* Things took an ugly turn during a Republican congressional candidates’ forum when Jason Plummer alleged that a major pro-life PAC’s endorsements were for sale to the highest bidder…
Cook, who served as Belleville mayor from 1993-97, said he’d been endorsed by the Family Political Action Committee, in suburban Chicago, which Cook described as the state’s largest pro-life group.
Plummer fired back, alleging that, based on his experience running for lieutenant governor in 2010, the FamPAC endorsement is obtained by paying for it.
“Rodger, I am offended you tried to trick people like that,” Plummer said.
Cook glared at Plummer.
“The truth will set you free,” Cook said. “Rodger Cook didn’t pay anything to Family PAC.”
“To say that i’m not happy about it would be the understated quote of the year,” Family PAC director Paul Caprio said this afternoon. “We have never sold an endorsement to anybody. We’ve never asked for any amount of money in return for an endorsement.”
Caprio also claimed that after the group endorsed someone else for lt. governor two years ago, Plummer called him and said, “I’m going to get you.” Caprio, who called Plummer a “miserable excuse for a candidate,” said the outburst demonstrated Plummer’s immaturity and temper problems, as well as highlighting Plummer’s reputation as “entitled.”
“We’re a giver, we’re not a taker from the candidates,” a “stunned” Caprio explained, adding that we would be hearing more about this soon. “We can’t allow that to stand,” Caprio said, adding that he would be taking “appropriate action” on “this defamation” unless he received an apology from Plummer.
* Meanwhile, there was yet another remote control endorsement of J3 over the weekend…
Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson over primary challenger Debbie Halvorson today, but did so in the way other prominent Democratic leaders have backed the incumbent — through a statement rather than appearing with him in person.
Tammy Duckworth’s congressional campaign raised concerns Friday that supporters of rival Raja Krishnamoorthi have started up a “SuperPac” to raise money to run television commercials in support of his bid for Congress in the northwest suburbs.
Duckworth’s political strategist Pete Giangreco asked in a conference call with reporters Friday whether the SuperPac — “Suburban Voters for Choice” — might solocit money from “Big Oil” or “Wall Street” to run negative ads against Duckworth. That would be “unprecedented” in a Democratic primary in Illinois, Giangreco said.
* From Raja’s campaign…
Duckworth’s campaign made some pretty bold claims about SuperPACs today that amount to blatant lies. Raja has nothing to do with the creation of any SuperPAC and our campaign certainly did not “launch” a SuperPAC. Where is the evidence to support such a claim? There is none, and the claim is a flat-out lie.
Furthermore, Raja offered a pledge to Duckworth to take the influence of SuperPAC money as well as all PAC money out of this election. Duckworth refused to even respond to such a pledge, not surprising since Duckworth received a total of $102,847.96 in Washington special interest PAC money since she has entered race through February 28, 2012.
“It is pretty clear that Duckworth’s campaign is trying to make hay out of nothing in order to throw the spotlight off of all the special interest money backing their campaign,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Mike Murray. “Voters deserve better than the same old Washington political tricks.”
Superpac Treasurer Michael Vainisi, who served as Finance Director of Krishnamoorthi’s run for state comptoller two years ago, laughed at Giangreco’s suggestion.
“This is going to be individual contributors, no corporate money,” Vainisi said. “Some of Raja’s supporters were interested in leveling the playing field since Tammy has outside money coming from Washington.”
* ADDED: Joe Walsh’s cash drying up: The Illinois freshman — and potentially most vulnerable House Republican in the country — raises just $38,300 during the first two months of the year, pre-primary Federal Election Commission reports show. A Democratic sources notes that number is barely enough to cover the $24,015 he still owes in legal fees.
* Bustos Leads Schilling In Fundraising During Last Filing Period
* Kinzinger, Manzullo face off in 16th Congressional District - Republican primary race’s outcome is in question for the first time in two decades.
* Schneider Mailer Featuring Obama Pic Making Waves In 10th District Race: In the mailer, Schneider lists his endorsements, highlighting former congresswoman Melissa Bean and the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald as supporters. Right next to those endorsements is a picture of a smiling President Barack Obama, who has not endorsed Schneider or anyone else in the 10th congressional district race.
* Voter Registration Down, Early Voting Numbers Up: Voter registration is down in Illinois from both the 2008 and 2010 elections, according to the State Board of Elections. As of yesterday, there were 7.28 million registered voters in the state, down from the 7.3 million who were registered for the 2008 election. There were 7.6 million registered voters for the 2010 elections.
