* Greg Hinz has Rep. Ken Dunkin’s reaction to President Obama’s endorsement of his Democratic primary opponent…
“All the members of the black community have patiently waited, for seven years with baited breath for President Obama to weigh in on the issues that impact our communities,” he said. […]
“So,” he continues, “you can imagine our surprise when we heard about his endorsement. The president’s presence in this race hopefully will shed some attention on the many other issues in the district — namely the high unemployment among our young black males, as well as the unprecedented number of shootings.”
The statement goes on to suggest that Dunkin is ‘the only one discussing the issues and coming up with solutions,” such as banning red light cameras. “We need the president and anyone else, who claims to be invested in our communities, to give their undivided attention to these issues.” […]
Anyhow, Dunkin announced a news conference today to further discuss Obama, but abruptly cancelled it within an hour of when the advisory went out. Spokesman Glenn Reedus said the candidate had a “schedule conflict,” but added that he’d try to get Dunkin to call me later.
* Um, hold on a second. Dunkin is running a radio ad featuring remarks by President Obama which sure make it appear as if Obama is backing Dunkin’s candidacy…
Dunkin was perfectly fine with Obama when he was promoting the fiction of the President’s backing. So for him to whine now is just plain goofy.
* Also, Rep. Dunkin voted for red light cameras when Rahm Emanuel wanted them. Now, however, he’s conveniently against the cams and Emanuel.
There are few lawmakers in Springfield that are as conservative as Republican state Senator Kyle McCarter, but incumbent Congressman John Shimkus wants downstate voters to believe that his GOP challenger is “Chicagoish.”
And while Governor Bruce Rauner has sided with Shimkus over McCarter in the 15th District’s GOP primary race, Senator McCarter asked the governor Monday if he believed McCarter was “Chicagoish,” and Rauner said “No,” according to McCarter’s tweet.
Heh…
Just asked @GovRauner if he believed I was a Chicago Republican. "No, I don't." He chuckled. #twill#IL15
* But McCarter doesn’t have the money to fight back. And the Club for Growth is no longer running its ad attacking Shimkus for violating his term limits pledge, saying “We ran the original buy that we planned and are still strategizing for the final week and bundling for McCarter.” As I’ve already told you, the group is shifting into anti-Trump mode.
* And McCarter is about to be buried under even more TV ads…
The American Action Network (@AAN) today launched an independent expenditure ad campaign supporting Congressman John Shimkus in Illinois’ 15th congressional district primary. Highlighting Shimkus’ strong conservative voice, the ad campaign will ensure Illinois primary voters know he is the principled fighter they need in Congress.
Shimkus’ conservative leadership includes fighting to dismantle Obamacare, standing up for 2nd Amendment rights, and defending the right to life. Shimkus is endorsed by the National Rifle Association, National Right to Life, and other conservative organizations.
AAN’s $200,000 independent expenditure campaign includes broadcast and cable television buys running through the March 15 primary election day in five district media markets as well as digital advertising and GOTV phone calls.
“Our country needs strong leaders - fortunately we have conservatives like John Shimkus willing to step up,” said AAN President Mike Shields. “John Shimkus is willing to take on the tough fights like dismantling Obamacare, protecting gun rights and fighting for conservative values.”
* The governor is holding a media briefing at noon. Click here for the state’s audio and video. Click here for the BlueRoomStream.com video feed. And most definitely follow all that and the Senate today with ScribbleLive…
* An Eastern Illinois University student attempted to ask a question of Gov. Bruce Rauner yesterday, but didn’t manage to blurt it out fast enough and the governor made a skillful escape…
Check out this video I took of Governor Rauner refusing to answer an EIU student's question! #FundEIU #FundOurSchools
Club for Growth Action, a political arm of the Club for Growth, released the following statement about a new ad buy that is starting today in Illinois:
“The momentum is shifting away from Donald Trump,” said Club for Growth Action president David McIntosh. “Overwhelming wins by Senator Ted Cruz in Kansas and Maine, and a delegate tie in Louisiana showed that Republican voters don’t want a big-government liberal like Donald Trump at the top of the GOP ticket. They know that Trump would cost Republicans the White House, the Senate majority, and, ultimately, the Supreme Court. It will be no surprise to see the numbers tighten in tomorrow’s primaries and caucus. As voters come to know Trump’s record, they will turn to true pro-growth conservatives.
“Primary voters need to know that Trump has spent years arguing for far-left positions on taxes, health care, bailouts, and the abuse of eminent domain. And now he sounds like the worst kind of politician, warning voters that he will change positions when he feels like it. The shell game that is the Trump candidacy needs to be stopped.”
Club for Growth Action is spending about $2 million for ads that are airing on statewide broadcast and cable TV in Illinois, along with digital ads. The two ads were both aired previously and successfully in Iowa. The first ad also played a significant role in Trump’s loss in Oklahoma.
* Script for “Politician”…
Which presidential candidate supports higher taxes, national health care, and the Wall Street bailout?
It’s Donald Trump.
“In many cases, I probably identify more as a Democrat.”
Trump wants us to think he’s mister tell-it-like-it-is.
But he has a record. And it’s very liberal.
He’s really just playing us for chumps.
Trump: just another politician.
“In many cases, I probably identify more as a Democrat.”
Club for Growth Action is responsible for the content of this advertising.
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump will come March 11 to Chicago for a rally at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion, just days before the March 15 Illinois primary election.
University officials confirmed the Trump campaign had rented the arena for an event that will begin at 6 p.m. […]
Trump’s Chicago rally will take place while the Illinois Republican Party holds a fundraising dinner honoring Gov. Bruce Rauner featuring a rival for the GOP presidential nomination, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Although all presidential contenders were invited to the state GOP event at the Palmer House Hilton, only Cruz has confirmed he’ll be there for the fundraiser, which begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception and follows with dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Serious allegations of voter fraud surfaced Sunday within a high-stakes Illinois House campaign, catching the attention of Cook County prosecutors.
Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) appeared at a South Side press conference to accuse Rep. Ken Dunkin of buying early votes in the battle to keep his 5th District seat in the state House of Representatives. Dunkin’s opponent, Juliana Stratton, also stood nearby as Dowell shared what she claimed is video evidence of Dunkin’s alleged scheme — purportedly shot by people who infiltrated the vote-buying operation and cast ballots in exchange for “crisp $50 bills.”
“This is a violation of all laws of human decency, and shame on Mr. Dunkin and his organization for doing this,” White said. […]
Campaign workers noticed a larger-than-normal early voter turnout Saturday at the Chicago Bee Branch library, Dowell said. So four unnamed volunteers decided to go undercover. Dowell claims voters were being vetted at Dunkin’s campaign headquarters in the 2900 block of South Wabash, told to vote for Dunkin, taken to the library and returned to Dunkin’s campaign office to collect $50 or $100.
The four people who went undercover cast ballots, collected money and have since spoken to Chicago Police, Dowell said.
* I was in Chicago over the weekend for a Saturday morning speech, so I was able to attend the Sunday presser. Here’s part of Ald. Dowell’s statement…
In another video, a woman wearing a red jacket standing outside the Dunkin office at 2907 S. Wabash Street is seen speaking with a man wearing a hidden camera.
“Thirty-seventh and State, that library, that’s where everybody at,” she says, likely referring to the Chicago Bee Library, 3647 S. State St. “And when they get through right there, they get their sheets in [inaudible] they voted, they come back here, and everybody just gotta make sure they punch 121.”
The video man asks, “I gotta go down there and then come back here?”
She responds, “How you gonna get your money?”
Then another man in the background asks, “How much money?” and she responds, “Fifty dollars apiece.”
The video man asks one more time, “I gotta come back down here to get paid?”
And she says, “Yeah ’cause that’s the only way we gonna know you did it.”
* Watch the video, but be aware of some bad language…
“It is another example of them being in a desperate mode and not talking about the issues,” Dunkin said. […]
Dunkin said state House Speaker Mike Madigan is behind the effort to smear his campaign. Dunkin, who has received big campaign contributions from Republicans, has voted against Madigan on several issues, denying him a veto-proof majority that would break the partisan stalemate in Springfield.
“Mike Madigan will tell elected officials to do whatever he thinks he can to derail an independent voice for a man standing up in his district,” Dunkin said.
Juliana Stratton, Democratic candidate for state representative in Illinois’ 5th District, announced Monday that President Barack Obama is endorsing her campaign to unseat state Rep. Ken Dunkin. The president has recorded a radio and television commercial in which he endorsed Stratton and asked Chicagoans to support her.
“I’m endorsing Juliana Stratton because she will stand up for our children, our seniors and our working families,” Obama said. “Juliana will fight to get guns off our streets. Throughout our neighborhoods, too many young people and families live in fear. These families can’t afford inaction. Juliana Stratton will bring a new voice to Springfield as State Representative. She is the strong and devoted leader our neighborhoods need.”
Stratton, a first-time candidate for office, is taking on 13-year incumbent Ken Dunkin, who has received nearly $1.5 million in campaign support from right-wing political committees and a group that was created to advance Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda. Stratton has made a cornerstone of her campaign cracking down on the gun violence that has ripped through the city, vowing to push for tougher penalties for shooters who target children.
“Receiving President Obama’s endorsement is an incredible honor, and I will work hard every day for our families and neighborhoods to earn his continued trust and support,” Stratton said. “Our neighborhoods are proud of how President Obama has taken on dangerous right-wing agendas and has stood up for working families. As state representative, I will fight against reckless agendas that threaten our families.”
Stratton has criticized Dunkin’s record of failure, including siding with the National Rifle Association in voting for a law that made it easier for criminals to get guns and for helping Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner slash affordable child care for thousands of children.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Dunkin ally Maze Jackson just said on WVON radio that “the same person who gave us Rahm Emanuel” is now endorsing Dunkin’s opponent, and then asked rhetorically if that means Stratton is now backed by Rahm. Click here to listen. Jackson has also cut a radio ad for Dunkin, which is airing on his program. And Jackson endorsed Emanuel himself last year.
The Sun-Times has learned that the spots will run through the March 15 Illinois primary; there is about $300,000 behind the TV ad buy and about $100,000 for radio. The ads were produced by Adelstein and Associates, handling the media for the Stratton campaign.
