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Where’s Jerry?
Thursday, Oct 25, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller * The House Majority PAC has a new TV ad for Democrat congressional candidate Bill Enyart… * But I can’t help but wonder something: It’s less than two weeks before the election and Enyart has yet to run an ad featuring retiring Congressman Jerry Costello. What the heck? The polls have this race super tight. Where’s Costello? He’s apparently doing some robocalls. He’s in some mailers and the walk pieces. He’s done public appearances with Enyart, including an East St. Louis rally yesterday. He’s raised money and done other things for the campaign, but no TV ads. I’m hearing that the Enyart campaign had a “very short window” to introduce Enyart and just didn’t have the resources. There are lots of rumors about how Costello would rather see Enyart lose so he could put his own son in there two years from now. I’ve never really bought into that, but his absence from Enyart’s ads is certainly causing some tongues to wag. The DCCC owes Enyart a favor after putting the horrifically unpopular Pat Quinn in a TV ad. Whatever the case, that TV ad they’re running right now is pretty much just more of the same. * Jason Plummer has won the Illinois State Rifle Association’s endorsement…
That’s a very big deal down ‘yonder, in case you hadn’t already guessed. In a super-close race, that could be the difference right there.
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- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 10:48 am:
=There are lots of rumors about how Costello would rather see Enyart lose so he could put his own son in there two years from now. I’ve never really bought into that, but his absence from Enyart’s ads is certainly causing some tongues to wag.=
Costello is still sitting on his $2 million campaign fund and his son was doing rededication ceremony in Granite City for an Iraq monument 20 miles from his state rep district, but in the congressional district.
- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:00 am:
Brad Harriman and Mrs. Costello have a history of making each other money.
Harriman wasn’t a particularly strong candidate. And he couldn’t even run once he got the nomination.
The Costellos have done a number of things to create a situation where the Democratic Party will have to come running to Jerry II in some future election cycle.
Heck, who do you think the DCCC talked to before creating the Quinn ad? Jerry Costello works down the street from the DCCC.
BTW, who is Costello’s bff in the Illinois delegation? John Shimkus, right?
Plummer clearly sees himself as having statewide potential. I wouldn’t be shocked to find out that there’s a deal where Plummer has agreed to run statewide or for U.S. Senator between 2014-18 and Jerry II waltzes into the seat.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:07 am:
Plummer’s “unwavering support” for the 2nd Amendment notwithstanding, was the ISRA endorsement for the GOP candidate ever in doubt?
I think the vast majority of voters who place gun rights at the top of their issue list already were supporting Plummer. It’s instinctive. It’s as if the R next to the candidate’s name stands for reload.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:14 am:
===It’s instinctive.===
Not in southern Illinois. They endorse a lot of Dems down ‘yonder.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:20 am:
===Not in southern Illinois. They endorse a lot of Dems down ‘yonder.===
How often did Jerry Costello get the endorsement in his “races”?
I have no clue, I am honestly asking.
It is also true that Dems as well as Repubs get ISRA endorsements, especially in Downstate (Downstate -real, not “Chicago’s” vision of Downstate, which at times seems to be just South of I-80) districts, and it happens very often.
Between Walsh/Duckworth … this Plummer/Enyart race is starting to get on the “Election Day Watch list” … getting mighty interesting.
- Oh Yeah - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:22 am:
Down here in the 12th CD, we all knew that the ISRA would endorse Plummer. There was no way that the GOP big guns like Rove, Boehner, etc would permit Enyart to get that endorsement after all the money and other resources they’ve put into JP. Having said that, I’d be shocked if JP knows how to hold a gun much less fire one. A general, though? I’m sure there are all kinds of pictures of him holding if not firing machine guns which could/should be sent out to voters.
The question of “Where’s Jerry” has been asked by us here for months. I think it is too easy to conclude that Jerry has been reticent about helping Enyart. It is equally, if not more plausible that Enyart and his people have not asked Jerry to be very involved. If the latter, this could prove to be a fatal mistake by the DCCC and Enyart. Enyart shouldn’t appear anywhere in that district without Jerry right next to him. They should be joined at the hip.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:28 am:
That’s true Rich. The point I was trying to make was that the endorsement of Plummer probably doesn’t give him a significant electoral boost in that district since ISRA members, by and large, were already in Plummer’s corner.
Endorsing a Democrat like Forby who has a solid record of voting for ISRA positions isn’t the same as endorsing a Democrat in an open seat. When there is no proof of support for ISRA, like an actual record, they tend to instinctively support the R candidate, as do their members.
And I don’t blame them either. It’s entirely logical. What I find illogical is anyone who makes the 2nd Amendment their litmus test for voting. ISRA, as an interest group, has cultivated a strong following of people who vote for pro 2nd Amendment candidates, despite economic and other pocket book issues that are more relevant to their lives.
But that’s politics I guess. Lots of people vote against their economic self-interest and it’s a free country.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:30 am:
===since ISRA members, by and large, were already in Plummer’s corner.===
I’d dispute that as well. That’s a whole ‘nother world down there, man. Lots of strong Dem NRA members.
- Todd - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:32 am:
===How often did Jerry Costello get the endorsement in his “races”?===
Congressman Costello regularly got the NRA & ISRA endorsements and carried an A rating.
===I’d be shocked if JP knows how to hold a gun much less fire one.====
JP knows how to hold, handle and fire a gun. i have shot with him. And he outbid me on a silent auction for a rifle. while people may not like him for any number of reasons, he knows how to handle a firearm. I think he even has a carry permit from out of state.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:42 am:
Thanks, - Todd -, appreciate that.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:43 am:
Enyart might want to expand on that hunting clip in his spot. Deer hunting season is just around the corner.
What’s going on with the camera movements in the beginning of the spot? Very annoying.
- unreliable sources - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:53 am:
The ad is actually good. While there isn’t anything groundbreaking in content, it’s the first ad to date that really distills the pro-Enyart and anti-Plummer narratives in one spot.
As to Costello. The notion that he’s holding back to pave the way for his son is a little silly. If nothing else, he doesn’t want his staffers to be unemployed come January. Plus, Enyart is 63 and is not going to spend more than a 2 or 3 terms in the job anyway.
Any yes… one Costello TV spot and he could put this race away.
- dr. reason a. goodwin - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:02 pm:
JP has outworked BE in my part of the district. I’ve seen Plummer over and over at community events, etc. I’ve only actually seen Enyart once.
If aliens are monitoring our TV transmissions, they surely now must think both of these men are purely evil.
- Hail 4B - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:17 pm:
==One Costello TV spot and he could put this race away==
Amen and Amen. Even a HMPAC or DCCC ad with a picture of the two of them saying Jerry Costello endorses Bill Enyart, would probably be enough.
The word from Southern Il is that Jerry Jr. is not really interested in putting his family through the strains of a Congressional career, and wants to distinguish himself from his father, unlike a certain giant ginger running for Congress.
- Madison - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:20 pm:
Costello’s absence has not gone unnoticed in our district, which is unfortunate as Plummer is a Ryan wannabe.
The idea of Plummer with a gun in his hand is almost as scary as what he would do in Washington.
- Yahoooz - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 12:25 pm:
I found it interesting that Jasons father was a contributor to Costello’s campaign in the past.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 1:00 pm:
==One Costello TV spot and he could put this race away==
Then where is it?
- D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 3:04 pm:
Knee jerk endorsement totally based upon keeping the US House R.
- East Sider - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 7:15 pm:
==I found it interesting that Jasons father was a contributor to Costello’s campaign in the past. ==
He bought a ticket to Jerry’s annual fundraiser (which I’m told he never attended). It’s the cost of doing business in the Metro East. But, giving $200/year to Costello for a ticket purchase is nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands he’s given GOP candidates over the years.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 8:06 pm:
===But, giving $200/year to Costello for a ticket purchase is nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands he’s given GOP candidates over the years.===
If you count all the times Jason’s Dad has paid for Jason to run, and paid for all the LG race …and the monies Jason’s Dad has given Jason for Jason to win “Congress” … so - East Sider -, you are quite right …
But buying your kid’s elections shouldn’t count as spending way more money towards one party over another. Jason’s Dad is all about paying for Jason, not donation to Repubs … just saying.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Oct 25, 12 @ 11:06 pm:
Gary Forby and Brandon Phelps are very pro-gun and are in good with the NRA and ISRA. I am surprised by this endorsement. I actually thought they might stay neutral. Jason has the temperament and expectation that any conservative-leaning association should endorse him “just because”. That’s not how it works. The NRA, ISRA, Right-to-Life, Farm Bureau, etc. are a lot more open to endorsing conservative Dems than people might think.
- golden bullet - Friday, Oct 26, 12 @ 6:56 am:
I don’t think the NRA has endorsed in this race and I believe will stay neutral. Only the ISRA and Gun Owners endorsed Plummer, the national Dems are pushing the NRA hard not to endorse Plummer as they know it could be a game change.