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Well, you knew it had to happen. Two years ago, some “unknown person” put out a reprehensible flier right before primary day accusing Rep. David Miller of some awful stuff.

Miller (D-Calumet City) is up against Bob Shaw this time around, so he’s been waiting for another late hit. It happened today.

Fliers are reportedly being handed out at some Dolton precinct places (Bob Shaw’s brother is mayor of Dolton) that claim Rep. Miller is supporting Forrest Claypool against John Stroger (which would be a big no-no in that district).

The flier is made to look like it came from Miller himself. You can see it here (jpg file).

Have you heard of any other dirty tricks today?

13 Comments

Reminder

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Bloggers and commenters, please remember that I’ll be highlighting Illinois political blogs tonight on Fox News Chicago from 9 to 11. It would help if bloggers tell me what they’re doing in comments. Thanks.

36 Comments

Uptick

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

As of 3 o’clock in Cicero Township, Democrats had taken 700 more ballots than Republicans, about 2000 Dem to 1300 GOP.

Keep up the great work in comments. Let’s hear more.

UPDATE: AP story:

Election officials already said turnout for Tuesday’s primary election could be extraordinarily low, and that was before a storm dumped more than nine inches of snow on parts of central Illinois. […]

Voter turnout at Chicago polls was light, and “nothing like it had been in the 2004 presidential (race) where we had lines in the morning,” said Tom Leach, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. “This kind of election generally generates a 39 percent turnout, hopefully we’ll do that or better.”

4 Comments

Problems?

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

I’ve heard some serious horror stories about this issue today.

Across Illinois voters are noticing some changes in how they cast their ballots. Punch cards with their pregnant and hanging chads are history. They’re being replaced in several ways. In Chicago a few voters are using touch screens. However, most are using ballots that are filled with a pen and then scanned and recorded by machine.

At about half-dozen polling sites, the optical scanners that read the ballots malfunctioned and voters put their choices in a box to be counted later.

“It makes me a little uneasy about the election process,” said Linda Junker.

A few people also received two ballots by mistake. Election officials warn it will likely take a little longer for results to roll in Tuesday night.

“They’re just not going to come in as fast as in the past because judges have two systems,” said Chicago Elections Chairman Langdon Neal.

Post your own experiences with the new equipment below.

UPDATE: Charlie Madigan has lots more.

25 Comments

Session cancelled

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Both the House and Senate have called off Wednesday’s session.

13 Comments

Weather

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

AP:

A spring snowstorm today forced dozens of central Illinois schools to close and the postponement of a high-profile murder trial.

As much as two inches of snow an hour fell in some spots, with wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour, weather officials said. A blizzard warning was in effect for 11 counties.

The storm occurred on Election Day, as Illinois residents headed to the polls to cast votes in primary races, including the gubernatorial contest and a host of congressional, legislative and local races.

Election officials had already said–not factoring any weather problems — that turnout for the election could be extraordinarily low.

By midmorning, Mattoon was the hardest-hit with seven inches of snow and Shelbyville and Jacksonville each got six inches of snow, said Ernie Goetsch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.

Forecasters expected snow totals to range from three to eight across central Illinois, including Springfield, Decatur and Champaign.

“It’s beginning to taper off a little bit, it’ll take another two-to-three more hours before it lets up,'’ Goetsch said. “By noon it should be on the way out.'’

27 Comments

A little help…

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

I’m asking my blog readers to be “citizen reporters” today. You’ll notice below that most posts ask what’s going on in your neck of the woods. Instead of just debating who is going to win, or who should win, try to give us as much detail as possible about what’s happening in various races by you. If you work for a campaign, tell us how it’s going.

The focus is on you today. Have at it.

Comments Off

Question of the day

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Rockford Register-Star wants uninformed voters to stay home today.

By all means, do not go to the polls today if you canâ€™t identify at least one significant difference between your favorite Republican candidate and the four others who are running in the gubernatorial primary.

Likewise, if you havenâ€™t paid enough attention during Gov. Rod Blagojevichâ€™s administration to spell and pronounce his name, take a pass.

The Belleville News-Democrat wants everyone to vote.

When only a small percentage of people vote, the political insiders win. Choosing not to participate in an election is basically a vote for the status quo. It means that the people who stay home either support the party choice, or else are so apathetic they can’t be bothered.

Is that really the message metro-east residents want to send to the powers that be, particularly given the recent vote fraud convictions in St. Clair County?

Pick a side and defend it.

41 Comments

Almost over

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Just let me get through this day.

For weeks, the main hopefuls have been sniping at one another and at front-runner Judy Baar Topinka. They’ve criticized Topinka, the state treasurer, for skipping some debates. Businessmen Ron Gidwitz and Jim Oberweis contend they alone have the wealth necessary to face Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is sitting on $15 million he’s barely had to touch in fending off a primary challenge of his own from former Chicago Alderman Edwin Eisendrath.

This is a statewide election day thread. Post news from your polling place, word on the street, tell us how you voted, etc. Have fun.

82 Comments

Protected: Subscribers only - Updates and mailers

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Three in a row

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Sweet makes a good point.

It’s possible that today’s primaries will yield three Democratic House nominees from adjacent suburban Illinois districts — who don’t live in their districts. It’s perfectly legal. All that’s required is to live in the state. But three in a row may be a tempting target for national Republicans to bundle together if, for no other reason, than to irritate Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the chief of the House Democratic political operation.

Frontrunner Tammy Duckworth, running in the 6th C.D. lives in the 8th C.D.

Dan Seals, the favorite in the 10th C.D. race, lives in the 9th.

And Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), who represents the 8th, lives in the 10th, just about 1,000 feet over the border.

This is a congressional primary open thread. Post news from your precinct, word on the street, etc.

18 Comments

Daley takes umbrage

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Hizzoner fires back at reporters.

Daley and the others bristled when reporters asked what the party would do if Stroger wins but is unable to run in the November election.

“You have John Stroger in the grave. That’s the question. That’s Unfair. Theoretically, you have him in the grave. I’d hate to be your father,” Daley said.

“He’s not dead. He’s still alive and he will be there as long as he can wake up and open his eyes,” said Ald. William Beavers, 7th Ward.

Also, I loved the prose in this Tribune graf.

Writing another chapter to the region’s already healthy election lore, Democratic voters in Cook County also will decide the nomination for County Board president between a hospitalized John Stroger, who faces an uncertain future after suffering a stroke last week, and reform-themed candidate Forrest Claypool.

This is a Cook County presidential race open thread. Predictions, precinct reports, observations, etc.

22 Comments

Tuesday morning shorts

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· Newspapers may not have election results in time for the publication deadlines. The Daily Herald has an explanation. The Tribune has more. A buddy told me yesterday he hoped the George Ryan verdict is handed down today so the papers will have something to report tomorrow morning.

Â· The LA Times does a story about today’s Illinois elections and uses George Ryan as the hook.

Â· Today, you wade into the party divides.

Â· More George Ryan trail intersecting with the primary stuff.

Â· Yesterday Ron Gidwit sent out an e-mail urging supporters to get out and vote. Unfortunately, the Gidwitz campaign informed their people that the polls open at 7am. The polls open at 6. Oops.

Â· Portentous placards or insignificant inducements? More here. Always remember, yard signs don’t vote.

Â· Strange.

But Beachler says that on Wednesday, an IDOT truck pulled up. Workers plucked up several signs - all of them belonging to Edwin Eisendrath, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s lone opponent today.

At first, Beachler wondered if maybe Blagojevich had dispatched his IDOT minions to harvest all his opponent’s signs. But the next day, another IDOT crew came by to snatch up all of the rest of the signs.

The signs were on private property but the owner didn’t complain.

Â· More later

2 Comments

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