Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » AFL-CIO endorses Topinka over Simon

Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I told subscribers about this yesterday, and the Illinois AFL-CIO has now publicly revealed its 2014 general endorsements to the general public.

The most significant endorsement went to Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka over Democrat Sheila Simon. Click here to see the full list.

Topinka was endorsed in the primary, but AFL-CIO leaders said at the time that they’d revisit the issue for the general. At the time, however, Simon slapped back at labor…

Simon was clearly stung by the show of support to her fall opponent, lashing out at the union brass and insisting she – not Topinka – carried the support of “rank and file working men and women across the state.”

“It’s not surprising that a small group of insiders endorsed Judy Baar Topinka behind closed doors – after their membership had already recommended no endorsement,” Simon spokesman Dave Mellet said.

That statement didn’t do her much good this week. Simon needed to prevent the AFL-CIO endorsement because those unions can give Topinka real money, which Simon doesn’t have. This is, therefore, a huge development in the race.

The state Fed also endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn, which isn’t much of a surprise.

17 Comments

- Roamin' Numeral - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 10:56 am:
Shocker - A non-endorsed candidate insists they:
1) carry the support of the rank and file, and
2) are not surprised that a small group of insiders endorsed their opponent

Now tell us that the only poll you care about is the one on election day and you’ll have completed the loser trifecta of quotes.

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 10:59 am:
===“It’s not surprising that a small group of insiders endorsed Judy Baar Topinka behind closed doors – after their membership had already recommended no endorsement,” Simon spokesman Dave Mellet said.===

The Membership spoke for themselves, and spoke loud and clear to Sheila Simon.

What is really ignorant for Sheila; if she thinks that this vote is anti-Sheila, and not Pro-Topinka in its Genesis, she is delusional.

Funny thing about a name and it “carrying weight”; at some time, your own name matters.

The trick is to make your name matter too. You haven’t, and this is what happens when you are outworked, out hustled, out maneuvered, and sadly out of touch with your own reality.

Enjoy your summer!

- John A Logan - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:06 am:
Sheila Simon gets the 2014 award for worst political miscalculation.

- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:07 am:
I believe the accordion will defeat the banjo this November.

- Neiled It - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:08 am:
Really too bad Shelia didn’t run for Treasurer, the slapfest primary between her and Frerichs would have been priceless.

- A guy... - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:20 am:
Why in the world does Sheila need a spokesman. It’s not like there’s ever any real news coming from her. Just twang.

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:31 am:
@FakeSheilaSimon - I guess alienating an endorsing body doesn’t work. I feel like the knight in the MP’s “Holy Grail”…”That Topinka endorsement over me, a mere nick!”
#Delusional #RunningOnEmpty

- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:35 am:
JBT/Simon isn’t really a race.

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:36 am:
@FakeSheilaSimon - there is always the people of Carbondale and their support. #OfDadsBuilding #FormerMayorCandidateNotFormerMayor

- Responsa - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:41 am:
Sheila needs to reconsider her political ambitions. She is really not good at retail politics at all. Hopefully this race will be her last run for office.

- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:45 am:
Instead of statewide, she should have run for District 37 comptroller.

- Norseman - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 11:45 am:
New book for Illinois Republican politicians.

Title: See Judy Run

See Judy run. Judy works with people. Judy avoids extremism. Judy is open and outspoken. Judy gets endorsements. Judy gets elected. Fellow Republicans see how Judy runs.

- downstate commissioner - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 12:31 pm:
Is it cynical to point out that the AFL-CIO had nothing to lose and everything to gain by endorsing Topinka? This race has probably been the most one-sided in Illinois since…forever?

- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 12:35 pm:
–This race has probably been the most one-sided in Illinois since…forever?–

If “forever” you mean since the last races won by Jesse White or Lisa Madigan.

By the way, what are the names of the GOP candidates for those posts this time out? Do you think they’ll outpace Sheila?

- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
==Instead of statewide, she should have run for District 37 comptroller.==

Not sure “smaller” is better for her. Sheila couldn’t even win mayor of Carbondale when she ran for that.

- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 1:14 pm:
Sheila Simon’s entire candidacy has been a train wreck.

- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 12, 14 @ 3:37 pm:
Perhaps her next gig will be with Metra.

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