Tammy Duckworth (D-Hoffman Estates) is going on the attack against Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) with a piece that was apparently timed to hit right around George Ryan’s federal sentencing hearing.

“Who helped George Ryan create a $5 billion budget deficit?” is the question asked in the piece, which is a glorious shade of deep red.

“Tammy Duckworth will stand with Senator John McCain against sneaking pork into the budget,” the piece concludes. Click on the photos below for much bigger pics.

This is at least the second time that Duckworth has allied herself with McCain, a fellow war hero. The last time was on the immigration issue.

I should make it clear that if anyone wants to send me direct mail, whether it be for Congressional races, state legislative races, the county board presidency, or the statewides, I’ll try to post it here.

UPDATE: A new poll by Democratic pollster Constituent Dynamics, shows Duckworth ahead of Roskam, 47-46.

From MyDD:

These polls are all conducted by Constituent Dynamics, August 27-29. They are done IVR style (automated telephone), are all likely voters, have large sample sizes (close to 1,000), and margin of error of 3.1%.

[Hat tip to a commenter, who pointed to this post at SoapBloxChicago]

UPDATE 2: From Roskam’s campaign:

I am writing today to accept the challenge you issued on August 31, 2006 to debate Iraq. I’ve looked forward to discussing the issues facing the 6th District and the United States Congress and am pleased that you are now prepared to move forward.

I believe it is the interest of 6th District voters that we have a full airing of these issues and don’t think it would be useful to limit ourselves solely to Iraq, an issue that I think you and I are generally in agreement on. In recent days, there has been much attention focused on the issue of illegal immigration - an issue currently at the center of a great national debate. It would also be useful to discuss tax policy, spending, district projects, health care, and energy policy. All of these issues have a significant impact on the people that live and work in the 6th District.

In recent days, I have been made aware of mailings and phone calls paid for by your campaign, which use very harsh rhetoric that I think voters of the 6th District are unaccustomed to. I presume that this is in response to mailings done, not by my campaign, but by the National Republican Congressional Committee. While I can understand your sensitivity to criticism as a first-time candidate who does not actually live in the district, I think resorting to calling people “liars” in mail and phone calls does your campaign and the process a disservice. I would think that we could both conduct our campaigns focused on issues and not resort to the gutter politics of name calling.

Perhaps we can avoid the type of negative campaigning you are currently waging by having a series of face-to-face discussions before the voters. Hoping that to be the case, I have taken the liberty of reserving the Elk Grove Township offices on Wednesday, September 13, at 2400 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights for 1:00pm. While this is not in your home town, it was as close as I could find while remaining in the 6th Congressional District.

       

26 Comments - Leroy - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:10 pm: Of course, she means “against sneaking in pork in OTHER people’s districts”, right? Why would I even consider voting for her if she isn’t going to bring the bacon home to OUR district?? - Zidane - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:13 pm: I can’t wait for this race to be over. - Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:21 pm: Hmm, a quick way for Pedro to shut her up would be to bring McCain in for a fundrasier. Will that happen, can it happen? Since Roskam has not attacked (and should not) her service, despite the delusions of many here on the left, I would hope he would, especially if he wants to be pres and carry the 6th. - Pat Collins - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:24 pm: Well, if it means candidates get some spine when it comes to run away spending, then GOOD. It can’t be bad if the issues they debate are CONSERVATIVE ones, can it? - grand old partisan - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:32 pm: “Her family lives on a budget. So does yours. Congress should too.” I like that. Props to her slogan writers. Now, does that mean she supports reviving the ol’ balanced budget amendment? How exactly will she stand up against “sneaking pork into the budget?” The line item veto? Good for her for supporting that – I support it too. But it’s not enough. See, the President still has to deal with Congress to get his/her agenda passed, so it’s far from a fool-proof anti-pork guarantee. Unless she is willing to make a definitive public statement saying that she will never secure an earmark for herself, or allow one to be secured for a project in her district, it’s really just empty rhetoric. Will she vote against any budget that has pork in it, even if it means voting against other, popularly supported appropriations? Maybe I’m being to harsh, asking someone to commit to a profile in courage. But if you’re gonna claim to “stand against something,” it would be nice to cite a few examples of how you plan to do that. That’s my problem with Duckworth’s mailers (head to Illinioze to see my thoughts on the immigration piece) – there’s nothing in them except attacks on Roskam and vague, non-committal rhetoric from her. - Bottom Line - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:41 pm: Why isn’t Blago in the picture as well, he certainly has given out pork….what a hypocrite! She just lost my vote! - HANKSTER - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 12:51 pm: Bottom Line - Blagojevich has nothing to do with it. If she was a state politician, like Roskam is, who voted for deficits, like Roskam did, then it would be hypocritical of her but since thats not the case your claim of hypocracy is not accurate. - Pat Collins - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:00 pm: For direct mail pieces, you want the whole thing, or just a scan of both sides and email it to you? - Skeeter - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:02 pm: She has a good issue. Roskam did nothing to oppose the massive spending under a Republican Gov. Why do we believe that he would stand up to a Republican Preident who likes massive spending? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:08 pm: Either way, Pat. - grand old partisan - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:09 pm: HANKSTER, We have record deficits under Blago as well, and Roskam voted against his budgets. So, think of the opportunity she missed: Roskam’s not a just a pork-barreler, he’s the worst kind: a flip-flopping, partisan pork-barreler. Whereas she, the brave maverick that she is (like her hero John McCain), is willing to blast even members of her own party (not just Blago, throw MJM on there as well, he’s just as responsible for both the Ryan AND Blago deficits) over the issue. But, alas, she plays it safe. Attack the her opponent by connecting him to an unpopular member of his own party. What an original and refreshing strategy. All hat, no cattle. What does plan to actually DO to “stand up against pork?” What does she plan to DO to secure the border? Attacks and shallow rhetoric. She could and should be expected to do better. - Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:13 pm: The problem is Skeet is that despite the republicans budget mess, people know the democrats will be far worse. Blago is not an issue, she has not been in the IL statehouse and has never held office. And we know that Blago does not help veterans get jobs, only his cronies. Maybe she should transfer some funds from her warchest to Blago, then he’d definitely get her a job as a pilot or even campaign for her. - HANKSTER - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:16 pm: GOP: I agree with you although I have seen several polls that show the majority of people in Illinois blame the Ryan Administration more than anything else for the deficits. So attaching Roskam to Ryan does, or tries to do, two things I think. First, as I said before, most blame him for the deficits, and second, it continues of the theme they seem to be somewhat playing on that Roskam is, and will be, a puppet of Republican leadership. - Ronald - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 1:30 pm: The stamp is funny…but this is a desperate ad. - Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 3:01 pm: Good mailer by Duckworth. Strong imagery and clean and simple message. I just wish she’d figured out a way to have dogs running around on it - supposedly that’s very effective… (hat tip to Topinka’s new TV ad) - bored now - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 3:10 pm: jeff at soapblox/chicago is showing polling for this race at: IL-6 Tammy Duckworth 47 Peter Roskam 46 http://www.soapblox.net/chicago/showDiary.do?diaryId=2101 - Pat Collins - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 4:08 pm: You know, I am not sure if the neck/neck race is good or bad! - It’s a bad year for Rs - Duckworth is an appealing candidate (no comment on policies here, just on surface appeal) - The Dems have put a lot into this race -Roskam IS known in the district, he represents part of it (or most) - It is R leaning -Ryan and his trial was in the news. I guess the bottom line is, the better run race will win, neither has it in the bag or out of reach. - Ma Duece - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 5:42 pm: What exquisite timing and juxtaposition…Pete’s stuff is rough, but this piece really nails it a gut, personal level by tying Ryan and Roskam together, even under the guise of discussing fiscal responsibility. Pete is preaching to the choir in Wheaton with his attacks - Tammy is talking to the soccer moms and NASCAR dads in Glen Ellyn and Hoffman Estates who drive minivans - like the Willis family. Beautiful - So-Called "Austin Mayor" - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 7:38 pm: I presume that this is in response to mailings done, not by my campaign, but by the National Republican Congressional Committee. I was waiting for somebody to call the Duckworth campaign on this. But it sure wasn’t going to be me. - Asian voter - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:08 pm: Funny how Roskam washes his hands of the (3!) anti immigrant mailings of the RNCC, but will not repudiate them. Hope the 90,000 naturalized immigrants in the district rise up and bite him in the… - Cook citizen - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 8:49 pm: What a smarmy letter from Roskam! Who cares if she lives 10 feet out of the district. And who’s he kidding on separating himself from the RCCC mailings. His own campaign spokesman last week parroted the RCCC charges. Enough of the B.S. Does he think voters are really that stupid? - A WISE OLD MAN - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 10:57 pm: The mailings from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) are very pathetic. Senator Roskam is right to bring them up and to distance himself from responsibility for the contents of these very negative pieces. I’ve received eight of these mailings thus far, and the ones on illegal aliens I find particularly disingenous and appalling. For the NRCC to continue to quote some obscure Las Vegas Review-Journal write-up from 5 months ago tells all that they are very worried about Roskam’s chances in this election. The latest hit piece from the NRCC takes the cake. The official-looking brown envelope to enclose a caricature for an illegal alien’s Social Security card is really as much a stretch as the same image next to the cherry on the Steak & Shake-looking hit piece by the NRCC I received the day before. All of these hit pieces have left bad tastes in my mouth. Not so much against Tammy Duckworth, but against Peter Roskam. People better pray that Republicans in the 6th district aren’t getting the same taste that I’m getting. A WISE OLD MAN - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 11:57 pm: I saw a clip on the news tonight where Duckworth said something like politicians do not demonstrate anything like the sacrifice being made by our soldiers every day. She’s absolutely right, and she really touches a chord - even if you’re against the war. Roskam’s really looking like a lightweight to a lot of Republicans I know. They want to support him, but he just comes across as an arrogant suburban frat boy that’s never made any sacrifice. Courage for him seems to be picking on Duckworth because her special-needs home is located a few yards outside of the Republican gerrymandered district’s bounderies. - Wumpus - Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 10:11 am: - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 6, 06 @ 11:57 pm: Gerrymandered districts? Are you serious or stupid? When the districts were drawn, I believe the seat holders were long time GOP politicisans Crane and Hyde. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 4:54 pm: Is it just me, or does Roskam sound like a whiny crybaby complaining about the mailpieces? - Anon - Thursday, Sep 7, 06 @ 7:22 pm: He’s going to get burned on the immigration issue. And, from a former Roskam supporter, he needs to. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.