Working the refs
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From ten days ago…
Could the race for the Illinois House in the 96th District actually become a race? Apparently, yes.
It hasn’t seemed like it for several weeks. Democrat SUE SCHERER of Decatur, who won a close contest in the primary, has had TV ads running and fliers carrying her picture filling mailboxes across the district, which runs from Decatur into central Springfield. There’s been virtually nothing to match those public efforts from Republican DENNIS SHACKELFORD of Rochester. […]
As of late last week, meanwhile, Schackelford’s only disclosed large donation from the House Republican Organization since July was $5,100 worth of telephone polling. Total large donations reported in that time were less than $17,000.
But things will be changing, said KEVIN ARTL, political director of the House GOP campaign organization.
“It goes back to the old saying, ‘You can’t buy me love,’” Artl said, saying his group believes Scherer’s support has leveled off. “Voters have seen through it,” he said. “We’re going to do a full plan here (for Shackelford) for the final 30 days.” In that short time frame, he said, “We can invest less than the Democrats, but get a higher rate of return.”
Since then, the Republicans have put in just $5,873.28 for a mailer.
* And now, a couple of their members are complaining to the media. But they’re not upset with their own party for failing to get involved. They’re agnry that the House Democrats are playing to win…
Republicans have not poured nearly as much into Dennis Shackelford’s attempt to win the open seat, which stretches between Decatur and Springfield. Reports show Shackelford, a small business owner from Rochester, had $11,000 in his account after raising $16,666 during the quarter.
Shackelford is trying to make Scherer’s fundraising an issue on the campaign trail. On Tuesday, he has scheduled a press conference with GOP state Reps. Adam Brown of Decatur and Bill Mitchell of Forsyth to highlight Madigan’s financial influence in the race, which includes paying for a direct mail campaign and other big ticket expenditures.
* Rep. Mitchell had $141,907.78 in his campaign fund at the end of the third quarter. He has no opposition in the general election. As of now, Rep. Mitchell hasn’t contributed a dime to Shackelford’s campaign.
The reason that the House Republicans didn’t put any money into this race is because of that expenditure Bernie reported…
Schackelford’s only disclosed large donation from the House Republican Organization since July was $5,100 worth of telephone polling
That polling expenditure was reported on August 24th. After that, no more money was spent on Shackleford until this month.
What does that tell you?
Well, it’s kinda obvious. When you see that somebody paid for a poll and then that somebody doesn’t spend any more money, it’s a pretty good sign that the poll wasn’t exactly favorable.
* Let me make this clear. I don’t blame the HGOPs for not playing there. It’s a Democratic-leaning district and their candidate just hasn’t yet gotten any traction. They have other candidates in relatively close races who have worked very hard and deserve the cash a whole lot more. If I had to bet money, I’d say the recent Shackleford mailer was likely the SJ-R endorsement. That’ll help, but it won’t be nearly enough.
So, if Reps. Mitchell and Brown show up at that press conference without large checks in hand, their presser should be treated for what it is. Empty whining.
* But, hey, I suppose the press conference is not a bad idea. If you have no money, you try to get publicity. And the easiest way to get publicity Downstate is to fear-monger about Mike Madigan.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 10:31 am:
Voters want to hear about solutions to the problems that make them angry, so far this cycle the House Republicans have wanted to talk exclusively about the problem that makes the House Republicans angry (Mike Madigan). After the election is over and they come up far short again the failure of this logic is going to appear obvious to everyone, the House Republicans included. But for now it apparently still looks like a winner to them so just sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the ineptitude.
- Anon - amiss - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 10:40 am:
In the words of Hawk Harrelson… this ballgame is OVAH!!!!
- 1776 - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:02 am:
Bill Mitchell whining… NO… say it isn’t so. He needs to get back to making Chicago its own state. What a joke.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:07 am:
I have “no dog in this fight” and I know very little about how the HGOP political arm is handling this veery specific race and candidate, (Schackeford), but what I am really liking, is that, hopefully, other members of this HGOP Caucus, and HGOP Nominees this Cycle, will take a real good look at how every race is being run by the HGOP Political arm, listen to every word, publically and privately uttered by Kevin Artl, (Artl was quoted, and leads the political arm, so …) and what the HGOP leaders, including Tom Cross are going to do … physically and financially do … in these 21 days, including “Golf Outing” Day that most of US call Election Day.
Attention HGOP Caucus and current House GOP Nominees this Cycle:
Watch, Understand, and Evaluate these HGOP Leaders. Watch, Understand, and Evaluate the Political Staff. Watch, Understand and Evaluate how THEY ALL are “working” for YOU, as a Caucus, to gain a majority.
Watch, Understand, Evaluate.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:18 am:
To add if I may …
===* Ill. GOP facing long odds Nov. 6 ===
Is the narrative already that, “Golly HGOP Caucus, you tried, we tried … we just have SO MUCH against us …so remember Tom Cros was there for YOU. The HGOP Policical Staff was there … for YOU … so Tom Cross can count on your vote as Republican Leader, right?”
Watch, Undertand, Evaluate.
This is all the groundwork, this is the “cover story”, these are the “excuses” ALREADY out there … to explain why there is not a majority … and to keep the Status Quo, and the Leadership Positions … and the Political Staff Jobs? That is for you as a Caucus to Watch, Understand, and Evaluate.
I do hope …hope … you take those 3 words to heart.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 11:52 am:
THe “All In” 5K dropped on this guy does not cover Billboards’ greens fees for the week. Word is Shackles won’t fall the GOP Slop Billboards wanted to pour on the Ds. Where is Gags Brady when we need him?
Capt Fax raises a great question maybe Bernie or other media can ask the GOPies about their check size
Fire, Aim, Ready!
- langhorne - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 12:16 pm:
sue scherer’s campaign has grated on me from the gitgo, for all of the reasons laid out in the sjr editorial and all the trite themes in her ads….going to go thru the budget line by line (how about taking a class in public finance, instead?)…..she redeemed pop bottles, so elect her…she will make it harder for politicians to get raises…and the best one, she will make sure education funding doesnt just go to chicago (even tho we know MJM is her main funding source. bleck.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 1:58 pm:
Both candidates are lackluster. It’s a shame Jared Parry and Winston Taylor lost because that would have been a good battle of young, dynamic candidates who aren’t more of the same. Instead, we have a Hallmark store owner and a teacher from Decatur who has barely done any speaking since she got onto the ballot.
The HGOPs shouldn’t be involved in this race - not when they have real chances in the Quad Cities, Metro East and maybe even the suburbs.
Bill Mitchell and Larry Bomke could have dumped a lot of $$$ into Dennis Shackleford’s race but have not. Shame on them.
- Line by Line - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 2:04 pm:
Kind of funny, but that’s the same line the GOP used in the previous House election in Decatur. Now they don’t like it.
- I Wonder - Tuesday, Oct 16, 12 @ 8:39 pm:
The “help” that the GOP is giving their candidate is sending out mail fliers that condemn Scherer and Madigan but does not even mention their candidate Shackleford’s name. Nonsense.