* Erika Harold talked to Politico about her GOP primary opponent, freshman Congressman Rodney Davis, this week…
“I view this primary process as being very healthful to the party because we will be able throughout the campaign to debate the issues that are important to the party,” newly declared candidate Erika Harold told POLITICO, referring to her challenge of Rep. Rodney Davis in the GOP primary.
“I think he’s a good person, and that’s why I think in this case this can be a positive primary process where we can both make a positive case to the voters about why we can be a good representative,” she added.
I still don’t see how she effectively makes the case that after just 150 days in office Rodney Davis is unfit to represent the 13th District.
“I would hope that (Harold) would run for lieutenant governor,” [Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet)] said. “I think that would project her into the political stratosphere. Primaries are enormously destructive forces. The Republican Party ought to be big enough for both of these people. They’re both talented people.” […]
Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, said “I don’t understand why” Harold is challenging Davis.
“Rodney’s done exactly what I asked him to do, and that was to go to Washington and be his own man and make his own decisions and represent his constituents, and I think he’s done that,” McCarter said. “Someone like Erika, with as much promise as she has in the Republican Party, why target a young congressman who has done what we asked him to do? People were concerned that he was going to be a puppet of (Rep.) John Shimkus. But he hasn’t done that. He’s been his own man.”
McCarter said he was concerned that former staffers to retired U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, including Mark Shelden and Joan Dykstra, were helping Harold.
“I think they’re using her for revenge and that’s sad because she has tremendous promise in this party, and how dare they use her leadership abilities and persona. She’s just the kind of person that our party needs,” McCarter said. “I’m a little shocked that a few disgruntled ex-party people would use her to advance their own careers.”
* But it does give the party something to point at when diversity comes up…
John Parrott, the McLean County GOP chairman, said in his position he doesn’t make endorsements and has a “nice relationship” with Davis. But he also has “great respect” for Harold.
Parrott also said that if the GOP wants “to become a more open party to women and to minorities,” then a way to accomplish that is for people in those groups to run as members of the party.
If this was an “Open” seat, the story and narrative would sound a bit better. KNowing the dynamic, it felt bland and uninspiring.
She is introducing herself, but in that 1 minute, I really didn’t learn much, or found myself wondering what Erika will do different as a member of Congress.
“B-/C+”
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 10:56 am:
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:04 am:
By the way, that is snark above (in case anyone couldn’t tell).
I, for one, relish the opportunity to evaluate Ms. Harold’s choice to:
- challege someone only in office 5 months
- do some “outreach” in a 15% - 20% minority district
- challenge a member of her own party in a primary
- divert resources to a primary challenge that could have been spent on both her and Davis’ general elections
- jump straight to Congress
- challenge the same person she lost to roughly a year ago (seems like sour grapes)
- affiliate herself with the Johnson crew
Furthermore, let’s say she does take out Davis in the primary. How does she think the NRCC and other major players will greet her after she does so?
“Hi. My name is Erika. I just took out the only candidate you had in Illinois that won a contested race last cycle. So, how much money will you be investing in my race?”
Hopefully she has an incredible fundraising plan in place.
Because the “traditional” sources of support may not be very receptive should she win.
Frustrated failures like Kyle McCarter and Chapin Rose are against Erika Harold. No surprise.
Just makes me even more thrilled about Erika Harold’s campaign.
Go Erika! Thank you for standing up to the IL GOP’s failed good old boys. You have actually given Republicans outside of the hack class something to root for in this state.
She’s ambitious, she doesn’t want to wait in line — so what? I don’t think she’s saying Davis is unfit, she just wants the gig and thinks she can do better.
Davis isn’t some victim — he just has a primary challenger.
It will be interesting to see what the national money groups do here.
She’s straight out of central casting for those who buy the Priebus postmortem recommendations on the Romney loss.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Pros:
It highlights the campaign’s best asset - the candidate
Well delivered
Cons:
Kirk Dillard would not approve as we need a “traditional family” in office.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
- Is it snowing? - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Tim Johnson wanted Erika during the appointment process but the crotchety old men wanted not what was best for the party, the wanted to cuddle up to Shimkus. Now the Champaign GOP will fix this problem. It is our seat, Erika is a better candidate and if Davis had an ounce of integrity he would announce he wasn’t running for reelection and do what is best for the party and stop undermining Erika. It isn’t like he couldn’t just go back to being Shimkus’ pork dispenser.
She seems to think President Obama is a swell fella:
I know that he has a background in organizing communities to affect issues, and I think that’s a very empowering way to organize people. And I think that sense of optimism is something people hopefully find appealing. And I also admire the fact that he seems like he’s a great father and I’ve found it heartwarming to see pictures of his daughters growing up.They’re great representatives of their generation.
I rate the video a 5 out of 10, it wasn’t awful nor did it make me cringe, but it certainly wasn’t good.
I still don’t think this primary is going to be a bad thing, unless both candidates move too far to the right. This is a democratic district that Davis won with 47% of the vote against an extremely week candidate. If Davis would have lost the general without ever going through a primary, would people have started asking questions why there wasn’t a primary?
All that being said, Davis is smart and a hard worker, Harold better know what she’s getting into.
I respect her for wanting to serve the people, but challenging someone who is showing that he is serving the people of the 13th district already seems foolish and not a good start for a political career that she apparently wants to pursue. unfortunate, but we will see how it plays out; long time to the primary, so she may change her mind….
Good to see the Erika forces are out on the blog today! Rodney should drop out? Huh? What planet are the TJ-hacks living on?
The video is well done and if this was an open seat it would be a solid B+/A- video. However, she doesn’t even hint at a reason the GOP should dump the incumbent. To take out an incumbent there needs to be a reason to do such. Bad vote. Personal scandal. Bad constituent relations/missing votes. Something. Here there is nothing; so it gets a D+
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:35 am:
If the News-Gazette is polling legislators on this, did they attempt to get Sen. Barickman’s thoughts? He works for the same law firm as Ms. Harold after all.
As for the ad, this kind of introduction might work in an open primary, but don’t think it does much for a challenger seeking to unseat an incumbent. She wants to serve… but she could serve lots of different ways. Why does she want to serve IN CONGRESS? Is it because of her issues with Davis or she doesn’t like what’s happening in D.C. that makes her want to serve IN CONGRESS as opposed to Springfield?
C, C+ . The main two narratives since her announcements are (a) “Look, Miss America is running” and (b) “Doesn’t seem like a smart move”. This video does nothing to change that.
==Tim Johnson wanted Erika during the appointment process but the crotchety old men wanted not what was best for the party, the wanted to cuddle up to Shimkus. Now the Champaign GOP will fix this problem. It is our seat, Erika is a better candidate and if Davis had an ounce of integrity he would announce he wasn’t running for reelection and do what is best for the party and stop undermining Erika. It isn’t like he couldn’t just go back to being Shimkus’ pork dispenser.==
Posts like this make glad I no longer live in Champaign. Dealings with that group always left an impression of a closed off, incestuous group with an overinflated view of its power and worth. The last few days have only strengthened that feeling.
she could be raja/david hoffman resume winners/ballot losers or she could be something. It’s worth pointing out a number of conservative folks with experience in communications have won races over the years. Ronald Reagan, david cameron, mike pence, jd hayworth, sarah palin, christine o’donnell.
Don’t know davis, but he sounds like a nuts and bolts master. He’ll need it because she’s going to get an awful lot of national and local attention.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:45 am:
=== if Davis had an ounce of integrity he would announce he wasn’t running for reelection ===
I don’t see why it’s so scandalous to say Rodney should step aside,, it isn’t likke he can’t go back to doing what he does best, being a sttaffer.
Erika is obviously the better candidate, exactly what our party needs and will be a national sensation after she beats Rodney by a large margin and then dispatches Callis.
Rodney knows what’s best for the party, the only question is whether he can get past his selfish self-interest and do the right thing.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:57 am:
=== Erika is obviously the better candidate ===
Based on her lengthy record of winning elections by… losing to Davis last year?
I generally agree with Dee Lay as to the merits of the ad. At this point, it isn’t about issues or dumping on Rodney, who is a very hardworking and competent congresscritter/pol. But Ms. Harold needs to quickly transcend her iconic status to become relatable. Rodney will work at a feverish pace and she’ll have to quickly do the same. Her next ad better have some awkward baby pictures and her talking to real people or else she’ll have national twitter followers and a second place primary finish.
–It’s worth pointing out a number of conservative folks with experience in communications have won races over the years. Ronald Reagan, david cameron, mike pence, jd hayworth, sarah palin, christine o’donnell.–
Shore, you crack me up sometimes. Reagan, Palin and Christine O’Donnell?
Production values were barely average at best. Why was it shot outside? Why was it so dark? It was so static it could have been shot on green screen, and there would have hardly been a difference. She is obviously very comfortable on camera, and the commercial did not take advantage of that at all.
Wardrobe was terrible. This race is not about physical appearance, gender or ethnicity. But a Harvard-trained litigator, even a public interest litigator, and a former Miss America announcing her candidacy and introducing herself to her constituents for the first time should be dressed better than that.
Message was interesting about the opportunity to serve, but she could have presented the message using stronger, more action-oriented language. Her closing was very weak, because the message was garbled and unclear. She has to earn the trust of the voters and, in a very real way, earn the votes of her constituents in the campaign.
I mean, really, you want the only Republican who won a contested congressional election in a hugely Democratic year to announce 150 days into his first term that he’s stepping aside for somebody else?
Nobody can be that idiotic. Nobody. I refuse to believe that. And if you are, you really need to find another blog to comment on because your stupidity is absolutely mind-boggling.
And if you think we’re that stupid to think this is a good idea, you also need to go somewhere else. We’re not stupid.
==Glad Republicans have replaced the glass ceiling with one built of concrete. They’re not even pretending to want to give her a chance.==
Yes, because if there’s one thing the IL GOP has refused to do, especially the last 5-10 years, its put women on the ballot and/or in a leadership role… Wait, what?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
“It is our seat, Erika is a better candidate”
That comes from the same deep thinkers who tore up the CCGop for years, lost a 100-year majority on the County Board and a dominance of county officeholders.
Ridiculous. Take your 15% of the vote and give it a shot.
To the post, the video is a a Harvard F. Fuzzy video, bad music, boring look, said little and the outfit was neither Congressional nor Miss America-worthy.
Does anyone honestly think that if by some miracle Erika Harold had beaten the back room rigging and was slated by the county chairs last year that Rodney wouldn’t be challenging her now?
This whole thing demonstrates yet again why the IL GOP is such a national joke. It’s full of a bunch of white male crybabies who expect everything to be handed to them. They talk about diversity, but in actuality black females are supposed to only go for the seats that are impossible to win and which no white male Republican has spoken for.
Rodney Davis and the people around him are just proving why this challenge by Erika is so great and necessary.
Please… you’ve all said it, the GOP has a problem with minorities and women.
So let’s a do a side-by-side:
Harvard educated lawyer
Former Miss America with large appeal
Volunteer work in prisons
Ability to get national media
Articulate and able to speak intelligently on conservative values
Deep connections to the Chicago legal community
Basically she is the GOP dream candidate.
Now Rodney:
Remarkably efficient pork dispenser for John Shimkus.
Yeah, no comparision there.
I can see why the elite white upper-middle class whiskey sippers here aren’t on board… she doesn’t fit the grease mold of the Springfield-firsters.
==Does anyone honestly think that if by some miracle Erika Harold had beaten the back room rigging and was slated by the county chairs last year that Rodney wouldn’t be challenging her now?==
Knowing Rodney, yes I actually do think that. And the only folks who actually tried to rig or control the seat selection last year were your Champaign County brethren thinking they could set up Johnson’s replacement without challenge. They were wrong, and now they’re acting like a psychotic ex
This is a joke. Rodney is a fantastic,solid, independent-minded and smart Republican Member of Congress, who is respected by both parties. It makes no sense why Erica Herold would primary him. My guess is she will probably either get the message and not run or be absolutely embarrassed in a primary against Davis.
If she actually cared about the GOP holding this seat there is no way Herold would be running.
Granted, she’s easy on the eyes, but it’s a mistake to keep the camera trained on her - and only her - for the entire piece. Those of us with short attention spans need motion and change of scenery. The piece loses me at the 30-second mark.
===I call this priming the pump for a State Senate race===
Frerichs’ district is pretty solidly D. I doubt she’d do that.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:54 pm:
“Wardrobe was terrible. This race is not about physical appearance, gender or ethnicity. But a Harvard-trained litigator, even a public interest litigator, and a former Miss America announcing her candidacy and introducing herself to her constituents for the first time should be dressed better than that.”
@Prairie Fire: She is wearing a business suit and blouse similar to what she would probably wear in court. Exactly how better do you want her to dress in her introduction video for a bid for Congress? Do you want an evening gown? A monocle and top hat, perhaps?
- Mr. Jim Lahey - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:55 pm:
===Frerichs’ district is pretty solidly D. I doubt she’d do that.===
Champaign-Urbana is…Vermillion County is ripe for the picking.
Ms. Harold is exactly what the GOP needs. A woman that has ethnic identity, the poise to win Miss America and the brains to graduate from Harvard. Davis is an unreamarkable back bencher in the making - heck he barely beat Gill fer cryin’ out loud ! Miss Harold is impressive - much more so than the temp/placeholder Davis.
What has Rodney done in 5 months to have such ire?
Not from Champaign?
Not an Ex-Johnson Staffer?
Not putting Ex-Johnson Staffers on His payroll?
I am embarrased that someone thought it was “ok” for the only contested GOP Congressman to “not run”…further … that there is not ONE, in two days on this Blog, compelling reason to choose Erika over Rodney.
Not. One.
The only reason, and its not compelling is to weaken Rodney for a 2016 Tim Johnson Staff comeback against a Metro East Judge turned Congresswoman.
That is the reason. It’s all about relevence, and a lack of worth to anyone, execpt to get back on a Congressional Payroll, with “one of their own” as Congressman.
Not about My party, not even about Wings of My Party.
Self-Absorbed Dopes looking for relevence, and using a “rising star” as the fulcrum.
The same folks who are angered or bothered or offended by Erika Harold running against Rodney Davis, where were you when challengers came out of the woodwork against Christine Radogno, but none against Tom Cross? Radogno did no worse than Cross and probably did better than him, yet ONLY she, not he, was challenged for leadership retention. I will concede that the comparison is not exactly apples to apples, but my point is that I do see a bit of a disconcerting double standard here when it comes to gender.
I am sure that Rodney is a hard worker and all around nice guy, but let’s be honest he is not the future of the GOP. That stated, of course white, straight, conservative christian males will and should have a place in the GOP too, just not the sole predominate one.
This is politics and Rodney is a big boy, isn’t he? I trust that he can withstand some competition from within. If not, why is he in politics? It’s a brutal and oft times unfair sport. I concur with others who have noted that Erika Harold has every right to run on the basis that she just thinks that she can do a better job of serving. I also agree that at some point she will need to offer a more comprehensive explanation for why she is better and exactly what she intends to do better, just like any other candidate running for an elective office. The sooner she does this, the better.
I am hoping for Commander Galloway to lose her leadership position. The only Differecne between Radogno being her “Irrelevent Leader” self and being a back-bencher is her paycheck.
wordslinger, there are an awful lot of republicans and conservatives who’ve made incredible careers in politics based off their experience in the communications industry. Reagan was an actor, jd hayworth and mike pence were talk show radio hosts, joe walsh was once upon a time a thespian in new york according to that oppo book rich posted last year, john major was a professional clown, palin like this harrold woman competed in beauty pagents, david cameron-whose press savy helped tories take back number 10 in 2010 ran tv stations between running for parliament. These skills and experience they gain in public speaking help them. Does it compensate for not knowing the difference between canada pipeline and canada dry? No. But there are advantages especially in a tv age that can not be dismissed.
So Is Rodney a supposed “backbencher” because he’s not out doing cartwheels on the Capital Steps and trying to overthrow leadership in Congress, embarrassing his district, or is it because you don’t want to be represented by a “rural white man” ? (See how easy it is to baselessly accuse the other side of racism and bigotry)
I also find it ironic that people who once worked for and/or supported Tim Johnson are accusing another Congressman of being a backbencher. Johnson was so entrenched on that rear bench I wouldn’t be shocked if they named it after him.
- LincolnLounger - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:42 pm:
Not everyone here is trying to protect Rodney. Some of us are disappointed to see Erika squandering her electoral future.
Here’s what will happen. The GOP legislators in that district will rally ’round Rodney. They have good organizations for the most part and will help turn out the vote. Davis is well connected with the party apparatus — most of which aren’t effective, but it will be helpful somewhat with turning out his vote. She will struggle to raise funds and gain traction and will finish about 42% (could be worse.)
The fascinating question will be whether outside groups march in with negative ads targeting Davis for the “ethics investigation” via independent expenditures. That will be a clue as to whether there is a bigger picture here, and it’s a real question given the Shelden/Dykstra involvement behind the curtain. She can claim she has nothing to do with it, bemoan the negative tone, etc. She will still lose, but it’s not where resources should be targeted.
Im wondering if any fear that Davis is too conservative to get elected in a Democractic leaning district is at play at all. Davis won but by a razor thin margin largely because Gill was a little too left for the district and there was a third party candidate that likely took more votes from Gill than Davis (I could be wrong on that though it could have been even spilt). It was a presidential election year so it probably gave Gill a greater chance than had it not been, but I just wonder if some GOPers are worried that he is going to have a hard time so they are looking for an alternative… But overall it does seem pretty surprising to announce a challenge so soon with so little to run against in the primary.
===…but I just wonder if some GOPers are worried that he is going to have a hard time so they are looking for an alternative… ===
This is all about “relevence and paychecks” for former Tim Johnson staffers, and preparing for 2016 as the fall-back once a Dem wins against Rodney.
Pathetically masked, but I keep asking, what does Erika Harold think she brings to the District that Rodney hasn’t done so far? I mean, besides not living in Champaign County, or being “run” by Tim Johnson’s Crew …
Thank you, Kyle McCarter, for being there to tell Rodney Davis to be his own man. He would not have done so unless you said something. One question though: If he needed you to tell him to be his own man, then is he really?
Sorry to anyone who may have fragments of brain on their clean shirt from that mind blowing conundrum.
I agree with Chap Daddy and would have thoroughly enjoyed hearing “too obvious” support his or her claim that Rose is a failure. I don’t like his politics all the time, but I never thought of him as a failure.
- Endangered Moderate Species - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 4:04 pm:
This discussion is fascinating for a neutral political observer.
The GOP continues to not be able to get out of it’s own way. A young candidate wins a tough seat in a Democratic year and they reward him 150 days later with a challenge from another candidate whom has a bright political future.
My prediction in the end, the GOP, Davis and Harold will all lose in this District and Callis and the Dems will be victorious.
What a shame for the GOP, because the Dems allowed the seat to be competitive and opened the door for the GOP to win and retain.
You may want to think twice about being a young, up-and-coming GOPer. See Schock and Davis.
This pretty much ends her chances for Miss Congeniality, doesn’t it? Well, there’s always the talent portion of the show so we’ll see what she can do there.
John Parrott of McLean County was forced out as treasurer of the County Chairman’s association for being unaccountable to the association and doing a terrible job as treasurer. He does not deserve to be quoted on this or any Republican topic, unless of course he wants to be quoted on why it took him over 8 months to supply records for an audit to uncover his failures as County chairman association treasurer.
It is sad that certain folks in Champaign county can’t move on. The few, those merry few, still live in the old days when their perceived power flowed from one person & still think they’re players. So they’re thinking let’s makes this a race ir-regardless of any potential outcome in the bigger picture. This seat they claim to be theirs is in play any way & depends on the outcome of the primary & how badly they beat each other up will be in Dem hands for sure after the general. GOP is having a tough time of it on a good day without looking for problems & now this. All due respect to Ms. Harold as I’m sure she is a very fine person. I think she was sold a bill of goods.
No matter how good Rodney may be, he only owns the seat for 2 years. That’s what our Constitution dictates. Harold has every right to challenge him. Maybe the GOP primary voters will decide that Harold is even better. It is certainly her right to challenge Davis and the GOP party bosses should be ashameed of themselves for putting her down. They can back Davis, but should respect Harold’s right to challenge the bland former Shimkus & State Repub. staffer.
- WizzardOfOzzie - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 10:50 am:
I love it. If she can raise some money she can definitely win.
This targeted district just got a lot more difficult for the GOP to keep.
- Stones - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 10:53 am:
I give her an 8 for talent but a 10 for the swimsuit competition.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 10:55 am:
If this was an “Open” seat, the story and narrative would sound a bit better. KNowing the dynamic, it felt bland and uninspiring.
She is introducing herself, but in that 1 minute, I really didn’t learn much, or found myself wondering what Erika will do different as a member of Congress.
“B-/C+”
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 10:56 am:
2 days in a row. Wonderful.
Now about Mike Madigan’s cell phone…
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:02 am:
Where is she on world peace?
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:04 am:
By the way, that is snark above (in case anyone couldn’t tell).
I, for one, relish the opportunity to evaluate Ms. Harold’s choice to:
- challege someone only in office 5 months
- do some “outreach” in a 15% - 20% minority district
- challenge a member of her own party in a primary
- divert resources to a primary challenge that could have been spent on both her and Davis’ general elections
- jump straight to Congress
- challenge the same person she lost to roughly a year ago (seems like sour grapes)
- affiliate herself with the Johnson crew
Furthermore, let’s say she does take out Davis in the primary. How does she think the NRCC and other major players will greet her after she does so?
“Hi. My name is Erika. I just took out the only candidate you had in Illinois that won a contested race last cycle. So, how much money will you be investing in my race?”
Hopefully she has an incredible fundraising plan in place.
Because the “traditional” sources of support may not be very receptive should she win.
- too obvious - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Frustrated failures like Kyle McCarter and Chapin Rose are against Erika Harold. No surprise.
Just makes me even more thrilled about Erika Harold’s campaign.
Go Erika! Thank you for standing up to the IL GOP’s failed good old boys. You have actually given Republicans outside of the hack class something to root for in this state.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:12 am:
Why is she “being used?”
She’s ambitious, she doesn’t want to wait in line — so what? I don’t think she’s saying Davis is unfit, she just wants the gig and thinks she can do better.
Davis isn’t some victim — he just has a primary challenger.
It will be interesting to see what the national money groups do here.
She’s straight out of central casting for those who buy the Priebus postmortem recommendations on the Romney loss.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Pros:
It highlights the campaign’s best asset - the candidate
Well delivered
Cons:
Kirk Dillard would not approve as we need a “traditional family” in office.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
- Is it snowing? - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Tim Johnson wanted Erika during the appointment process but the crotchety old men wanted not what was best for the party, the wanted to cuddle up to Shimkus. Now the Champaign GOP will fix this problem. It is our seat, Erika is a better candidate and if Davis had an ounce of integrity he would announce he wasn’t running for reelection and do what is best for the party and stop undermining Erika. It isn’t like he couldn’t just go back to being Shimkus’ pork dispenser.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:15 am:
She seems to think President Obama is a swell fella:
– MrJM
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:15 am:
Lighting was bad, background music was poorly timed to message and too loud and it was a single bland stand-up shot.
Message was so-so.
Production: C
Overall: C+
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:19 am:
I rate the video a 5 out of 10, it wasn’t awful nor did it make me cringe, but it certainly wasn’t good.
I still don’t think this primary is going to be a bad thing, unless both candidates move too far to the right. This is a democratic district that Davis won with 47% of the vote against an extremely week candidate. If Davis would have lost the general without ever going through a primary, would people have started asking questions why there wasn’t a primary?
All that being said, Davis is smart and a hard worker, Harold better know what she’s getting into.
- Susiejones - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:28 am:
I respect her for wanting to serve the people, but challenging someone who is showing that he is serving the people of the 13th district already seems foolish and not a good start for a political career that she apparently wants to pursue. unfortunate, but we will see how it plays out; long time to the primary, so she may change her mind….
- Red Ranger - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:32 am:
Good to see the Erika forces are out on the blog today! Rodney should drop out? Huh? What planet are the TJ-hacks living on?
The video is well done and if this was an open seat it would be a solid B+/A- video. However, she doesn’t even hint at a reason the GOP should dump the incumbent. To take out an incumbent there needs to be a reason to do such. Bad vote. Personal scandal. Bad constituent relations/missing votes. Something. Here there is nothing; so it gets a D+
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:35 am:
If the News-Gazette is polling legislators on this, did they attempt to get Sen. Barickman’s thoughts? He works for the same law firm as Ms. Harold after all.
As for the ad, this kind of introduction might work in an open primary, but don’t think it does much for a challenger seeking to unseat an incumbent. She wants to serve… but she could serve lots of different ways. Why does she want to serve IN CONGRESS? Is it because of her issues with Davis or she doesn’t like what’s happening in D.C. that makes her want to serve IN CONGRESS as opposed to Springfield?
If she can’t answer that question, she won’t win.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:41 am:
C, C+ . The main two narratives since her announcements are (a) “Look, Miss America is running” and (b) “Doesn’t seem like a smart move”. This video does nothing to change that.
==Tim Johnson wanted Erika during the appointment process but the crotchety old men wanted not what was best for the party, the wanted to cuddle up to Shimkus. Now the Champaign GOP will fix this problem. It is our seat, Erika is a better candidate and if Davis had an ounce of integrity he would announce he wasn’t running for reelection and do what is best for the party and stop undermining Erika. It isn’t like he couldn’t just go back to being Shimkus’ pork dispenser.==
Posts like this make glad I no longer live in Champaign. Dealings with that group always left an impression of a closed off, incestuous group with an overinflated view of its power and worth. The last few days have only strengthened that feeling.
- shore - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:43 am:
harvard educated miss america. Boom.
she could be raja/david hoffman resume winners/ballot losers or she could be something. It’s worth pointing out a number of conservative folks with experience in communications have won races over the years. Ronald Reagan, david cameron, mike pence, jd hayworth, sarah palin, christine o’donnell.
Don’t know davis, but he sounds like a nuts and bolts master. He’ll need it because she’s going to get an awful lot of national and local attention.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:45 am:
=== if Davis had an ounce of integrity he would announce he wasn’t running for reelection ===
Ummm…
- mark - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:53 am:
I don’t see why it’s so scandalous to say Rodney should step aside,, it isn’t likke he can’t go back to doing what he does best, being a sttaffer.
Erika is obviously the better candidate, exactly what our party needs and will be a national sensation after she beats Rodney by a large margin and then dispatches Callis.
Rodney knows what’s best for the party, the only question is whether he can get past his selfish self-interest and do the right thing.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:57 am:
=== Erika is obviously the better candidate ===
Based on her lengthy record of winning elections by… losing to Davis last year?
OK. When you put it like that.
Holy disconnect from reality, Batman.
- In the know - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:57 am:
I generally agree with Dee Lay as to the merits of the ad. At this point, it isn’t about issues or dumping on Rodney, who is a very hardworking and competent congresscritter/pol. But Ms. Harold needs to quickly transcend her iconic status to become relatable. Rodney will work at a feverish pace and she’ll have to quickly do the same. Her next ad better have some awkward baby pictures and her talking to real people or else she’ll have national twitter followers and a second place primary finish.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 11:59 am:
–It’s worth pointing out a number of conservative folks with experience in communications have won races over the years. Ronald Reagan, david cameron, mike pence, jd hayworth, sarah palin, christine o’donnell.–
Shore, you crack me up sometimes. Reagan, Palin and Christine O’Donnell?
- Ouch - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:01 pm:
Glad Republicans have replaced the glass ceiling with one built of concrete. They’re not even pretending to want to give her a chance.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:04 pm:
===I don’t see why it’s so scandalous to say Rodney should step aside===
I’m curious if you have any clue how stupid that sentence makes you look.
- PrairieFire - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
Meh.
Production values were barely average at best. Why was it shot outside? Why was it so dark? It was so static it could have been shot on green screen, and there would have hardly been a difference. She is obviously very comfortable on camera, and the commercial did not take advantage of that at all.
Wardrobe was terrible. This race is not about physical appearance, gender or ethnicity. But a Harvard-trained litigator, even a public interest litigator, and a former Miss America announcing her candidacy and introducing herself to her constituents for the first time should be dressed better than that.
Message was interesting about the opportunity to serve, but she could have presented the message using stronger, more action-oriented language. Her closing was very weak, because the message was garbled and unclear. She has to earn the trust of the voters and, in a very real way, earn the votes of her constituents in the campaign.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:08 pm:
I mean, really, you want the only Republican who won a contested congressional election in a hugely Democratic year to announce 150 days into his first term that he’s stepping aside for somebody else?
Nobody can be that idiotic. Nobody. I refuse to believe that. And if you are, you really need to find another blog to comment on because your stupidity is absolutely mind-boggling.
And if you think we’re that stupid to think this is a good idea, you also need to go somewhere else. We’re not stupid.
So, enough with this nonsense.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:09 pm:
==Glad Republicans have replaced the glass ceiling with one built of concrete. They’re not even pretending to want to give her a chance.==
Yes, because if there’s one thing the IL GOP has refused to do, especially the last 5-10 years, its put women on the ballot and/or in a leadership role… Wait, what?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
“It is our seat, Erika is a better candidate”
That comes from the same deep thinkers who tore up the CCGop for years, lost a 100-year majority on the County Board and a dominance of county officeholders.
Ridiculous. Take your 15% of the vote and give it a shot.
To the post, the video is a a Harvard F. Fuzzy video, bad music, boring look, said little and the outfit was neither Congressional nor Miss America-worthy.
- too obvious - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:16 pm:
Does anyone honestly think that if by some miracle Erika Harold had beaten the back room rigging and was slated by the county chairs last year that Rodney wouldn’t be challenging her now?
This whole thing demonstrates yet again why the IL GOP is such a national joke. It’s full of a bunch of white male crybabies who expect everything to be handed to them. They talk about diversity, but in actuality black females are supposed to only go for the seats that are impossible to win and which no white male Republican has spoken for.
Rodney Davis and the people around him are just proving why this challenge by Erika is so great and necessary.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:17 pm:
Don’t you people know that “I’m here and ready for my coronation” is all it takes.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:18 pm:
=== It’s full of a bunch of white male crybabies who expect everything to be handed to them. ===
Um, you mean like the Harold supporters here who want Davis to step aside and hand her the primary victory?
Davis won a Democratic district in a hugely Democratic year. But, yeah, it was all handed to him. Right. Exactly.
Morons.
- mark - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:19 pm:
Please… you’ve all said it, the GOP has a problem with minorities and women.
So let’s a do a side-by-side:
Harvard educated lawyer
Former Miss America with large appeal
Volunteer work in prisons
Ability to get national media
Articulate and able to speak intelligently on conservative values
Deep connections to the Chicago legal community
Basically she is the GOP dream candidate.
Now Rodney:
Remarkably efficient pork dispenser for John Shimkus.
Yeah, no comparision there.
I can see why the elite white upper-middle class whiskey sippers here aren’t on board… she doesn’t fit the grease mold of the Springfield-firsters.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:20 pm:
===I can see why the elite white upper-middle class whiskey sippers here aren’t on board===
I certainly hope you enjoyed writing that last comment because it was your final one here.
Bye.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:24 pm:
==Does anyone honestly think that if by some miracle Erika Harold had beaten the back room rigging and was slated by the county chairs last year that Rodney wouldn’t be challenging her now?==
Knowing Rodney, yes I actually do think that. And the only folks who actually tried to rig or control the seat selection last year were your Champaign County brethren thinking they could set up Johnson’s replacement without challenge. They were wrong, and now they’re acting like a psychotic ex
- BJG - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:26 pm:
This is a joke. Rodney is a fantastic,solid, independent-minded and smart Republican Member of Congress, who is respected by both parties. It makes no sense why Erica Herold would primary him. My guess is she will probably either get the message and not run or be absolutely embarrassed in a primary against Davis.
If she actually cared about the GOP holding this seat there is no way Herold would be running.
- TooManyJens - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:29 pm:
I really miss IlliniPundit right now. The flamewars would be a thing of beauty.
- Raymond - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:33 pm:
Granted, she’s easy on the eyes, but it’s a mistake to keep the camera trained on her - and only her - for the entire piece. Those of us with short attention spans need motion and change of scenery. The piece loses me at the 30-second mark.
- Beardo - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:33 pm:
What a great day for Democrats in the 13th! Now on to making the primary as smooth sailing as possible for Judge Callis.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:40 pm:
=== Rodney Davis and the people around him are just proving why this challenge by Erika is so great and necessary. ===
*ahem*
Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I’d like to quote, well, me from yesterday:
“The really sad part is that you can predict exactly what those whispering in Ms. Harold’s ear will surely say:
‘Pay no mind to those calling us selfish or manipulative. We are your friends.
The people saying otherwise are just old cronies who are scared of you.’”
Right on cue, @too obvious.
You are, indeed, too obvious. If you’re not a paid staffer (most likely by the initial JD), I’ll eat my hat.
In fact, I don’t own any hats. So I will actually buy a hat just so I can eat it.
Reality is calling. Please pick up the phone.
- Mr. Jim Lahey - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:49 pm:
Just throwing this out there…
Run for the nomination in 14, which sets her up on the public stage quite well.
Rumor has it there could be another open seat in the Champaign-Urbana area come 2016…
I call this priming the pump for a State Senate race if Frerichs isn’t running next time around.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:52 pm:
===I call this priming the pump for a State Senate race===
Frerichs’ district is pretty solidly D. I doubt she’d do that.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:54 pm:
“Wardrobe was terrible. This race is not about physical appearance, gender or ethnicity. But a Harvard-trained litigator, even a public interest litigator, and a former Miss America announcing her candidacy and introducing herself to her constituents for the first time should be dressed better than that.”
@Prairie Fire: She is wearing a business suit and blouse similar to what she would probably wear in court. Exactly how better do you want her to dress in her introduction video for a bid for Congress? Do you want an evening gown? A monocle and top hat, perhaps?
- Mr. Jim Lahey - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 12:55 pm:
===Frerichs’ district is pretty solidly D. I doubt she’d do that.===
Champaign-Urbana is…Vermillion County is ripe for the picking.
- Mcleaniac - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:00 pm:
Ms. Harold is exactly what the GOP needs. A woman that has ethnic identity, the poise to win Miss America and the brains to graduate from Harvard. Davis is an unreamarkable back bencher in the making - heck he barely beat Gill fer cryin’ out loud ! Miss Harold is impressive - much more so than the temp/placeholder Davis.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
Geez, this is a mess!
What has Rodney done in 5 months to have such ire?
Not from Champaign?
Not an Ex-Johnson Staffer?
Not putting Ex-Johnson Staffers on His payroll?
I am embarrased that someone thought it was “ok” for the only contested GOP Congressman to “not run”…further … that there is not ONE, in two days on this Blog, compelling reason to choose Erika over Rodney.
Not. One.
The only reason, and its not compelling is to weaken Rodney for a 2016 Tim Johnson Staff comeback against a Metro East Judge turned Congresswoman.
That is the reason. It’s all about relevence, and a lack of worth to anyone, execpt to get back on a Congressional Payroll, with “one of their own” as Congressman.
Not about My party, not even about Wings of My Party.
Self-Absorbed Dopes looking for relevence, and using a “rising star” as the fulcrum.
- Lundstrom - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
The same folks who are angered or bothered or offended by Erika Harold running against Rodney Davis, where were you when challengers came out of the woodwork against Christine Radogno, but none against Tom Cross? Radogno did no worse than Cross and probably did better than him, yet ONLY she, not he, was challenged for leadership retention. I will concede that the comparison is not exactly apples to apples, but my point is that I do see a bit of a disconcerting double standard here when it comes to gender.
I am sure that Rodney is a hard worker and all around nice guy, but let’s be honest he is not the future of the GOP. That stated, of course white, straight, conservative christian males will and should have a place in the GOP too, just not the sole predominate one.
This is politics and Rodney is a big boy, isn’t he? I trust that he can withstand some competition from within. If not, why is he in politics? It’s a brutal and oft times unfair sport. I concur with others who have noted that Erika Harold has every right to run on the basis that she just thinks that she can do a better job of serving. I also agree that at some point she will need to offer a more comprehensive explanation for why she is better and exactly what she intends to do better, just like any other candidate running for an elective office. The sooner she does this, the better.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:11 pm:
===…against Christine Radogno…===
I am hoping for Commander Galloway to lose her leadership position. The only Differecne between Radogno being her “Irrelevent Leader” self and being a back-bencher is her paycheck.
- shore - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:11 pm:
wordslinger, there are an awful lot of republicans and conservatives who’ve made incredible careers in politics based off their experience in the communications industry. Reagan was an actor, jd hayworth and mike pence were talk show radio hosts, joe walsh was once upon a time a thespian in new york according to that oppo book rich posted last year, john major was a professional clown, palin like this harrold woman competed in beauty pagents, david cameron-whose press savy helped tories take back number 10 in 2010 ran tv stations between running for parliament. These skills and experience they gain in public speaking help them. Does it compensate for not knowing the difference between canada pipeline and canada dry? No. But there are advantages especially in a tv age that can not be dismissed.
- Deep South - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:14 pm:
“Why target a young congressman who has done what we asked him to do? People were concerned that he was going to be a puppet…”
Doesn’t he’s “done what we asked him to do” make him a puppet? I guess it depends who hand is up your…well, you know what it mean.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:27 pm:
So Is Rodney a supposed “backbencher” because he’s not out doing cartwheels on the Capital Steps and trying to overthrow leadership in Congress, embarrassing his district, or is it because you don’t want to be represented by a “rural white man” ? (See how easy it is to baselessly accuse the other side of racism and bigotry)
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:35 pm:
I also find it ironic that people who once worked for and/or supported Tim Johnson are accusing another Congressman of being a backbencher. Johnson was so entrenched on that rear bench I wouldn’t be shocked if they named it after him.
- LincolnLounger - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:42 pm:
Not everyone here is trying to protect Rodney. Some of us are disappointed to see Erika squandering her electoral future.
Here’s what will happen. The GOP legislators in that district will rally ’round Rodney. They have good organizations for the most part and will help turn out the vote. Davis is well connected with the party apparatus — most of which aren’t effective, but it will be helpful somewhat with turning out his vote. She will struggle to raise funds and gain traction and will finish about 42% (could be worse.)
The fascinating question will be whether outside groups march in with negative ads targeting Davis for the “ethics investigation” via independent expenditures. That will be a clue as to whether there is a bigger picture here, and it’s a real question given the Shelden/Dykstra involvement behind the curtain. She can claim she has nothing to do with it, bemoan the negative tone, etc. She will still lose, but it’s not where resources should be targeted.
- WAK - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:49 pm:
Im wondering if any fear that Davis is too conservative to get elected in a Democractic leaning district is at play at all. Davis won but by a razor thin margin largely because Gill was a little too left for the district and there was a third party candidate that likely took more votes from Gill than Davis (I could be wrong on that though it could have been even spilt). It was a presidential election year so it probably gave Gill a greater chance than had it not been, but I just wonder if some GOPers are worried that he is going to have a hard time so they are looking for an alternative… But overall it does seem pretty surprising to announce a challenge so soon with so little to run against in the primary.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 1:57 pm:
===…but I just wonder if some GOPers are worried that he is going to have a hard time so they are looking for an alternative… ===
This is all about “relevence and paychecks” for former Tim Johnson staffers, and preparing for 2016 as the fall-back once a Dem wins against Rodney.
Pathetically masked, but I keep asking, what does Erika Harold think she brings to the District that Rodney hasn’t done so far? I mean, besides not living in Champaign County, or being “run” by Tim Johnson’s Crew …
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 2:12 pm:
Thank you, Kyle McCarter, for being there to tell Rodney Davis to be his own man. He would not have done so unless you said something. One question though: If he needed you to tell him to be his own man, then is he really?
Sorry to anyone who may have fragments of brain on their clean shirt from that mind blowing conundrum.
I agree with Chap Daddy and would have thoroughly enjoyed hearing “too obvious” support his or her claim that Rose is a failure. I don’t like his politics all the time, but I never thought of him as a failure.
- Endangered Moderate Species - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 4:04 pm:
This discussion is fascinating for a neutral political observer.
The GOP continues to not be able to get out of it’s own way. A young candidate wins a tough seat in a Democratic year and they reward him 150 days later with a challenge from another candidate whom has a bright political future.
My prediction in the end, the GOP, Davis and Harold will all lose in this District and Callis and the Dems will be victorious.
What a shame for the GOP, because the Dems allowed the seat to be competitive and opened the door for the GOP to win and retain.
You may want to think twice about being a young, up-and-coming GOPer. See Schock and Davis.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 9:23 pm:
This pretty much ends her chances for Miss Congeniality, doesn’t it? Well, there’s always the talent portion of the show so we’ll see what she can do there.
- Madison - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 9:58 pm:
This could be just the break Anne Callis needs.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 10:26 pm:
47th, excellent!
- SCR - Thursday, Jun 6, 13 @ 6:27 am:
John Parrott of McLean County was forced out as treasurer of the County Chairman’s association for being unaccountable to the association and doing a terrible job as treasurer. He does not deserve to be quoted on this or any Republican topic, unless of course he wants to be quoted on why it took him over 8 months to supply records for an audit to uncover his failures as County chairman association treasurer.
- anonymous - Thursday, Jun 6, 13 @ 7:12 am:
It is sad that certain folks in Champaign county can’t move on. The few, those merry few, still live in the old days when their perceived power flowed from one person & still think they’re players. So they’re thinking let’s makes this a race ir-regardless of any potential outcome in the bigger picture. This seat they claim to be theirs is in play any way & depends on the outcome of the primary & how badly they beat each other up will be in Dem hands for sure after the general. GOP is having a tough time of it on a good day without looking for problems & now this. All due respect to Ms. Harold as I’m sure she is a very fine person. I think she was sold a bill of goods.
- econ prof - Thursday, Jun 6, 13 @ 9:12 am:
==Based on her lengthy record of winning elections by… losing to Davis last year?==
That wasn’t an election. Unless you consider a few county party chairmen selecting a ballot replacement an “election”.
- John - Thursday, Jun 6, 13 @ 9:36 am:
I am glad to see someone challenging Rodney Davis.
Remember this is the same guy that was uncooperative in Aaron Schock ethics investigation.
I for one support Erika standing up to the good old boys of the IL GOP.
- Johnny Justice - Friday, Jun 7, 13 @ 12:48 am:
No matter how good Rodney may be, he only owns the seat for 2 years. That’s what our Constitution dictates. Harold has every right to challenge him. Maybe the GOP primary voters will decide that Harold is even better. It is certainly her right to challenge Davis and the GOP party bosses should be ashameed of themselves for putting her down. They can back Davis, but should respect Harold’s right to challenge the bland former Shimkus & State Repub. staffer.