Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Coulson piece

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Illinois

Keep in mind when reading this story that the 59th Senate District race may break the $2 million mark.

In what could be one of the state’s most expensive General Assembly races, Republican Rep. Elizabeth Coulson of Glenview is fighting for her political life against a well-funded opponent on the independent-minded North Shore.

As of Wednesday, Democratic Party officials had invested more than $100,000 in the candidacy of Michele Bromberg, 43, a Skokie village trustee since 2001 and a registered nurse who is making Coulson’s GOP credentials a major issue.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 21, 04 @ 6:15 am

Comments

Every time we read a news story or see a reference to the Coulson race in your column, this incumbent is whining about how her opponent is treating her. Regarding the level of negativity in this race - it sure pales in comparison to some of the other races we’ve read about over the years in Capitol Fax!

Cry us a river! This is how the game is played in Illinois! If the rough and tumble is too hard on this legislator, maybe it’s time to throw in the old towel.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 21, 04 @ 9:21 pm
I don’t think I’ve been overly sympathetic to her. You’re right, though, the whining and overly solicitous editorials are starting to grate on me.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 21, 04 @ 10:36 pm
We are starting to see more and more Kerry-Obama-Coulson yard sign combinations in the district. Talking to swings about Coulson’s environmental record has been helpful in differentiating her from Bush and Keyes.

Comment by Jack Darin Friday, Oct 22, 04 @ 10:38 am
Unfortunately for Coulson, environmental concerns (certainly agree they’re important!) rank very low on likely voters’ priority lists for the general election and don’t motivate voters to head to the polls.

Discussing those issues may help differentiate Coulson from Keyes and Bush, but she’s still a REPUBLICAN in a solid Democratic district. If Coulson is so serious about appealing to Democrats by “sharing their values” why hasn’t she switched parties?

Obviously she’s running like hell away from the Party that brought her to the dance (although she still hasn’t denounced Alan Keyes publicly) - so why not seal the deal and become a Democrat?

There’s also that nasty little problem about Coulson donating to the Bush Campaign and appearing in his campaign commercial - that might take a bit more work!

End of the days, no matter how much Coulson tries to convince locals that she’s an Independent and NOT a Republican - when they get to the polling station, they’ll see - plain as day - under her name the word
“REPUBLICAN” on their ballots.

Just like Alan Keyes and George Bush. Environmentalists should be supporting a Democrat in that race, the GOP Party Platform isn’t exactly “progressive” on enviro issues (ANWR, Gulf Drilling, etc.)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 22, 04 @ 12:38 pm
I would agree that the environment is not coming up in the top 4 in most places this year, but for one in ten voters nationally, according to a Yale Survey in May 2004, the environment is their single most important electoral issue.

In legislative races, most voters do not realize that environmental protection is one of the issues legislators vote on frequently. We do find when we take the time to explain the issues and the records, they can be motivating factors for voters, particularly women and independents.

Comment by Jack Darin Monday, Oct 25, 04 @ 1:14 pm