*** UPDATE 1 *** Here’s Ald. O’Connor’s new cable TV ad which is mentioned below. The campaign claims to have raised $200K in the past couple of weeks and say they’ll be expanding the buy…

*** UPDATE 2 *** A Democratic candidate is getting some very conservative endorsements. From a press release…

National Taxpayers United Illinois (NTUI) announced here today that it is endorsing Cary Capparelli, candidate on the Democratic ballot to fill Rahm Emanuel’s seat representing Illinois’ 5th Congressional District.

Cary received the news from Jim Tobin, president of NTUI, the largest and a highly effective taxpayer group in Illinois. Founded in 1976, the group takes credit for saving Illinois citizens more than $74 billion in income, property, sales and other taxes - both at the state and local levels. NTUI has defeated proposed income tax increases every year since 1993, and has helped taxpayers defeat 190 local property tax increase referendums since 1977.

“Cary has made a pledge to protect taxpayers by opposing any effort to increase taxes,” said Mr. Tobin. “By making this endorsement, we are recognizing his integrity and commitment to fighting taxes.”

The NTUI endorsement is the second one in just a few days’ time. He received the endorsement of Family-Pac Federal last weekend. Family-Pac Federal is a bi-partisan group that has endorsed candidates who are or have been committed to upholding family values.

That’s quite interesting.

[ *** End of Updates *** ]

* As of February 6th, Democrat Paul Bryar’s relatively uncovered, unknown congressional campaign claimed to have raised $250,000 in contributions. That’s pretty darned good and in the top tier of all candidates if true.

But, as they say on the teevee, that’s not all.

Check out the independent expenditures in the district as of today. The American Academy of Opthalmology PAC has spent almost $59,000 in the district so far. According to his website Bryar plays a “leadership role” with the American Academy of Opthalmology. Bryar says he had a volunteer post to help streamline electronic health records.

Bryar said today that my call to his campaign manager asking about the IE was the first he had heard of the expenditure, and pointed out that he’s not on the board of directors and wouldn’t know of its activities. By law, he’s not allowed to coordinate his message or activities with the group. Coordination complaints are sometimes filed even if there’s no actual wrongdoing (just for a press pop, in other words), but Bryar is so unknown (his first poll showed him at 0 percent) that nothing will likely be said or done.

Bryar said he’s running about 1,100 cable TV ads a week, which he claims is more than anyone else in the race. He didn’t know how many ratings points that translates into, and it’s tough to figure that without knowing which channels and programs are running his ads. It’s not a huge amount. Cable requires big buys over a long period of time to work most effectively.

Here’s his ad…

He’s also doing mail. He has the money to be competitive, but this special election will require a serious, seasoned ground game. “Normal” people just won’t vote. Campaigns will have to physically drag their identified supporters to the polls.

* Also, if you clicked on that IE link above, you saw that Emily’s List has spent about $11K on behalf of Rep. Sara Feigenholtz’s congressional campaign. Expect that to grow. Also, expect SEIU to jump in as well. If both groups take the big leap, these independent expenditures could turn out to be the real story in the campaign.

* Ald. Pat O’Connor has also hit the cable TV “airwaves” with a new ad. He’s spending $25K over five days. A commenter reported last night that O’Connor is also now doing robocalls.

* Meanwhile, the Sun-Times has a piece about Rep. John Fritchey getting hammered for defending Roland Burris during the House impeachment committee…

State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) said he had no interest in protecting Roland Burris when the now-senator appeared before the Illinois House impeachment committee last month.

Here’s the exchange in question…

Burris, who was then trying to be installed as a U.S. Senator, faced a question from Durkin about whether Gov. Blagojevich asked him for any quid-pro-quo in exchange for naming Burris to the senate. Burris said “No.”

“If you were aware of a quid pro quo, what would you have done?” Durkin asked.

Fritchey spoke before Burris answered, saying, “Mr. Burris had already stated that he was not aware of any quid pro quo, which answers that question and puts it to rest.”

Burris eventually volunteered that he would never accept a quid pro quo.

When Durkin asked Burris, “What were your thoughts upon the arrest of the governor?” Fritchey interjected, “Our mission today is to investigate Rod Blagojevich, not Roland Burris.”

That ain’t exactly felonius, but we’re in the middle of a bona fide media feeding frenzy and Fritchey is getting munched. He hasn’t gotten a whole lot of good press this cycle anyway. Witness this Tribune hed about Fritchey’s latest TV ad: Fritchey airs attack ad in race to replace Rahm Emanuel. Oof. As I told you yesterday, the Tribune’s endorsement of Mike Quigley included a whack at Fritchey.

* Fritchey has said he’d support a special election, but Rep. Feigenoltz just called for Burris to resign. From a press release…

“Three months ago I called for a special election to fill President Obama’s seat because I believed voters should have had the right to choose their Senator, not politicians in Springfield. This appointment has been under a dark cloud since the day this seat became vacant. And look where it got us. These disappointing disclosures on the part of Senator Burris mean only one thing: he must resign. It’s time that we hand this decision over to the voters and have a clean break. Let them decide.”

* Related…

* O’FritchLeyHoltz.com

* Political newcomers vie for Congress

* The Fritchey Defense Returns to Bite Him

* The Paul Bryar Interview

* Tribune: Democrats’ best: Quigley