* We’ve seen some pretty lame campaign kickoffs this year. Videos, social media, three-city car tours, etc. This one is the most impressive by far. From a press release…
TOPINKA EMBARKS ON ‘COMMON SENSE EXPRESS’ ANNOUNCEMENT TOUR
Comptroller begins three-day statewide bus tour Sunday
CHICAGO –Judy Baar Topinka will board the “Common Sense Express” Sunday and begin a three-day, nine-stop statewide tour to announce her re-election campaign for Illinois Comptroller.
Topinka will begin her journey surrounded by supporters Sunday morning in Chicago and conclude Tuesday evening in Marion, making stops with her “Common Sense Express” bus throughout the state along the way. Specifically, the Announcement tour will include: Chicago, Rockford, Moline, Peoria, Quincy, Springfield, Edwardsville, Mt. Vernon and Marion.
Topinka will join a rally of local leaders and supporters in each community for a short program, and then be available to media. A mult box will be available to media outlets at each location.
SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013:
10:30 a.m.: CHICAGO TOPINKA RALLY
Billy Goat Tavern, 1535 W. Madison, Chicago
Program participants include: Cook County Board Commissioner Liz Gorman, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor
2:30 p.m.: ROCKFORD TOPINKA RALLY
Stone Eagle Tavern, 6445 E. State St., Rockford
Program participants include: Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen, Winnebago GOP Chairman Jim Thompson, State Sen. Dave Syverson
5 p.m.: QUAD CITIES TOPINKA RALLY
Rock Island County GOP HQ, 1721 5th Ave., Suite 100, Moline
Participants include: Rock Island GOP Chairman Mike Steffen, Bobby Schilling
SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013:
9:30 a.m.: PEORIA TOPINKA RALLY
Peoria County GOP HQ, 8835 N. Knoxville Rd., Peoria
Program participants include: Peoria County GOP Chairman Katherine Koyle, State Rep. David Leitch, State Rep. Mike Unes, State Sen. Darin LaHood, U.S. Congressman Aaron Schock
2 p.m.: QUINCY TOPINKA RALLY
Villa Katherine, 532 Gardner Expressway, Quincy
Program participants include: Mayor Kyle Moore
5:30 p.m.: SPRINGFIELD TOPINKA RALLY
Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center, 625 E. St. Joseph St., Springfield
Participants include: Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson, Sangamon County GOP Chairman Rosemarie Long, Governor Jim Edgar
SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013:
10 a.m.: EDWARDSVILLE TOPINKA RALLY
Madison County Courthouse, 155 N. Main St., #120, Edwardsville
Participants include: Madison County Republican Women’s Club Chairman Amy Sholar, Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton, Congressman Rodney Davis
1 p.m.: MT. VERNON TOPINKA RALLY
Papa Z’s Ice Cream Shop, 1812 Broadway, Mt. Vernon
NOTE: Ice cream served as part of “Get the Scoop on Us” kickoff rally
Participants include: State Rep. John Cavaletto, Mt. Vernon Mayor Jane Chelsey, State Sen. Kyle McCarter
5:30 p.m.: MARION TOPINKA RALLY
17th Street BBQ, 2700 17th St., Marion
Participants include: State Rep. Mike Bost, Williamson County GOP Chairman Sue Hamilton, State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld
Two taverns, an ice cream shop and a famous barbeque joint, plus a bunch of other stops along the way. I like it.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:55 pm:
Are you paying attention, Sheila? Put down that damned banjo and see how it’s done!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
(Reads over the announcement, “itinerary, … the local flavor, stand-alone rallies … local politicos in attendence …Media Availability)
Here … endeth the Lesson!
When you fail to plan, then plan to Fail.
Kudos to Judy’s Crew, all the bases covered.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 4:09 pm:
What, no garage sale stops on the tour?
This isn’t her first rodeo and it shows. Good for her.
- RNUG - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 4:12 pm:
So, Rich, are you covering each restuarant stop?
- Joe M. - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 4:13 pm:
I’m a Democrat, but I could be persuaded to go to The Billy Goat Tavern, The Stone Eagle Tavern, Papa’s Ice Cream, and 17th Street BBQ, if there was free food. Heck, it would be fun even if the food wasn’t free.
- Stuff happens - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 4:17 pm:
Sounds great, although I would have said that she’s inviting others to join her on the common sense express, instead of that she’s boarding the common sense express herself on Sunday.
- anonymoose - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 5:05 pm:
Wow, impressive and learned something…I thought a “mult box” was a boxed lunch for the press - Googled that one.
Better sign me up for one of them ol’ fashioned campaigns, way before the invention of fancy electronic gadgets.
- MrGrassroots - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 5:55 pm:
Did anyone break this to Sheila Simon before she decided to drop LG, a fairly good proposition, for a sure defeat?
- walkinfool - Saturday, Sep 14, 13 @ 10:59 am:
===This is How It’s Done===
The always-works JBT headline.