Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Yesterday was Cyber Monday, when online sales really start to kick off during the holiday season…

Cyber Monday sales rose 14% this year compared to 2008 and consumers also bought nearly 30% more items per order versus last year, according to research firm Coremetrics.

Also, the firm said shoppers bought 10% more items per order online than they did in stores on Black Friday.

Gatehouse takes a look at estimated state sales tax revenue from online sales. It’s puny…

Estimated state sales tax collections on retail sales to households

* 2005 — $47 million
* 2006 — $57 million
* 2007 — $68 million
* 2008 — $73 million
* 2009 — $78 million

Illinois doesn’t automatically collect sales tax on online purchases. Hence, the low numbers.

* Rep. John Fritchey’s prodigious social media usage was profiled by Chicagoist this week. Fritchey adds his own two cents at his blog…

But the point that I tried to convey in the article is that I think the key to maximizing both the intention and the value of social media in the political arena is to use it to let the public see more of who you really are as opposed to simply repackaging the canned messaging that they get all too often from their elected officials.

I know elected officials with Facebook pages and Twitter accounts who likely couldn’t turn on their laptop if their lives depended on it; they have staffers handle everything. In my mind, that not only defeats the whole purpose, it actually sends just the opposite message from the one you want to convey.

He’s right. All of that is very important.

It’s also important that you not say something stupid online, like Jim Ryan’s campaign did the other day. As I told subscribers this morning, JRyan’s campaign found itself in hot water - again - with the Illinois State Rifle Association. From a Rifle Association press release…

The ISRA-PVF is today calling upon Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan to retract claims that he received the group’s endorsement during his failed 2002 run for governor against Rod Blagojevich. Such misleading claims have surfaced on Ryan’s social networking internet sites in recent days. Additionally, individuals have made reports to the ISRA-PVF that Ryan campaign staffers have made similar endorsement claims when questioned about Ryan’s stands on issues important to law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

The fact of the matter is, the ISRA-PVF declined to make an endorsement in the 2002 race for Illinois governor as neither the Republican candidate, Jim Ryan, nor his Democratic opponent, Rod Blagojevich, were deemed suitable for endorsement.

Ryan’s campaign then issued a kinda/sorta apology on its Facebook page…

Our campaign staffers in 2002 recalled working closely with ISRA on several issues and remembered being endorsed. If we erred in our recollection, we apologize. We have deep respect for gun owners in Illinois and for the ISRA. We look forward to working with them in the governor’s office, with or without an endorsement.

That would’ve been pretty easy to check. Sheesh.

* Speaking of ill-advised remarks, Greg Blankenship takes me to task for referring to Dennis Byrne as an ultra conservative today on the blog. He may be right about a possible mislabel, but his analysis is a bit off…

Maybe it’s just a knee jerk reaction to someone who disagrees with Miller. I guess disagreement means your some kind of extremist or something. I’ve asked in the comments section for a definition of an ultra-conservative is. Let’s see if I get answer.

As I noted in comments, I might define an ultra conservative as someone who labels suburban women voters as “out-of-touch suburban ditzes.” Just sayin, buddy. lol

* Tony Peraica is live-Tweeting the Cook County Board’s override vote of President Stroger’s veto of the partial sales tax rollback proposal. Have a look.

Here’s some other stuff on Twitter today…

* QuinnStories: Check out our first installment of Quinn Stories, a behind-the-scenes documentary on Governor Pat Quinn: http://ow.ly/Hvbt

* donmanzullo: Here’s what I know about the Administration’s plan to move Gitmo to NW IL. http://tinyurl.com/yk4bkem #twill

* ramsincanon: My interview with Ald. @MannyFlores: http://gapersblock.com/mech… We talk budget.

* MysteryPollster: By popular demand, answers to the question, “why are Rasmussen’s results so different?” http://tr.im/Gkjr

* GregHinz: Horse tracks offer to “rescue” failing video poker plan. http://tinyurl.com/ycobbo9

* kmrasmussen: QuincyNews poll finds bad re-elect numbers for Rep. Phil Hare. 66% believe stimulus hasn’t helped western IL http://bit.ly/7jOwGz #twill

* And here’s today’s online video, from the Quinn campaign. It’s about the governor’s holiday card drive for the troops. Watch it…

What are you seeing out there on social media today?

* Related…

* Cop Blog, CTA Tracker Among Top Local Web Searches - Google Compiles Lists Of Unique Searches For Chicago, 30 Other Cities: The Chicago Police officers’ blog Second City Cop made the list with an assortment of transit, education and other local Web sites, is one of the most popular Google searches in the Chicago area this year.

* Google Zeitgeist, city by city

* WUIS launches ‘alternative’ digital station: The station, called “Xponential Radio,” first arrived on the airwaves in mid-October and can be received using an HD radio or listening online at www.wuis.org, according to Bill Wheelhouse, WUIS general manager.

* Comcast to add 4G wireless service in Chicago - Provider launching ultrafast wireless offering via Clearwire

25 Comments

Not so “minimal”

Monday, Nov 30, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The other day, Alexi Giannoulias tried to explain what happened to his inheritance…

llinois Treasurer and U.S. Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias said Tuesday that a “minimal” amount of the $70 million he and his siblings received in 2007 and 2008 dividends from Broadway Bank, the troubled Chicago lender the family owns, actually went to them individually.

That was obviously not the greatest choice of words, since he alone received $2.5 million before taxes.

So, rival Democratic US Senate candidate David Hoffman has responded with a “people in the street” video. The beginning is horribly dull and badly done, but it gets better about 15 seconds in. Watch it…

Ouch.

However, just to be clear, Giannoulias got to keep “only” $1.5 mil from that pile. As I already told you, the rest went for taxes.

…Adding… A minor point, but it appears that the video’s voice-over setup asks a different question than the “regular” people were asked. “What could people in Illinois do with $2.5 million?” appears to be the actual question, but the video claims it was: “What would two and a half million dollars mean for you and your family?” Again, no big deal, but the answers seem a tad bit confusing without that context.

* In other news…

U.S. Senate candidate Cheryle Jackson has garnered the support of more than a dozen black pastors and church officials whose congregations have thousands of members.

Jackson said Monday the ministers from Chicago and the suburbs are organizing pastors downstate to support her campaign.

From Jackson’s press release…

The group based its endorsement on Jackson’s experience fighting for jobs, education and health care. Jackson repeated her call to begin bringing troops and resources home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In attendance at the news conference were Dr. Brazier, Pastor Tyson, Pastor Gray, Bishop Tridestone, Pastor Drummons, Rev. Johnson Jr., Rev. Redwell, Rev. Harrison Sr., Rev. Turner, Rev. Greer, Rev. A Richardson, Pastor Andrews, Rev Michael Eaddy, Apostle Sylvester Brinson III, Jerry Harris and Mickarl D Thomas.

* Former governor/AG candidate John Schmidt has endorsed Dan Hynes. From a fundraising e-mail…

I don’t find it easy to oppose an incumbent Governor of my own party. But I have come to the conclusion - one that I find is shared by many others - that the incumbent is simply not capable of governing competently and effectively.

As Democrats, we have a profound obligation not to give our state another failed Governor. As citizens, setting aside any consideration of party, we have an obligation to do everything we can to elect a Governor who will govern competently and effectively at a time of enormous challenge to our state.

* And Mark Kirk is whacked again…

GOP Rep Mark Kirk, who’s running for Senate and facing a primary challenge from the right, is now claiming that if health care reform passes, it “could become law” for the government to deny coverage for mammograms.

Kirk’s Senate campaign is out with a new email that is presented as a questionnaire, asking: “Could the Government Deny Mammogram Coverage?”

31 Comments

*** UPDATED x 3 *** Dillard up with Fox News cable/Network TV ad and some other campaign news

Monday, Nov 30, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard has a new cable TV ad which features former Gov. Jim Edgar. Rate it…

It’s a $50,000 buy on Fox News for the week. The ad will be running throughout the day and evening on the cable channel.

*** UPDATE 2 *** As some commenters have pointed out, there’s more to the buy than just Fox News. But just barely. From my usual industry insider…

* Dillard booked a total of 95k statewide - broadcast and cable

* Markets - Champaign - cable only 4k total

Chicago- booked 50k on cable and 10k on broadcast

Paducah booked 5k broadcast no cable

Peoria- 19k broadcast, 3k cable

Rockford- 3,500 on cable only no broadcast

This is a very light broadcast buy, to say the least.

*** UPDATE 3 *** A pal with the Dillard campaign says Champaign network (WCIA) was bought this week.

[ *** End of Updates *** ]

* Meanwhile, in other political news, Adam Andrzejewski says he’s on a “fact-finding mission to Poland” with his dad…

I’m currently visiting the Republic of Poland as part of an economic and political fact-finding mission. My four day mission trip will include both official and familial appointments. The goal of the mission is to discover how the State of Illinois can improve its economic and cultural relationship with the Republic of Poland in order to promote job growth, economic vitality, and increased international trade between the two.

* Adlai Stevenson has endorsed Justin Oberman for state treasurer and Oberman is featuring Stevenson in a new radio ad. I’ll have the audio during the lunch hour, so watch for an update. For now, here’s the script…

Your state treasurer can be a big help in these troubled times—from improving state finances to creating new jobs. I know, because I served as state treasurer before you elected me senator.

I’m Adlai Stevenson and I’m grateful for your past support. But now I want to tell you about an outstanding candidate with a strong professional background and great plans for the treasurer’s office—including job creation.

Justin Oberman served our country in transportation and homeland security, managing a large staff and budget. He now runs his own financial firm helping green companies grow. His qualifications are unmatched for managing the treasurer’s office and investing state funds wisely. But he can also bring private investment back to Illinois, which will mean more new jobs.

I urge you to support Justin Oberman for State Treasurer in the Democratic primary.

Justin: Thank you for your support. Paid for by Oberman for Illinois.

Stevenson: It’s a new generation, but the name Oberman still means reform.

UPDATE 1: Click here to listen to the radio ad.

* Remember when Dorothy Brown’s spokesperson dissed Todd Stroger’s nominating petitions a few weeks ago?

“It was just ridiculous. It was chicken scratch, it was scribble-scrabble. It didn’t look well at all. It looked obviously fake and false,” said Brown spokeswoman Lily Kim.

Well, Brown recently dropped her challenge, but her own petitions are still being challenged…

The electoral board will continue its review of additional allegations including invalid signatures, irregularities and forgeries in Brown’s documents on Thursday.

* And a little-known Republican candidate explains why he took a Democratic ballot last year after rumors circulated that he’s a Democratic plant…

In 2008, I joined over 100,000 Republicans in Ohio, 119,000 in Texas, and 38,000 in Mississippi who voted for Hillary Clinton to put Republicans in the best position to win in the general election.

* More campaign stuff…

* Candidates take advantage of e-campaigning

* Republican candidates for governor weigh in on gambling to help state budget

* Political ‘Loyalty Oath’ Remains Popular in Elections

* Kane Dems endorse Quinn

* Kirk gets Schock’s endorsement for US Senate bid

* Governor race has a decidedly DuPage feel to it

* Candidates open wallets for Republican fundraiser

* Bernard Schoenburg: Hynes not conceding votes of veterans

* Bird formally out of 10th Congressional District race

* The Flipside to Uncontested Green Primaries

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