandalia Frank not been playing palsy-walsy with Blagoat. Can’t expect your attacks to work when you were the guys pushing the failede gamblers’ plan,etc.
Roskam is also doing attack adds against his opponent too….poll numbers are badddddd.
Comment by EmptySuitParade Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 11:54 am
EmptySuit, the GOP footsie-playing with Blago might detract a little, but it’s kind of inside baseball. I think the larger issue is that it’s not a big issue because there are few competitive districts.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 12:00 pm
Every D across the USA is calling every R a clone of W, so what is the diff?
Comment by Bubs Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 12:10 pm
Gee, so does this mean he’s given up thinking he’ll be the next JFK?
Comment by Macbeth Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 12:46 pm
I don’t know what impact anti-Blago sentiment might have “downstate” -possibly some. However, in metropolitan Chicago, it is a national race and Republicans are going to lose because it is a referendum on Dubya’s eight years of misrule, not Governor Pinocchio. Dubya, the worst President in modern American history, trumps Blago this election. According to a current WP-ABC news poll Dubya’s approval rating is lower than Nixon’s before he resigned in disgrace -23%. Trying to change the subject to Blago won’t work.
However, Republicans should be able to capitalize very effectively on anti-Blago/anti-Stroger sentiment in 2010. I am an avid Democrat, and I would seriously consider volunteering for a respectable Republican candidate (not Peraica) if Stroger is the Democratic nominee in 2010. More likely, I’ll stay out of trouble by focusing on the gubernatorial contest or some other consitutional office.
Comment by Captain America Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 12:54 pm
let’s see….
madigan chairs blago campaign
madigan recruits blago fundraisers to run for state rep seats.
i think the links are pretty easy to make.
Comment by Easy Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 1:12 pm
===i think the links are pretty easy to make. ===
Yep. Dishonest as all get-out, but easy. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 1:22 pm
Hey-Austriaco and Tuite contributed and raised money for Rod. Let empty suit defend that.
Comment by Easy Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 1:33 pm
My wife and I were driving through Hoffman’s district this weekend & I told her I’d be watching that race November 4 to see how damaging the Governor is to an incumbent Democrat.
Comment by Highland, IL Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 1:44 pm
Thoughts? I wish voters would think before they vote. But then I advocate asking this question to people when they go to vote. “Is there a chance that your mortgage’s interest rate may change if you have an Variable Rate Mortgage on your home”? If they can’t answer - no vote.
Comment by Big Mama T Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 2:44 pm
That goof Andy McKenna wouldn’t acknowledge the truth if it hit him in the noggin’. It’s his R buddies like Tom Cross who are in cahoots with Blago on the big things, like gambling expansion and the pork barrel spending.
22 days until the second McKenna-led huge embarrassing disaster for the IL GOP.
Comment by GOP'er Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 3:21 pm
Highland….I will be watching, too, but somehow Teflon Jay will still be standing. If Kay says he has a quarter-mill in his campaign fund, he best be filing reports soon. He has $5K from JUSTPAC last Thursday, but it’s going to take a LOT more than that….
Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Oct 13, 08 @ 4:07 pm