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The DCCC’s circular firing squad

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* A couple of weeks ago, former Congresscritter Jerry Costello stepped all over fellow Democrat CJ Baricevic’s campaign announcement…

A primary race may be shaping up for the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ 12th District House seat now held by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro.

On Monday, Belleville lawyer C.J. Baricevic formally announced his candidacy for the seat, while St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson confirmed that he will be talking with party leaders in Washington, D.C., about a possible run. […]

Watson, 59, said Monday that he loves his job as county sheriff, but wants to hear the DCCC’s pitch anyway.

“It’s such an honor to be asked,” Watson said. “I have to give it some thought.”

Watson said he has spoken with [Former Congressman Jerry Costello], a longtime friend. Costello held the 12th District seat for nearly a quarter of a century before retiring in 2011.

Baricevic is 30 years old. Sheriff Watson, who was appointed to the spot and then ran unopposed, is 59. Costello’s son, state Rep. Jerry Costello, still has kids to put through college.

You don’t need an advanced political science degree to figure out what’s going on here.

* It came as no surprise that Sheriff Watson turned down the DCCC after his meeting…

Rick Watson, the St. Clair County sheriff, announced Thursday morning he won’t seek the Democratic nomination to run for the 12th U.S. House seat, even as a national Democractic party official was critical of another candidate in the race.

This, however, was a surprise…

But the national Democratic Party, which tried hard to recruit Watson to join the race, is apparently unhappy that Baricevic — the son of John Baricevic, the St. Clair County chief judge and St. Clair County Democratic Party leader — remains in the race.

Brian Smoot, a political consultant who in 2010 served as director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s Independent Expenditure program, questioned Baricevic’s ability to beat Bost in the November general election.

“I just would say that this is not the type of candidate that DCCC would be interested in,” said Smoot, who in the 2008 cycle served as that group’s political director. “I can’t speak for the DCCC. But I can say he doesn’t reach a certain threshold as a credible candidate.” […]

As for Baricevic’s candidacy, Smoot noted that he raised about $85,000 over the last four months.

“Not good,” Smoot said. “It’s an interesting question. What’s a credible amount? But I can tell you that $85,000 is definitely not credible.”

Smoot probably wouldn’t have stepped up to the mic without prompting from his former employer.

But keep in mind that the DCCC went along with ~~Costello’s~~ choice of Bill Enyart, who turned out to be a guy who eschewed the district work necessary to hold on in an off-year, and ended up losing that seat - which the party has held since World War II - to Mike Bost.

And now they want yet another older white male?

Please.

I know very little about Baricevic and have no idea if he’d be a good candidate, but he does have significant support in the all-important St. Clair County and from two of the deep southern Illinois Democratic legislators. The DCCC had better either find a good candidate who won’t just be a lackadaisical placeholder, or reconsider its bizarre attacks on the only guy who has actually been working the district.

The national party is getting played here.

…Adding… Former Congressman Costello just called to clarify that he wasn’t the original backer of Bill Enyart. That’s true. My bad.

He also said that he fully expects Baricevic will receive the St. Clair County Democratic endorsement.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:24 am

Comments

==Costello’s son, state Rep. Jerry Costello, still has kids to put through college.==

==The national party is getting played here==

Greedy. This usually involves playing Illinois, not the party. /s

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:34 am
The one being self serving here is Jason Bresler, the DCCC hack who helped Bill Enyart get drilled by 11 points. I don’t understand why the DCCC listens to someone with zero credibility in Southern IL. Bustos and Schakowsky, who are regional leaders for the DCCC need to serve the people of Illinois first, not some DC guy with self serving wishes.

Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:57 am
Step into St. Clair County Democratic politics at your own risk, it can be quite the ride.

Comment by nadia Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 11:57 am
==The national party is getting played here.==

Happens with both parties. Illinois political dynamics don’t match national expectations or labels.

Comment by walker Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:05 pm
I’m pessimistic on Baricevic, but the DCCC’s track record downstate is pretty abysmal. I’d rather give a local guy a shot.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:06 pm
Yes — another white male. Not to put too fine a point on it, but that’s the winning profile in that district. Same reason why the IL House Dems stick with guys in the area.

Comment by BBB Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:12 pm
The national campaign organizations ( the Congressional campaign committees, the Senate campaign committees, the Governors association, not to mention the individual Representatives and Senators ) are relentless with their email solicitations for $$$$$$. I probably get 30 to 40 a day asking for a contribution and at times receive multiple requests the same day from the same groups.

Needless to say I have never contributed because I have seen how little, if any, support whether it be financial or strategic they have given to individuals, and friends of mine, who have been involved in past campaigns.

The credibility of these organizations has done nothing to help legitimate, qualified candidates running against relatively entrenched incumbents ( even considering their flaws and negatives ).

In my opinion, the influence of these national committees is overrated when it comes to races that are relatively local/regional in their reach.

Will be watching this campaign with great interest.

Comment by illini Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Not having the DCCC involved in his campaign is the best thing that could happen to CJ!!

Comment by Pyrman Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:36 pm
=== Not having the DCCC involved in his campaign is the best thing that could happen to CJ!! ===

Ha! So true!

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:48 pm
CJ has been campaigning the right way. Getting to Democrat meetings, building his base, earning support; not paying for it. It is great to see a new generation of young dems step up. I’ve heard him speak, he will surprise everyone in IL12 in 2016.

Comment by Southern Dem Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:54 pm
@anon For the Record I am the best

Comment by Jason Bresler Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 12:55 pm
Which will be the bigger DCCC screw up for 2016, the 12th or the 13th?

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:06 pm
To my GOP friends, please just stay out of the way and let them wreak havoc unto themselves.

Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:46 pm
You wouldn’t have think jerry Jr wants to be sherrif do you…what happened to the judges son?

Comment by ironman Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:55 pm
St. Clair County looked like pure novices with their efforts to unseat Rodney Davis.

Comment by Downstate Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 1:59 pm
Schakowsky’s regional leadership for the DCCC is part of the problem in Illinois. She does not understand downstate.

Comment by The Velour Nail Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 2:01 pm
Maybe they could persuade Jason Plummer to switch parties. At least fund-raising wouldn’t be a problem.

Comment by Michael Westen Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 2:23 pm
Smoot is now moot, so why should CJ worry? Not one fundraiser yet, Mr. [s]Moot. Or do you prefer those long on cash and short of integrity?

Comment by Belleville Bob Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:15 pm
I’ve seen the handsome CJ Baricevic more in the last 6 months than I saw Bill Enyart in 3 years. The DCCC was a huge failure down in IL-12, that Jason Bresler losing by 11 points and now that campaign manager is the regional director? They should learn to support local candidates instead of forcing their own agenda. The DCCC is there to support local candidates running for Congress, not have their own self serving agenda. You would think Cheri Bustos would explain that to those DC kids.

Comment by Mt. Vernon's finest Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:24 pm
How about kovarik.he’s conservative enough to win over some I’s and won’t take BS from anybody.

Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 3:37 pm
May I suggest reading the numbers for Illinois 12 for 2014. Not a single statewide or federal Democrat carried that district. Bost won with 20,000 fewer votes than Plummer received in losing to Enyart . Bost didn’t run against Enyart, he ran against Quinn and Obama. He won’t be able to do that in ‘16, but he will have all the money he needs. BTW Enyart didn’t get in until June, raised the money and beat Plummer by 9, not bad for an old white guy with zero political experience.

Comment by Saluki beancounter Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 6:32 pm
Why anyone listens to the DCCC is unreal. They promote a guy like Jason Bresler after he loses by 11 points. Then they listen to this person as if he has any idea what he is doing. Schakowsky has no state wide aspirations, but Bustos does and she may want to go to bat for Baricevic otherwise she can kiss downstate goodbye. Baricevic from what I hear has been campaigning like JFK, personally calling Dems throughout the district, and has spent more time in Southern Illinois than in the Metroeast. I even told that he is being advised by Costello and Jerry Costello has known Baricevic since he was born. Let’s not forget Ken Gray was 30 when he took office the first time, he did amazing things for Southern Illinois.

Comment by Bart Dolce Jr Monday, Aug 3, 15 @ 8:36 pm
DCCC are a bunch of self serving kids. Whoever authorized attacking a Democrat with local support should be fired. Fired. This goes against everything the DCCC is supposed to do

Comment by Truedccc Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 11:00 am
Don’t worry. Bresler and the brainiacs at DCCC are about to hand Davis his 3rd term with the recruit they’re currently pushing.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 2:53 pm
Enyart losing by 11 points was not Jason Bresler or the DCCC’s fault. It was Bill Enyart’s fault for not wanting to raise money, get out in the district or do any sort of work. Coupled with a controlling family who thought they new best, it was doomed from the start.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 4, 15 @ 5:23 pm