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Walsh to run against Hultgren?

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* I’m hearing this as well about Joe Walsh…

Probably more credible, though, is persistent buzz that Mr. Walsh will focus on regaining his congressional seat — not against Ms. Duckworth, whose district now is reliably Democratic, but by running in a primary against Republican Randy Hultgren in the adjoining 14th District.

Whatever happens, I don’t expect him to go away.

* Meanwhile, Rep. Mell told me essentially the same thing yesterday after session ended…

State Rep. Deborah Mell, the daughter of Chicago Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), soft-pedaled the possibility of assuming her father’s seat on the City Council but stopped well short of ruling out that possibility Sunday.

In her first extended public statements on the issue, the two-term state representative insisted that “nothing is going on”surrounding a potential move to the City Council and said she would weigh her options when — and if — her father decides to step down.

“When the time comes, we’ll deal with it then. But I love my community. I would love to represent it either way,” Mell told the Chicago Sun-Times after the Illinois House adjourned for the day Sunday. […]

Emanuel acknowledged that he had talked to the alderman about his plan to retire, but they haven’t yet discussed his apparent political plan for his daughter. […]

“I think the mayor said it really correctly where my dad’s been retiring for quite awhile now,” she said. “I don’t know what he would do, you know, if he wasn’t an alderman. I mean, I think he loves it. So I don’t know. And about me, I don’t know.”

* In other news…

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s departing top political hand has landed himself a new gig — with a GOP-leaning firm that’s looking to widen its reach and become one of the city’s top public affairs shops.

Tom Bowen is joining Mac Strategies Group Inc. as a senior adviser. He served as deputy campaign manager for Mr. Emanuel and ran the mayor’s Chicago Committee leadership PAC. He’s also worked for former U.S. Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias and Barack Obama — the latter both as a state senator and as a candidate for president.

In an interview, Mr. Bowen said his new job will be to help interest groups and companies tell their story in an effective manner.

“In the business world, you’re not electing someone but looking to get a bill passed in Chicago or Springfield or Washington,” he said. “You need to get your message out.”

I introduced Bowen to Ryan McLaughlin at a party. This is not your usual pairing, but I think they’ll be a good fit, and both of them are top notch dudes.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 11:03 am

Comments

The grand cook county tradition of not letting the little people (voters) deceide who represents them is alive and well.

Comment by Fed up Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 11:06 am
As you’ve noted, Walsh keeps pointing at the Governor’s seat in local town halls. Maybe he’s just fishing.

Comment by walkinfool Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 11:07 am
I love those tea party folks. Hate government so much - can’t wait to get back to it.
The Dems should do what Claire McCaskill did in Missouri - fund his campaigns whenever he runs! Will surely lead to them picking up another seat.

Comment by Wallendar Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 11:41 am
So does this put the stop to the prior buzz about Bowen leaving Rahm to help run an effort or candidate to challenge Quinn in the primary?

Comment by Oh Yeah Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 11:54 am
After he lost his seat, a reporter asked Walsh what were his plans and he said, “find a job.”

I think that sums up his interest in Congress. Where else can he make that much money for that little real work. Plus he’s the darling of the Tea Party and Fox News et al.

He’ll keep trying to find someone he can knock off because he now he knows what a sweet gig it is.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 12:02 pm
===
So does this put the stop to the prior buzz about Bowen leaving Rahm to help run an effort or candidate to challenge Quinn in the primary?
===

Nothing stops a more moderate pro business anti-Quinn from hiring Mac Strategies for the 2014 Dem Primary.

Mac Strategies people were behind the McKenna/Murphy push in 2010, but it isn’t exactly like McKenna/Murphy were hard core Tea Partiers.

In fact, I’m not sure how this would work RE: trust and conflict of interest issues, but if Mac Strategies farmed out staff to help w/ a Bill Daley-style run for governor, could another part of the staff be farmed out to another GOP race (like Comptroller or Treasurer) as well? Chinese firewalls can work in some circumstances.

Comment by John Galt Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 12:44 pm
Wait, Tom Bowen said he wasn’t going to be a lobbyist when he left the Mayor’s political office.

From Crain’s Chicago Business Weekly - “Mr. Bowen, 33, tells me he’s interested in some mix of politics and government, but won’t become a lobbyist.” http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20121128/BLOGS02/121129831/top-emanuel-political-aide-bowen-moving-on

Why the change of mind, Tom?

Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 2:33 pm
Bowen headed up Bill Foster’s first congressional campaign, didn’t he. Agreed - top notch.

Comment by yinn Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 2:40 pm
Uh, are there really people who don’t understand the difference between a PR person and a lobbyist?

Comment by The Captain Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 2:45 pm
Aren’t interest groups interested in lobbying?

Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 2:57 pm
Yeah and they hire lobbyists for that, for press they hire PR firms.

Comment by The Captain Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 3:02 pm
Joe Walsh is divine retribution for the GOP.

The truly sad thing is that Hultgren is a hard-core, God-fearing Conservative across the board. His failing in the eyes of the far-right (I don’t say Tea Party because the real Tea Party quasi-libertarians have been hijacked by social conservative extremists) is that he does not froth at the mouth and hurl invective towards everyone who disagrees with him.

Comment by Adam Smith Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 4:12 pm
=Uh, are there really people who don’t understand the difference between a PR person and a lobbyist? =

Is that a trick question, Captain?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 6:27 pm
Hultgren would crush Walsh in a primary. Walsh knew this in 2011, which is why he chose not to run against Hultgren.

Walsh can win next time in many districts if he (and his supporters) can learn from his tactical mistakes in 2012. Ad hominem does not work for him. Articulate the issues. When not on the issues, schmooze; don’t attack.

Comment by spintreebob Monday, Jan 7, 13 @ 8:33 pm
The facts in the Crain’s article are incorrect.

Ryan McLaughlin only ran the Roskam campaign briefly in the primary, he was out as campaign manager by the end of 2005. He was replaced by Jason Roe who ran the campaign until its victory in November 2006.

Comment by Really? Tuesday, Jan 8, 13 @ 11:18 am