* Heh…
ROB MELLON, the Quincy Democrat running against state Sen. DARIN LaHOOD, R-Peoria, for the U.S. House in the Sept. 10 special election in the 18th Congressional District, has pledged not to raise too much money.
Mellon signed an agreement with a nonpartisan organization based in Chicago called RunClean.org to limit fundraising to $150,000. The group claims to be improving the political climate by having campaigns run on “dramatically less money” while letting the candidates who agree to fundraising caps post their issues on the website.
I asked Mellon if it wasn’t merely convenient that a candidate who hasn’t raised much money would pledge to cap his fundraising. LaHood has raised more than $1 million for this race, including more than $111,000 from June 18 through June 30. And he had more than $265,000 on hand as of the end of June. […]
“When I win, I pledge to sign another agreement to limit campaign fundraising for the 2016 election,” Mellon said.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:54 am:
Some people, even Cannoli can’t help them.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:54 am:
Optimistic or delusional.
- Langhorne - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:57 am:
Assuming mellon doesnt have bumper stickers, by his thinking, that means every car w no bumper sticker carries a mellon voter.
- Stones - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:57 am:
You can’t win if you don’t get your message out.
- train111 - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:59 am:
Well, when you’ve only raised $1.50 for your campaign, its pretty easy to make a pledge like this.
- Kippax Blue - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:04 am:
Rob Mellon could not win with Thorton Melon’s money behind him.
- Tomlinson Times - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:08 am:
==“When I win, I pledge to sign another agreement to limit campaign fundraising for the 2016 election,” Mellon said.==
Such wishful thinking. Even if all of the voters that didn’t vote for LaHood in the primary got together and voted for Mellon, LaHood would still win.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:12 am:
The happy hour bill is working!
- Give Me A Break - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:14 am:
I, under oath, do hereby swear to not purchase Illini tickets to the Rose Bowl or Final Four this year.
- FIRED! up - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:17 am:
Nine commenters are now on here talking about him. That’s 9 more tan yesterday…
- Downstate GOP - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:20 am:
Such a joke.
- A guy - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:22 am:
===“When I win, I pledge to sign another agreement to limit campaign fundraising for the 2016 election,” Mellon said.===
The second thing I’ll do when I win is sponsor the Flying Pigs festival.
- RoPo Ranger - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:24 am:
I think one of the aldermanic candidates running in my ward this year made a similar pledge. Let’s just say it didn’t work out too well for him…
- Wordslinger - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:32 am:
That’s very funny.
In order to instill a work ethic in my children, I promised not to set up multi-million-dollar trust funds for them.
It’s not the money, it’s the principle — and lack thereof.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:43 am:
==Rob Mellon could not win with Thorton Melon’s money behind him.==
“In Mr. Mellon’s defense….it was a really big check”
- Goldwater Republican - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:53 am:
this is a good idea because its out of Shocks district however, to sell this good idea you would need tons of campaign cash… so it goes.
- Qui Tam - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
Unfortunately I think it is overly optimistic. Since the big money is on Darin LaHood, it appears we’ll end up with our version of Michele Bachmann crazy.
Mellon has some really good policy positions, but that’s not what the 18th is about.
- Liberty - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Since you know the district is gerrymandered Republican, why not?
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
After what happened to the last guy to hold this seat, campaign finance reform should be an issue in the 18th.
And to Mellon’s credit, he was raising thay issue about Schock even before he got indicted, when Mellon sought (and lost) the Democratic nomination in the ‘14 cycle.
- Tournaround Agenda - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
Rob Mellon will win by word of mouth. Why, everyone’s talking about Rob Mellon here in Peoria! Who is Rob Mellon? He’s running against WHO?
- Forgottonia Republic - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:40 pm:
I don’t find “When I win…” at all remarkable — staying on message about running to win is a 101-level campaigning concept.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
Knowing full well that I sound crazy-optimistic, I wish he would win.
- walker - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 1:28 pm:
Kinda like remapping Congressional Districts — unless everybody does it, all you do is lose with dignity.
- vole - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
I sent word to Hillary that I will vote for her but only if she gives back all her super Pac money.
- Mister Whipple - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
Hey, look! Someone’s running against Darin LaHood! Who knew?
- vole - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 4:55 pm:
How long ago did the Democratic Party abandon the 18th congressional district? Sad thing is that is kind of par for the course in our Congress of incumbents. Kind of like buying a license to govern (badly).
- Triple fat - Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 6:44 pm:
Maybe GTCR. LLC is fixing to buy the Trib… Come to think of it- maybe the SunTimes as well.
- RunClean Pres - Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 10:48 am:
And the FIRST winner of the prize for the most overly optimistic went to…
*Hey…
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Father of our Country and First President of the United States, thought the colonies could win independence from England. George wanted to make sure we wouldn’t still be paying our taxes to Her Majesty, Queen of England, in 2015. Can you believe it? Ha! What a dreamer!
Hey, just because candidates now spend fortunes to advertise themselves doesn’t mean election campaigns have to work like sales campaigns for shiny cars forever.
Hey, just because huge campaign contributions can now buy our elections and politicians doesn’t mean we have to expect this defect in our democracy till the end of time.
Running, as Rob Mellon is, as a Democrat in a district that hasn’t elected a Democrat since 1939, against a candidate who has raised over a million dollars… that’s overly optimistic.
Running, as Rob Mellon is, with different financial principles… that’s creative and smart. And principled.
George Washington.
Overly optimistic. Creative. Smart. Principled.
RunClean Candidates.
Overly optimistic. Creative. Smart. Principled.
We at RunClean.org got a kick out of your post and comments.
But now let’s get serious. Democracy matters. Learn more about what RunClean is doing.
Check out our website:
Runclean.org
Contact us:
Info@RunClean.org
WORK WITH US
- RunClean Pres - Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:52 am:
Please notify me of follow up comments. Box is now checked.