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Underdog endorsements

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Illinois

* The Sun-Times has been tallying up newspaper endorsements this month. So far, Gov. Pat Quinn hasn’t received any, but a couple of underdogs have managed to score one each.

The Peoria Journal Star endorsed Sheila Simon for comptroller…

We have no particular bone to pick with Topinka, and the polls have her far ahead. That said, Simon has solid credentials as a reformer in a state that desperately needs reform, butting heads with her own party over redistricting, legislative leader term limits, lawmaker economic disclosures, etc. The Simon family has a deserved reputation for being an incorruptible lot; if any of that is going to rub off on the Illinois version of the Democratic Party and the state government it now dominates, we’re convinced it must come from within.

She may be a long shot here, but Sheila Simon is endorsed.

* And the Northwest Herald endorsed Jim Oberweis for US Senate…

Oberweis seems thirsty to make the tough decisions when it comes to significantly cutting spending and bringing down the deficit. He is endorsed.

* Meanwhile, speaking of Oberweis…

U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis raised relatively little campaign money in the last reporting period, digging into his own wallet for a $550,000 donation to bump up his total, reports show.

Oberweis, in the period ending Sept. 30, had $738,410 in net contributions, including his own more than half-million-dollar donation.

That means he garnered only $188,410 in contributions from other individuals and political action committees. […]

The total of gifts and loans to his campaign treasury stood at $1,556,400 on Sept. 30. He has already loaned and contributed $9 million in his five previous failed bids for major office, according to state and federal records.

That’s one expensive hobby.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:28 am

Comments

I’m baffled as to why Oberweis is having trouble raising money. I would have expected fundraising-extraordinaire Ron Gidwitz would have raised him a ton of money after talking him into the race.

Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:31 am
You’d think that the boss of the Illinois GOP could at least throw as much money Obie’s way as he has in the past to the likes of Daley, Emanuel and Forrest Claypool.

Maybe even just a taste, like Ed Rendell?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:39 am
===I would have expected fundraising-extraordinaire Ron Gidwitz would have raised him a ton of money after talking him into the race.===

That is some good stuff there.

===The Simon family has a deserved reputation for being an incorruptible lot; if any of that is going to rub off on the Illinois version of the Democratic Party and the state government it now dominates, we’re convinced it must come from within.===

Paul Simon - 1
Sheila Simon - 0

Pretty lazy endorsement if you fall back on the idea a man who hasn’t been in office since January of 1997 as the rationale to support his daughter, for no reason but 5 letters in a specific order matches the same letters she has for her.

Yeah, um ok.

“Dear state Senator Oberweis,

I’ll take half in cash.

OW”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:43 am
So Simon was endorsed because of her parent’s legacies?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:45 am
$9 million dollars?!?! That’s a lot of milk shakes (which are delicious, by the way). I may savor one on election night when he fails to garner much of the vote. Heck, that would even be a good marketing campaign: “you pay the amount I garner in the US Senate race”. I would love to get a shake for 35-cents.

Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:46 am
Pretty lame Simon endorsement. And perhaps Oberweis is having trouble raising money because no one thinks he can win, and people don’t like him that much?

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:47 am
Trashslinger out of the gate.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:52 am
i believe that someone commenting on Capital Fax said it best, something to the effect…..Oberweis always complains about career politicians but has sure spent a lot of money trying to be one!

Maybe OW or Wordslinger but whomever it was had it perfect!

Comment by Old and In The Way Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:58 am
@ walker

What did “Wordslinger” write that’s “trash”. Man, some people have such a hard time with facts. They really are troubling things sometimes.

Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 9:59 am
Knome Sabe: You misunderstand. I was complimenting the master Slinger, and using “trash” as you might on the basketball court.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:08 am
Walk, no worries, mate.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:10 am
I hope his GOP consultants don’t forget to send him birthday and Christmas cards.

Oberweiss is the candidate who keeps on giving.

Comment by IrishPirate Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:19 am
I apologize for going off-topic for a second here, but I have a question for Wordslinger: Is your screen name meant to be read as “Word Slinger” or “Words Linger?”

The answer doesn’t really matter, I’ve just always been curious. Or maybe the double entendre was on purpose?

Comment by ??? Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:32 am
Slinger

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:36 am
Knome Sane: sorry for the misspelled moniker above.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:37 am
What’s next for Oberweis? U.S. House in 2016 and Governor in 2018?

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:41 am
@ walker

Thank you for clarifying. I stand humbly corrected and, like you, I bow to Wordslinger whispering the words: “I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy.”

Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 11:03 am
Another interesting editorial I saw this morning was the Southerns endorsement of Thorsland over Shimkus for Congress.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 11:52 am
== Wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 10:36 am:

Slinger===

dude must not read my posts that always refer to you as only ’slinger’. I would never say “linger”. Occasionally “lurker”, but never linger. lol

Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 12:05 pm
Self funders like this clown are holding the Republican’s back here and elsewhere. Only paid staffers would tell this guy he has a prayer. Truax was an interesting candidate but we nominate this clown. It is the fault of party leadership!

Comment by blogman Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 3:19 pm
Re Oberweiss’s expensive hobby, it may be costing him more than he realizes. I stopped patronizing his family business years ago because of it. I wonder how many others out there are like me.

Comment by Dr Kilovolt Wednesday, Oct 22, 14 @ 4:10 pm