* So far, at least, all the speculation about Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. stepping down has been just that. His staff is now trying to change the narrative…
In one move, Rick Bryant, Mr., Jackson’s chief of staff, phoned about 25 south suburban mayors to update them on the congressman’s condition.
In another, longtime Jackson campaign consultant Kevin Lampe told me that not only is Mr. Jackson running for a new term, but the congressman expects to hit the campaign trail soon.
Mr. Bryant said he made the calls in the past couple of days “at the congressman’s request.”
“I told them that the congressman was feeling much better and that he was looking for updates on several projects in the district,” Mr. Bryant told me in an email. “The congressman also said he expects to be home soon; he is looking forward to getting back to work; and he fully expects to be running for re-election in the fall.”
A similar message came from Mr. Lampe.
The congressman “is on the ballot. The campaign is moving forward,” Mr. Lampe said. “He is running for re-election.”
Mr. Jackson will get out to press the flesh with voters “as soon as he’s better,” Mr. Lampe added.
All those folks who whispered in reporters’ ears that Jackson would be leaving may live to regret their actions. And the folks who’ve floated their own names while Jackson has been down and out will have to rush back to his side if he does indeed return.
* Meawhile, Republican Congressman Bob Dold has a new TV ad that positions himself as a brand new candidate instead of an incumbent and highlights his independence…
As you can tell by the poor quality, this is an Internet ad.
Also, I think The Who might be a bit angry about the ILGOP stealing their stuff.
* But neither ad is the real story, says Greg Hinz…
But the real news was buried at the bottom of Mr. Dold’s press release.
And that’s not about this ad, which will run only on cable TV and will cost just $25,000 or so a week, but the “additional $1.88 million in Chicago network (broadcast) television” that the Dold campaign has purchased in October and November.
Though TV ad buys are a matter of public record, campaigns rarely announce their ad strategy, much less two months in advance. Team Dold clearly is trying to make a point here, and it does have money in the bank, a lot more than does Mr. Schneider. The implied message is that Dold can’t be beaten.
Of course, “reserved” time has not yet been paid for, only put on hold. But the Dold campaign will have to pay a financial penalty if it backs out.
I’ve noticed this year that lots of people are announcing their reserved TV time well in advance of the fall campaign. It helps fill up the news hole during slow periods, but as Greg points out we don’t really know yet whether any of it is real until it actually happens.
Dold’s ad is good. He can pull of talking to the camera.
His message is good and he’s the latest in a long line of GOP congressmen who perfectly fit the district. Say what you will, the GOP in John Porter, Mark Kirk and Bob Dold, finds candidates that perfectly reflect this area.
Add Dold’s buckets of cash and he looks very strong indeed.
It looks like Sandi Jackson will be campaigning for her husband, from what she said today he’ll be ready to go back to work when he recovers.
Question: How long can JJJ stay away from the cameras before the press demands more?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 8:54 pm:
=== All those folks who whispered in reporters’ ears that Jackson would be leaving may live to regret their actions. And the folks who’ve floated their own names while Jackson has been down and out will have to rush back to his side if he does indeed return. ===
Jackson’s leaving, Daley or Edgar might run…too many pundits and too many reporters hope to be the next Nostradamus.
My favorite these days is those speculating/hoping that Jackson will face a tough re-election this fall. Hilarious.
Say whatever else you want about Congressman Jackson, but he is a joyful campaigner. The guy loves, lives for, and excels at retail politics.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 9:13 pm:
Dold’s ad tries to position him as a new independent, but its so poorly written and shot it shouldn’t even be on the air.
You want to have a straight-talking candidate speak directly to the voters? Great. Don’t cut back-and-forth between two different camera angles which make the whole thing look completely staged.
Congrats on using the word “Independent” twice in 30 seconds. A well-done ad would have said it six or seven.
“New normal”? What does that even mean?
Smartly, nowhere does the ad mention he’s a Republican. But good luck trying to position yourself as an “Independent.” My guess is the DCCC has a pack of data they’ll be rolling out to show that Dold voted in lock-step with party bosses and against President Obama.
Oh yeah, and to top it off, they’ll remind women in the district that Dold voted for legislation to deny women access to an abortion even when their life is in danger.
I guess “progressive” is a dirty word in some circles these days. Strange that.
Since Teddy Roosevelt launched the Progressive Era there’s been the greatest expansion of wealth, security, freedom and liberty for more people than the world has ever seen. That’s a good thing.
And I don’t think it’s very “conservative” to steal copyrighted material. It’s just stealing.
- too obvious - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 12:44 pm:
The IL GOP did an ad without tying in Mike Madigan?
What’s this world coming to?
- LINK - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 2:58 pm:
Rich.
Shouldn’t that read “Jackson’s staff…” as the Sun Times quoted his wife recently as saying how debilitated he was by the depression…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/rep-jesse-jackson-jr-debilitated-by-depression-wife-says/2012/08/06/e92406d4-dfc7-11e1-8fc5-a7dcf1fc161d_blog.html
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:03 pm:
===quoted his wife recently as saying how debilitated he was===
Yeah, but she’s having a presser today to talk about it and Hinz reports that she’ll say he’s running again.
- LINK - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 3:24 pm:
Thanks. Didn’t know that.
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 4:07 pm:
Dold’s ad is good. He can pull of talking to the camera.
His message is good and he’s the latest in a long line of GOP congressmen who perfectly fit the district. Say what you will, the GOP in John Porter, Mark Kirk and Bob Dold, finds candidates that perfectly reflect this area.
Add Dold’s buckets of cash and he looks very strong indeed.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 5:09 pm:
It looks like Sandi Jackson will be campaigning for her husband, from what she said today he’ll be ready to go back to work when he recovers.
Question: How long can JJJ stay away from the cameras before the press demands more?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 8:54 pm:
=== All those folks who whispered in reporters’ ears that Jackson would be leaving may live to regret their actions. And the folks who’ve floated their own names while Jackson has been down and out will have to rush back to his side if he does indeed return. ===
Jackson’s leaving, Daley or Edgar might run…too many pundits and too many reporters hope to be the next Nostradamus.
My favorite these days is those speculating/hoping that Jackson will face a tough re-election this fall. Hilarious.
Say whatever else you want about Congressman Jackson, but he is a joyful campaigner. The guy loves, lives for, and excels at retail politics.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 9, 12 @ 9:13 pm:
Dold’s ad tries to position him as a new independent, but its so poorly written and shot it shouldn’t even be on the air.
You want to have a straight-talking candidate speak directly to the voters? Great. Don’t cut back-and-forth between two different camera angles which make the whole thing look completely staged.
Congrats on using the word “Independent” twice in 30 seconds. A well-done ad would have said it six or seven.
“New normal”? What does that even mean?
Smartly, nowhere does the ad mention he’s a Republican. But good luck trying to position yourself as an “Independent.” My guess is the DCCC has a pack of data they’ll be rolling out to show that Dold voted in lock-step with party bosses and against President Obama.
Oh yeah, and to top it off, they’ll remind women in the district that Dold voted for legislation to deny women access to an abortion even when their life is in danger.
Dold’s gonna need that air time.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 10, 12 @ 8:20 am:
I guess “progressive” is a dirty word in some circles these days. Strange that.
Since Teddy Roosevelt launched the Progressive Era there’s been the greatest expansion of wealth, security, freedom and liberty for more people than the world has ever seen. That’s a good thing.
And I don’t think it’s very “conservative” to steal copyrighted material. It’s just stealing.