* 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.
* Bruce Rauner announced he was running for governor today via a YouTube video. Rate it…
His slogan: “Shake up Springfield. Bring back Illinois.”
* I’ve been hearing for days that Rauner could start airing TV ads as soon as next week. Ron Gidwitz began airing TV ads in July of 2005, but was never able to move the needle and by the time the campaign heated up his candidacy was generally dismissed. If the ad rumors are true, then Rauner will face the same sort of test, only a month earlier.
* From the Rauner campaign…
Before beginning his campaign, Bruce spent three months on a Listening Tour getting to know the thoughts, concerns and ideas of Illinoisans across the state. He made more than 65 stops and traveled nearly 18,000 miles.
He met small business owners held back by burdensome regulations and high taxes – and who think things might just be easier in Indiana or Wisconsin. He spoke with tech leaders and young entrepreneurs as well as folks out of work or underemployed.
Bruce visited with teachers deeply concerned about their students and Springfield politicians’ failure to prioritize education. He met with dads in barbershops on the South Side of Chicago who want more educational choices and to give their children the hope of a brighter future.
After months on the road hearing from Illinoisans from all walks of life, it became clear that voters think the crowd of career politicians in Springfield who got Illinois into the current mess can’t get the state out of it. They are hungry for a governor who is willing to shake up Springfield and can’t be bought, bribed, or intimidated.
Bruce is tremendously encouraged by the response to his Listening Tour and the ability to raise resources for his candidacy.
As a candidate, Bruce plans to keep up the pace he set on the Listening Tour and will continue to meet as many Illinoisans as possible to discuss his vision for rebuilding Illinois.
Beginning Thursday, Bruce will embark on his “Bring Back Illinois Tour.” He already has nearly a dozen stops planned for the first two weeks of the campaign and will be adding many more in the days and weeks to come.
