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* I told subscribers about this yesterday morning, along with some details of his TV ad reservation…
Democratic Comptroller candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi says his bank account is approaching nearly $1 million as he tries to win his party’s nomination in his first run for state office.
Krishnamoorthi’s campaign on Tuesday reported he raised more than $900,000 in 2009 – apparently setting an Illinois record for non-incumbent candidates for comptroller.
Krishnamoorthi spokesman Mark Schauerte said most of the money came from individual donors and the funds will pay for a statewide television ad campaign starting later this month.
Krishnamoorthi is a former deputy state treasurer who lives in the Chicago suburbs. He faces state Rep. David Miller of Lynwood and Wilmette lawyer Clinton Krislov in the Democratic primary.
That’s gonna be tough to match, unless Krislov dumps a ton of his own cash into the race. Quite impressive, indeed.
* In other campaign news, Patrick Hughes is up with a new cable TV ad. As subscribers already know, this is a very modest buy. Rate it…
* Jim Ryan’s gubernatorial campaign is attacking Andy McKenna for preparing to run a spate of negative TV ads. From a press release…
A media report indicates that Andy McKenna is ready to launch a deep attack ad to revive his floundering campaign.
The Illinois news media needs to immediately ask Andy McKenna why his blind ambition is leading him to do exactly what he said as Illinois GOP chairman should not be done—unfairly attack his Republican opponents.
They should ask him why anyone in Illinois would believe any “pledge” he takes now when the upcoming ad he plans to run violates a pledge he asked Republican candidates to sign for the 2006 elections?
—In 2005, McKenna, as Illinois GOP chairman, asked candidates for office to sign a pledge to not condone “any misrepresentations, distortions, malicious untruths, unfounded accusations or innuendos about my opponent or my opponent’s family.” (Illinois Republican Party “Code of Conduct” memo, Dec. 22, 2005, authored by Andy McKenna).
—Less than a year ago, McKenna said this about attacking members of his own party: “Primaries of themselves aren’t bad. They’re bad if they become negative and people use it to destroy other candidates.” (Chicago Tribune, April 13, 2009)
Yet, according to the media report, McKenna is ready to launch a TV ad that says Jim Ryan has a different position on taxes than he does. He knows that is not true. He knows that every Republican candidate for governor has said repeatedly they will not raise taxes. He knows that Jim Ryan as a candidate for governor in 2002 proposed a constitutional spending cap and has proposed the same cap in 2010.
McKenna is taking the low road after airing millions of dollars of ineffective ads photoshopping bad haircuts on people. So what does he do: Attack the person who is running nearly 20 points ahead of him in the polls and the first Illinois Republican in a decade to lead a Democrat for Governor in a reputable poll. The Rasmussen poll late last month showed Jim Ryan leading Pat Quinn by 7 points.
He needs to be held accountable for his hypocrisy. He needs to stop hiding behind his Rod Blagojevich-like remote control TV campaign.
For his part, Andy McKenna uses House GOP Leader Tom Cross to set up his impending attack ads. From a press release…
This week Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Andy McKenna announced he signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge and challenged his opponents to do the same. However, according to the Daily Herald, both Jim Ryan and Kirk Dillard have refused to sign the pledge.
“Now more than ever, we need a Governor absolutely committed to holding the line on taxes and enacting real reforms to move Illinois in the right direction,” said House Republican Leader Tom Cross.
Jim Ryan’s history of supporting tax increases includes endorsement of House Bill 750, a $5.5 billion tax increase on Illinois families and chairing a campaign in DuPage County to increase the sales tax. Kirk Dillard was also a key vote in Springfield to increase the sales tax in DuPage County.
“I am supporting Andy McKenna because he is the one candidate for Governor that joins me in opposing tax increases and demanding true economic reform, Illinois can settle for nothing less,” added Cross.
* Sen. Matt Murphy, McKenna’s running mate, was endorsed by Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno today.
* I’m not gonna comment about this tiny radio buy, and I hope you don’t, either. We’re talking two spots a day on a few Chicago radio stations, so it’ll barely get noticed…
Andy Martin, the U.S. Senate candidate who made waves by claiming his opponent - U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk - was gay, is at it again, this time attacking Kirk for covering up pedophilia in the United States Congress. The minute-long ad began airing on local radio today. So how did Kirk - and Dennis Hastert - cover up pedophilia? By not stopping Mark Foley’s infamous affairs with underaged staffers. Martin hits a new nadir when, in the ad, he makes clear that, “Kirk is not a pedophile,” but then feels compelled to add that since Kirk helped to “cover up” Foley’s trysts, that makes Kirk “a de facto pedophile.” No. Really. He says thatt. Listen to the ad below:
* Related…
* Bid for Thomson injunction flops: Republican state comptroller candidate William Kelly’s bid for an injunction against the Thomson Correctional Center deal that would bring Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Illinois was soundly rejected Tuesday after he arrived in court without legal representation.
* Why you should care about assessor’s race
* Stroger: ‘Cook County is in good shape’
* Looking for honesty on the county board
* House District 59 candidates say they have solutions to state’s budget woes
* McQuillen stays on ballot in 50th House race
* DuPage chairman candidates offer plans for county
* Kane County Treasurer candidates debate issues
* District 5 candidates talk about concerns, issues in Kane County
* Woodstock’s Jonathan Farnick running as write-in for 8th District
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:25 am
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I’ve deleted several comments already and I don’t want to deal with this any more. Stay away from this Martin stuff. I mean it.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:45 am
F- on the hughes ad. his shirt looks like a table cloth and the glasses reflect poorly. His voice also sounds like it is cracking. JV.
Comment by shore Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:45 am
The Hughes ad looks very low budget — he’s in front of a green screen. Not a hard hit, not a quality ad, not a big buy. Am I missing something or does he have very little money?
That Martin ad is so over-the-top ridiculous, it makes the last one that much less credible.
Comment by proud vet Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:47 am
The Hughes ad has a clear, targeted message. He knows who he’s talking to and he’s telling them what they want to hear. It’s low-budget, but that doesn’t make it bad. I give it a solid B.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:57 am
If you aren’t going to comment on the Martin ad and you don’t want anyone else to either, why put it on the blog?
Comment by Pelon Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:00 am
McKenna using half truths - imagine that.
Comment by Furloughed Illini Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:06 am
Why do you think McKenna is attacking Dillard. I think there is fear that Dillard can still win this nomination.
Comment by Johny Lycho Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:06 am
Wordslinger — this tiny ad buy is a joke — it tells the media that Hughes has no money and Kirk can start focusing on the general.
Comment by proud vet Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:08 am
===why put it on the blog? ===
Because it’s news. It’s also my blog, so I reserve the right to do what I want. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:18 am
The press need to pound on Cross for FAILING to sign the tax pledge. Its the pot calling the kettle black…
Too bad Tom won’t get any of Andy’s promised money when he loses the primary. Looks like 47 seats again.
And, let’s check on the status of Tom’s PLEDGE to only serve 10 years as House Republican Leader. Will Tom live up to that pledge and step down in a year or two (or has it already been broken when they changed caucus rules?).
Comment by 4 percent Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:30 am
Going negative is ‘usually’ very effective in the runup to the primary or election. People remember that more than the positives. Perhaps McKenna speaks the truth, partially, but interpretation by the voter is what counts. Perhaps he thinks he has already given us reasons to vote for him, and now needs to sew doubt about a perceived front runner. All he needs is around 20% to 25% to win.
Regarding the Andy Martin / Mark Kirk deal….good grief! I never was comfortable with people looking the other way with Foley, but I’m also not comfortable with this head-on accusation by Martin. Tell me what is good or great about you instead what you perceive to be bad about the other person. This is a case where negative ads cause them both to sink to the bottom.
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:35 am
…there is fear that Dillard can still win…
Anyone who thinks the republican primary is a 20 point race must be related to Ryan. The understanding that a republican named Ryan will not be elected governor this year is sinking in.
Dillard is by far the best choice and republicans are rallying to him.
Comment by Joe from Joliet Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:49 am
Shore, let me help you out. There was a radio spot by Martin on Kirk on WBBM radio, the biggest news station in the state, which the station was required by law to run unaltered.
The station and other news outlets went to great pains to explain that the spot had to be run and that Martin is an infamous whack job with no credibility. They also included the fact that the ad was made possible through scurrilous comments made on the radio by a couple of self-appointed “conservative” Republicans who despise Kirk.
Under the circumstances, the media, including Cap Fax, did a great service to Kirk by turning over the rock and exposing the ugliness for what it is.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:54 am
Taking out my ten foot pole…..and then deciding not to touch the Andy Martin ad with it.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:54 am
Hughes ad is weak. Even if he had a six-figure buy it would be of little impact. Aside from the dyed-in-the-wool pro-lifers he has little constituency. The cap and trade issue has little traction since Kirk has backed away from it and it is going nowhere in the Senate.
I wonder how much Kirk is paying Andy Martin to pull these insane stunts? The net impact is a positive for Kirk and it will prevent the Dems from trying to mount the whisper campaigns against Kirk which they were planning to do.
Comment by Abe Froman Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:05 pm
“It’s my blog and I’ll blog if I want too…” Sounds like a good song. lol
Comment by DRG Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:23 pm
Andy Martin is making retirement quite difficult for me.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:50 pm
In some happy election news, justice has been served and the doors of Cooperstown just swung open for “The Hawk,” Andre Dawson.
A classier, high-character guy never played ball in Chicago. His MVP season of 1987 was amazing — 49 homers, 137 RBI, 287 BA (juice-free, mind you), all on an absolutely terrible, last place Cubs team. I saw one game where Sweet Lou, then managing the Reds, intentionally walked him four times.
Also in the service of justice, Mark McGwire was named on just 23% of ballots. That statue will probably be gathering dust in a St. Louis warehouse for some time to come.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:27 pm
And I don’t LIKE it!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:29 pm
I wonder about the GOP guv candidates.
It is suspecte that turn out will be low for the primary. We know that older voters are the most consistent voting bloc. It seems that republican voters are older, say in the 50 on up age group. It seems to me that Dan Proft’s appeal is mainly with younger republicans, the 20s crowd in particular.
Jim Ryan has held a significant lead based on name recognition alone. Granted 30 percent of republicans are undecided, but will republicans go Andy McKenna’s way, the undecided and those who expressed support for Ryan?
The ones who expressed support for Ryan, and help him to have such a significant lead, are probably well aware of McKenna.
McKenna is directly responsible for the bad shape that the IL repubicans find themeselves in now.
Bill Brady has worked very hard.
I still think Dillard would be the best and safest bet for Republicans.
Right now I’m ruling Schillerstron and Adam A. out of this race.
In no particular order the field of contenders looks like this:
Ryan
McKenna
Brady
Dillard
Proft (if he doesn’t have money to air any ads by the middle of this month, he’s ruled out)
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:36 pm
I like the Hughes ad a lot. Too bad the primary isn’t in March. Most GOP primary voters will support Hughes if they get to know him, and Kirk’s record.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 2:30 pm
Cross HAS NOT signed a pledge. The fact remains, Cross never has signed a pledge.
Comment by Johny Lycho Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 2:52 pm
Hughes vid: “This video has been removed by the user.”
Comment by bored now Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 6:02 pm
I have no idea what Rich Miller censored/removed so there is no need to comment. People are entitled to their opinions on my ads. Before the ads, Kirk was being canonized by the Chicago media. No longer. Anyone who thinks Kirk welcomes my attacks is mistaken. The ads will continue until Kirk withdraws. The ads have been spectacularly successful and they were designed with the knowledge they could prove abrasive. Read our blogs for detailed analysis.
The Hughes ad was sad. Mr. Hughes has been badly advised by his “consultants.” Enough said.
Andy Martin
Republican for U. S. Senator
Comment by Andy Martin Thursday, Jan 7, 10 @ 2:47 pm