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* From a Roll Call article on the 2nd Congressional District special primary, entitled “All Signs Point to Kelly Victory in Illinois Special Election”…
Kelly boasted a double-digit lead over the field in Hutchinson’s internal polling — an automated survey taken before she exited the race, according to a source familiar with it.
Subscribers know more about recent polling.
Also…
Kelly has been on the air as well, and Halvorson’s fundraising has not been strong enough to answer on the airwaves. But while television is central to any modern campaign, this race is about getting bodies to the polls in the middle of the Chicago winter.
Beale’s team is counting on his Chicago base as the only candidate hailing from the urban part of the district. His team is betting on loyalty and turnout from a base of senior citizens — but local strategists say it’s unlikely he can win.
“They [voters] have to have a compelling reason to turn out for you, and that’s a totally different campaign model than a presidential year or any year when there’s anything else on the ballot,” a Chicago Democratic strategist said. “You have to take a different approach when you’re the only race on the ballot.”
But even luck has been on Kelly’s side. She drew the top slot on the ballot. Halvorson will be third from the bottom.
* Meanwhile, there’s been an attempt to try to link Mayor Emanuel to Kelly’s race. For instance…
The mayor was asked why he’s “giving the appearance” that he’s not involved in the race to succeed Jackson, who plead guilty Wednesday to years of illegal campaign spending.
“Because I’m not endorsing anybody. That’s why. Because it’s not an appearance,” Emanuel said.
Pressed on whether he’s making phone calls on Kelly’s behalf, the mayor said, “No. … I said upfront I was gonna stay out of this race. The voters will pick. But I want to be clear about one thing: Whoever wins has to be on Team Chicago.”
Delmarie Cobb, a political consultant to Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), doesn’t buy it. She thinks there’s a wink-and-a-nod between Emanuel and Bloomberg.
“I don’t think Mayor Rahm Emanuel would be running congressional campaign ads for someone in New York and dictating who should be the next congressman in New York City without the permission of Mayor Bloomberg,” Cobb said.
“It’s hard to fathom that Mayor Bloomberg is inserting himself into this campaign and he’s meeting with no resistance from City Hall.”
As evidence of Emanuel’s behind-the-scenes involvement, Cobb pointed to the tangled web of relationships among the players in the 2nd District.
Cheryl Whitaker is the wife of Obama pal, Dr. Eric Whitaker. Former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, one of the first politicians to endorse Kelly, who served as Giannoulias’ chief of staff, is one of Obama’s basketball buddies.
Obama’s former campaign strategist David Axelrod, who is tweeting on Kelly’s behalf, is Emanuel’s former White House colleague and friend of 30 years. And Bloomberg is a close friend of Chicago’s mayor.
“If Robin Kelly were in the middle of the circle, you would have the White House, Giannoulias, Axelrod, Mayor Bloomberg, Mayor Emanuel — all these people with an ongoing relationship. It just defies logic that, somehow, all of these people are involved in the race, but they’re not talking to each other” about it, Cobb said.
That’s some conspiracy theory. Bloomberg spent money all over the country last year. I doubt he asked permission to do so anywhere else.
This, by the way, is Axelrod’s alleged tweet on behalf of Kelly…
In IL-2, wonder if Debbie Halvorson would be cryingfoul if Toi Hutchinson had gotten out and backed HER? Very doubtful!
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 18, 2013
It was much more a knock on Halvorson, whom the Obama people obviously don’t want to win this contest.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 10:50 am
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I was stunned to see Joyce Washington on tv today, touting herself in a commercial. I had no idea she was running.
Comment by Fire Anita Alvarez Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 10:53 am
–“I don’t think Mayor Rahm Emanuel would be running congressional campaign ads for someone in New York and dictating who should be the next congressman in New York City without the permission of Mayor Bloomberg,” Cobb said.–
As White House chief of staff, Emanuel was part of an effort to dictate that Caroline Kennedy be appointed to the senate from New York.
How did that work out?
I sincerely doubt that Bloomberg feels the need to clear his actions with anyone.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 11:03 am
If the polling is to be believed all sorts of people have decided to support Robin Kelly without having to ask Rahm Emanuel’s permission first, but in Delmarie Cobb’s world Michael Bloomberg, David Axelrod and Alexi Giannoulias are incapable of making the same decisions as ordinary voters without clearing it with the Mayor. Cobb gonna Cobb I guess.
Comment by The Captain Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 11:22 am
Amazing watching Debbie self-destruct over the past few years.
She’s becoming a joke.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 11:37 am
Isn’t hiring Cobb as your flack an admission that you have no chance? When was the last time she worked on a successful campaign?
Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 11:49 am
DelMarie Cobb also thinks Roland Burris made Dick Durbin a better senator.
Microphone drop, I’m done.
Comment by siriusly Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 11:58 am
==DelMarie Cobb also thinks Roland Burris made Dick Durbin a better senator.
In a overwhelming Democratic and majority black Congressional District she attacked the most popular black Democratic politician in the country–Barack Obama. I guess she could have done worse and attacked Michele and the kids, but that was a pretty amazing move. Amazing in not the good way.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 12:10 pm
ArchPundit, she was with Hillary. Not sure she’s gotten over it.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 12:13 pm
I try and never be mean when I comment here but how on earth does Delmarie Cobb get work?
Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 12:23 pm
===ArchPundit, she was with Hillary. Not sure she’s gotten over it.
Yes, I remember the Uncle Tom incident with Emil Jones.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 12:29 pm
Bloomberg spent $$ in a half a dozen races, ca, for dold and maybe 3 or 4 others. he was not “all over the country” like a koch or some of the other big political forces.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83171.html
These were not great candidates and this was a horrible race. You compare to the race to replace rahm-you had quigley, you had feigenholtz who everyone knows because you see her campaign stuff at the cubs el stop every 2 years, and you had charles whelan who’s a former economist writer and you had the lawyer who was bff with chuck schumer. impressive bunch with ideas and credentials.
This was an opportunity for chicago and the african american communities to get some fresh blood in and they completely blew it. You look at why this blog day in day out is corruption, politicians not doing anything, bad news about the state, frustration, this race is how that comes to be.
Comment by Shore Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 1:23 pm
I’m just going to copy and paste what I wrote on Facebook about this ridiculous notion that “field” is an almighty game changer in Chicago:
WRITE IT DOWN:
1) “Field” is not going to catch up a double digit polling deficit. It never has and it never will. If something that resembles that happens then the polling was all wrong. Which leads me to…
2) Every once in a while all the polls will be wrong, but by definition this cannot be predicted and you are therefore the wrongest person ever to claim they will all be wrong because of your stupid reason. Which leads me to…
3) If you are shaking your head at this and thinking “Will just doesn’t understand how things are done in [special snowflake region],” EXIT POLITICS FOREVER. Go be an idiot about sports instead.
Comment by Will Caskey Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 1:24 pm
How does Delmarie Cobb get hired over and over, you ask?
Experience!!!
It is done in baseball all the time with the recycling of managers.
Comment by Mr. Grassroots Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 1:44 pm
I don’t even understand what Cobb is alleging or why it is supposed to be bad. Secondhand interaction (assuming it existed, which I have seen no evidence it did) between an IE and an endorser of a candidate is not illegal, or even untoward.
Is the district just supposed to get mad that Rahm Emanuel said something to somebody about stuff?
Comment by Will Caskey Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 1:53 pm
Maybe “all BUT” over, but, no, it ain’t over. The VOTERS in the 2nd will be the final Decion-makers on this one, but it sure is fun to watch. But the “powers that be” ARE involved, if not overtly then on the sly-make no mistake about that!
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 3:14 pm
That was “DeciSion-makers…”. Believe it or not, I do have an education!
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 3:25 pm
Beale has not stuck to one message. He’s attempted to be all things to all people.
There was the list of jobs projects he’d push when talking to IVI-IPO.
There was an anti-gun mailing.
There was a pro airport mailing.
Beale is the guy who tried to re-open the landfill. That issue is going to haunt him for his whole political career.
I hope Land and Lakes gave Beale a bunch of money to be their toady on that point. Because that defines him in my mind. When big money interests are looking for a politician to sell out their constituents, Beale wants to call them before they give the money to someone else.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 3:37 pm
Say it again, Will Caskey! Right on.
(Assuming, of course, the pollsters have a clue)
Comment by walkinfool Friday, Feb 22, 13 @ 4:42 pm