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Bost’s “anger,” Cook’s ratings, Foster’s ad

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* Politico has a big profile of Mike Bost today…

He’s preoccupied by the scrutiny into what’s become known simply as “the dog story” — the resurfacing of which, he insists, is the work of Democrats trying to damage him. As he pulled into his driveway on Sunday afternoon, after showing a POLITICO reporter around his neighborhood, his Labradoodle, Betty, darted in front of his car.

“What if I killed a second dog in front of a reporter?” he joked darkly as Betty scampered up the steps to his house.

During a parade in Mt. Vernon on Saturday, nearly a dozen people told Bost they’d seen the ads about his temper. But most of them seemed unconcerned. “I see you on TV,” one man said to laughter from the candidate. “Don’t you be getting mad at me!”

Another voter said the ads made her want to vote for Bost. “About time someone got mad,” she said.

* Let’s move along to Charlie Cook…

IL-10: Brad Schneider (D) - Chicago north suburbs: Lake Shore
Toss Up. Schneider unseated Dold by just a point in 2012 with the help of President Obama’s 58 percent showing in this district, but some voters still think Dold is the incumbent. Unlike in 2012, Schneider has outraised Dold. But this year, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn may not carry the 10th CD. Most polls continue to show the race tied or within the margin of error. It’s a total coin flip once again.

IL-12: Bill Enyart (D) - Southwest border: East St. Louis, Carbondale
Toss Up. Even though Enyart won by nine points in 2012, both parties now consider him the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the state. GOP state Rep. Mike Bost has simply outworked Enyart so far, and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is about to get clobbered in Downstate Illinois. Enyart benefited from a late surge in 2012, and Democrats have tried to pull out all the stops here once again.

In September, as expected, Democrats launched ads using infamous footage of a Bost temper tantrum on the floor of the Illinois State House. Some GOP operatives believe Bost’s outrage at the legislative leadership is actually shared by most voters in the 12th CD, so Bost tried to spin it to his advantage. Republicans believe Bost is still leading the incumbent, but it’s anyone’s guess.

IL-17: Cheri Bustos (D) - West: Rock Island, parts of Peoria and Rockford
Lean Democratic. Democrats are much more confident about Bustos’s reelection prospects than those of several others in the state. This is a Democratic-leaning seat by design, and Bustos is an energetic campaigner who has styled herself as a Blue Dog. However, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is badly behind in this district, and Bustos got some bad press for failing to forgo her congressional pay during the shutdown as promised.

Meanwhile, former GOP Rep. Bobby Schilling is back for the rematch with a new campaign team that includes experienced hands rather than his son, who managed the 2012 race. Republicans aren’t expressing as much enthusiasm for this race as they did a month ago, and a new We Ask America survey showed Bustos leading 55 percent to 39 percent. It’s not one of the GOP’s better opportunities at the moment.

* Lynn Sweet…

Rep. Bill Foster D-Ill., a physicist, is running his first television spot in his race against state Rep. Darlene Senger, an upbeat piece starting Friday that portrays him as a little boy fixing an old TV set — with dials — and as a young scientist studying proton decay.

The two Naperville residents are battling for the 11th Congressional District seat, turf that includes portions of the western suburbs, including large chunks of Aurora, Joliet and Naperville.

The ad goes on to show the adult Foster who says his priorities in Congress are raising the minimum wage and changing the law so student can refinance student loan debt.

* The ad...

Kind of a weird segue to the minimum wage, but whatevs.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:21 am

Comments

Yeah, that Foster spot is different all right. Not sure what I think about it. Maybe “different” is good enough to cut through the clutter of the gov spots.

Is Enyart really getting out hustled? If so, no crying if you lose.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:31 am
Actually if you have ever had a one on one conversation with Foster, the ad is perfect. The dude is so brilliant it is really hard to hold his attentions in a conversation, and his side of the conversation is usually a rambling stream of consciousness from one subject to the other. That said, I like the ad and I like Foster, but I like Senger too, so win/win in that district.

Comment by Jaded Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:31 am
===“About time someone got mad,” she said.===

Great politicos mirror their constituents in district. By this measure, Rep. Bost might be one of the greatest.

Comment by Hamilton Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:31 am
Anything on Cullen v Kay? Still close or opened up?

Comment by Ghost Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:38 am
==and his side of the conversation is usually a rambling stream of consciousness from one subject to the other. ==

Heh. Fair warning. So in other words no one in their right mind should *ever* consider allowing Foster and Pat Quinn as a double bill on the same stage under any circumstances.

The ad is fine. It’s definitely an awkward messaging transition to follow, but it happened because he’s trying to do an appeal to many aspects of his district’s demographics in one ad. B.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 11:44 am
The Foster ad is different enough to be notable for its creative.

And if their polling says that minimum wage and student debt wins that race, I don’t really care how awkward the transition is.

The ad says he’s a reliable, honest guy.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:03 pm
I’m not in his district. But I am increasingly finding Bost’s self assurance and willingness to be himself (a real person in the real world) to be refreshing and positive. The fact that he seems completely un-willing to be over-managed by or cowed by handlers and image consultant critiques, and that he obviously does have a sense of humor, I think is much of what voters in his district are witnessing and like about him, too.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:07 pm
I haven’t seen a Schilling commercial in weeks. The narrative has been written. The only possible way he can win at this point is the sheer luck that would be associated with low turnout in an off year with an unpopular president/governor

Comment by NorthbyNorthWest Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:13 pm
That Politico piece sure as hell doesn’t qualify as objective journalism. Reads more like a cheap romance novel: “a broad-shouldered 53 year old with penetrating blue eyes. The article gives no mention of all the infrastructure projects and veteran’s affair’s accomplishments that Enyart has brought to do the district. I dare you to watch this video of Enyart and tell me he isn’t fiery enough to represent the 12th district. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/bill-enyart-gop_n_4044582.html

Comment by Carbondale Native Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:19 pm
Make that “brought to the district”.
“I ask you to have the integrity to vote yes or no. If you are a patriot behind that American flag pin, have the guts to show it.”

Comment by Carbondale Native Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:21 pm
==I’m not in his district. But I am increasingly finding Bost’s self assurance and willingness to be himself (a real person in the real world) to be refreshing and positive. The fact that he seems completely un-willing to be over-managed by or cowed by handlers and image consultant critiques, and that he obviously does have a sense of humor, I think is much of what voters in his district are witnessing and like about him, too.==

Yeah, who cares if they guy is an unstable lunatic who hasn’t written one piece of legislation and has done nothing for his district for 20 years. He’s a real person in the real world!!!

smh

Comment by So_Ill Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:41 pm
The Enyart camp is starting to look like someone waiting on the results of a blood test. Nervous, and easily angered. Ask anyone who ran against Mike Bost over the last 20 years how it worked out for them. Bost posted on his facebook page a picture of two sets of worn out shoes from the campaign. Enyart is getting out hustled.

Comment by John A. Logan Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:47 pm
Not surprised that Bustos is up. For the other two races, Republicans should be worried about the Dems’ field operations. I live in the 12 and Enyart/Dem staff is everywhere getting out the vote. Seeing a lot of Bost yard signs and mailers, but haven;t heard about any calls/door knocks for him.
In close races like this, that could, and very well will be the difference

Comment by AnnaMan Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 12:50 pm
Saw Foster on Chicago Tonight and later saw the commercial…it’s him. Kind of dry, understands technical and business, can make a joke, laughs a bit.
I like the commercial and the candidate comes across instead of actors showing the message or the party’s message.

Comment by Belle Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 1:02 pm
If Bost is elected to Congress, he’ll be terribly frustrated that he will NOT be able to lash out and blame leadership for his inability to get anything done.

Comment by low level Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 2:05 pm
It’s pathetic that of the entire piece, all you want to highlight is the dog story. Junk journalism. Ignore the rest of the piece and highlight something that happened 30 years ago, as if it’s relevant to today.

Don’t mention how the reporter spent time with Enyart and walked away with nothing. Enyart was so uninterested that he offered to email a bio instead of having a conversation. That’s the man that was elected to Congress. Won’t answer questions, but offers to email a bio. The arrogance of that man is unending.

Comment by Pathetic Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 2:35 pm
=Yeah, who cares if they guy is an unstable lunatic who hasn’t written one piece of legislation and has done nothing for his district for 20 years. He’s a real person in the real world!!!=

Hasn’t written one piece of legislation? You may want to check your sources, or find a source. Bost has written a ton of legislation over the years. He was the first person to introduce a concealed-carry bill. And he introduced it year after year until it was finally passed. He wrote the legislation with Luechtefeld that helped those behind the Grand Tower levy. Again, try harder.

Comment by Pathetic Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 2:38 pm
If Congressman Bost works, as hard as Congressman Shimkus, he will be the Congressman from the district for years to come. Enyart is lazy and his heart is not in it. He has been working the western parts of Madison county, strong democratic areas the last few weeks. If he can’t count on those areas and they don’t know him, he is toast.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Friday, Oct 24, 14 @ 3:20 pm