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Fowler pledges no criticism of opponents in upcoming campaign

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Illinois

Monday, Senator Dale Fowler announced plans to seek a second term.

The Harrisburg Republican made the announcement in a series of stops today in Elizabethtown, McLeansboro, Thompsonville and Goreville. […]

News 3 caught up with Fowler in Thompsonville, where he pledged to not criticize or condemn any opponents. He said he wants to show you can run an honest and ethical campaign and still win.

Fowler defeated Democratic Sen. Gary Forby last year.

I spent some time with the freshman before and during the Ozzy Osbourne solar eclipse concert and found him to be a friendly, genuine guy.

But it’s one thing for him to pledge not to criticize any of his opponents. It’ll be quite another to convince the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee and the ILGOP (where the real money will be spent) to do the same.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:10 am

Comments

Meh, you can do the old Nixon thing:

“Some people say my opponent……I am not saying that.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:23 am
Bet he’ll still talk a blue streak about Madigan, tho.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:23 am
A pledge of civility is always a good and welcome gesture. Always.

Comment by Truthseeker Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:29 am
There certainly weren’t any negative campaign materials produced by Republicans on his behalf against Gary. I’m sure he didn’t have any knowledge of those messages (eyeroll). I don’t remember him having a press conference to tell the Repubs to stop the negatives.

Comment by huh Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:29 am
“We’ll take it from here”

- Rauner’s “ILGOP”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:55 am
Awwwww, that’s so cute. I hear he’s a really decent guy. Too bad that makes him an alien creature to the Rauner machine at the IL GOP.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 9:58 am
The guy took out “Mr. Southern Illinois” in a very nasty race by more than 10%. He knows to stay positive and on message while his operators take care of the rest.

Politics at this level have become so aggressive because of the amount of money being spent that the candidates need to do what they can to separate themselves from the negative.

Comment by annon Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 10:09 am
Definitely a cop out. The Senate Republicans and state party will criticize his opponent for him.

Fowler ran a terrible campaign last year and only won because he was carried by Trump (and he still badly under performed the top of the ticket).

Comment by Phil King Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 10:15 am
Dale (day after trouncing). “Well, THAT didn’t work…)

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 26, 17 @ 10:18 am