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* Other than the fact that she’s a former Miss America, I’m not sure how Erika Harold makes the case in a GOP primary that she should replace freshman Republican Rodney Davis…
Miss America 2003 Erika Harold, announced she’s running for Congress in Illinois’ 13th district on Tuesday, and is the second former Miss America eyeing a Capitol Hill career.
Yeah, she’ll get plenty of early publicity. “Miss America runs for Congress! Pretty pictures!” But Rodney Davis works very hard. He’s everywhere in that district. He’s got something like $300K in the bank.
* Illinois Review is right that this is a Tim Johnson-related move…
Harold’s announcement has been rumored for a while, but with the aid of two of former Congressman Tim Johnson’s staffers - Mark Sheldon and John Dykstra - it appears she’s been in the process of setting up a campaign for a while. […]
After various failed attempts to confirm from Harold, we found confirmation on the Facebook page of Joan Dykstra, the wife of former Congressman Tim Johnson’s staffer John Dykstra Monday afternoon.
A bunch of Johnson’s guys need jobs and relevance. Plain and simple.
The only thing this candidacy could do is rough Davis up a bit in advance of the general election. The circular firing squad strikes again. Fire, ready, aim!
I’ll have more for subscribers tomorrow.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:09 am
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Selfish and completely counter-productive.
Comment by Whatever Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:10 am
She’ll get a spot as a commentator on Fox and make more money than anyone could dream.
Comment by Come on man! Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:15 am
Totally self involved and selfish
Comment by Doooode Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:18 am
Davis will likely run against a woman in both the primary and the general, he’d be wise to start practicing now on how to not say anything stupid on women’s issues. It sounds like common sense but Republicans have a surprisingly poor track record on this.
Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:19 am
Mark Shelden is the downstate director of the state senate GOP. What kind of stupid game is Radogno playing?
Comment by The Ghost of Lee Daniels Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:22 am
What is she basing her run against Rodney Davis on?
Is it because of the “Tim Johnson” connection, and the selfishness on those close to Johnson feeling the need to be relevent?
Is it so Rodney will be so badly wounded, that when he gets out of the Primary Rodney loses the General, and then either Erika or …(gasp) Jerry Clarke can take on a Metro East Judge turned Congresswoman who is out of touch with Champaign?
This is not about 2014, this is about angling for 2016, and the “Tim Johnson” Crew begging for relelvence, but causing havoc in 2014…for a Republican incumbent congressman …who isn’t “theirs”.
Dopes. Bad form. Self-serving. Sad.
I am excited to hear what Erika is going to do … different … than Rodney, since Rodney seems to be doing all an incumbent target of the opposite party needs to do to win again.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:23 am
The point Rich is to give citizens in that district a congressman they can be proud of, something better than Rodney Davis, Pat Brady’s old executive director at the state party, a guy who a bunch of old white guys slated for the slot behind closed doors last year.
If the hacks had done the right thing and slated this Harvard Law grad in the first place, the Dems wouldn’t even be coming after the low hanging fruit, which is how they rightly view Rodney.
This is great news for Republicans who are actually serious about rebuilding in Illinois.
Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:23 am
Erika, please run against Naomi Jakobbsen. Or Mike Frerichs next time he’s up. or Julie Rietz.
Comment by Ron Guenther, He Gawn Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:26 am
===If the hacks had done the right thing and slated this Harvard Law grad in the first place, the Dems wouldn’t even be coming after the low hanging fruit===
LOL
Please. Rodney was the only Republican in a contested congressional race who won here last year. If she had run, y’all may have lost that seat.
Good luck, though. You’re gonna need it.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:27 am
Meh, it’s not like she’s running against Dick Lugar.
I would take it as a sign of hope that a young black woman wants to run as a Republican. That’s not a very big club.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:29 am
I don’t see this as selfish.
It may be stupid and damaging to GOP prospects and her own political ambitions in the long run, but again not selfish.
For better or worse, Erika Harold is finally giving the GOP voters of this district a choice of who they see as most reflective of the GOP in this district, a choice they were deprived of by Tim Johnson and the county chairman caucus that selected Rodney Davis. What would be selfish is for Rodney Davis and his supporters to prize their political aspirations above the democratic process.
At least that’s how Id spin it if I was Erika.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:31 am
- too obvious -,
I am sure the Republican Congresional Committee is liking this. Instead of trying to secure the seat against a Democratic foe come November, they now have to worry about a “Chicago” lawyer, coming home to take on one of “their” own, because some Staffers feel the need to get back in the game, not because theyhave the best interest of the GOP or the District at heart.
This is about 2016, Tim Johnson ex-staffers, and trying to get Rodney out, at the expense of another GOP Congressional loss come 2014, they hope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:41 am
Just pathetic on her part. Rodney will win in a rout and Harold’s career will be over, before it bagan. Hopefully this will be the end of that worthless Johnson crew.
Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:50 am
The “old white guy” Tim Johnson first tried to pick Jerry Clarke then Erika Harold and he was the one who created the situation in the first place by being stupid enough to register ClarkeForCongress.com in Feb and then pretending the process wasn’t rigged by Johnson. It wasn’t Rodney who deprived voters of that choice. It was Johnson and has motley crew of enablers.
Comment by The Ghost of Lee Daniels Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 11:58 am
This might be a good thing for Davis, he didn’t have a primary to win the nomination and he faced a very week candidate (anyone on this post going to go out on a limb and say Gill was a good candidate?)
Now it might play out that this just hurts Davis in the general, but we’ll see. It also means he’s going to be campaigning for longer and money isn’t going to be a problem in a targeted race like this.
Either way, the general election is going to be a very tough race.
Comment by Ahoy! Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 12:10 pm
Bunch of old white guys… Like Rose Long in Sangamon? Wow.
Comment by Amuzing Myself Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 12:14 pm
A good example of how self-destructive the GOP is - here’s a real asset and they don’t know how to groom her, let alone unleash her in a race where if nothing else they don’t hurt their own.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 12:28 pm
Just like to point out that the article mentioned above is wrong in stating that John Dykstra was a Johnson staffer. Joan Dykstra, who Harold was pictured with, was a Johnson staffer. This John Dykstra person is unknown to me. Bad reporting.
Comment by ChampaignJ Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 12:57 pm
This is insane.
Harold also mentions outreach to people who “don’t normally vote Republican”.
Ummmm… in a district that is something like 80% White, 6% African American and 9% Asian?
Yeah, that’s a great place to do some outreach.
I really thought she was going to be a rising star. After this, put a fork in her.
She’s done.
And that is a definite loss to the Republican party of Illinois and the USA.
The people whispering in her ear on this one and manipulative and selfish.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 1:12 pm
Cellphone video of the announcement:
http://youtu.be/PrETcYHeyNs
Comment by wayward Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 2:27 pm
I think the GOP does need to get her in the pipeline. Running against one of their own is downright stupid though. She needs to pursue some other posiiton or that position in a different district.
Comment by Logic not emotion Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 2:46 pm
Let her run. It’s a free country. She’ll work just as hard as Davis.
Comment by JAYSON Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 2:48 pm
- JAYSON -,
The point is quite clear;
What did Rodney do to deserve being Primaried, and who do the Tim Johonson retreads think they are helping by assisting in this Primary run?
It is all about Disgruntled Ex-Staff, looking to use any lever necessary to remove Rodney Davis so the Ex-Staff can get on the payroll and…seem…relevent again.
It’s not about Erika, or Rodney, or the District, or even Litmus Tests or Blood Oaths;
This is about personal importance at the expense of Ms. Harold AND of Rodney Davis…and the Hubris of Ms. Harold, thinking the BEST way to begin a political career, is to take on a Tier 1 Target of the Dems, Primary him, and think wounding him, or ruining the chances to keep the seat is …smart!
Dopes!
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:03 pm
This congressional seat belongs to Champaign County and we are going to take it back.
Comment by Is it snowing? Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:06 pm
“This congressional seat belongs to Champaign County and we are going to take it back.”
Brilliant campaign message, I suggest fount with it. After that gets you 15% of the vote, you can still feel proud that you stuck together as a County vs the rest of the sizable District.
This isn’t Johnson’s old district. It’s closer to Shimkus’ old district, and Rodney lives smack dab in the middle of it with an otherwise Democrat leaning County in his back pocket that loves him. But… Good luck.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:21 pm
=== This is about personal importance at the expense of Ms. Harold AND of Rodney Davis ===
Bingo.
The really sad part is that you can predict exactly what those whispering in Ms. Harold’s ear will surely say:
“Pay no mind to those calling us selfish or manipulative. We are your friends.
The people saying otherwise are just old cronies who are scared of you.”
Sadly, Ms. Harold, they are wrong.
We are sad to see you are about to harm both yourself and your party to satisfy the desires of some selfish, narrow-minded individuals.
This will be a slow-motion, 10-month-long car accident.
One in which the driver could take her foot off the pedal at any point, but decides to stomp on the accelerator instead.
Not good.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:33 pm
=== This congressional seat belongs to Champaign County and we are going to take it back. ===
@is it snowing?
You HAVE a Congressional seat right now.
If Davis or Harold loses, then you will have NO seat.
Funny thing is that in 2016 the former Johnson staffers would have exactly what they want: a first-term Democrat in office to target with their “real” candidate.
By then they will be saying: Erika Harold? Who’s that? We don’t know her. We got a new candidate, though. “Our” candidate.
Sad.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:39 pm
OW, just my belief if someone wants to run, let them. There shouldn’t be a hands-off mentality, that’s how we get out of touch career pols.
As for ex staff wanting back on government payroll…well, look at who runs GOP these days….
Comment by JAYSON Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:45 pm
The ‘Million Dollar Question’….
Where will Jerry Clarke fall on this Primary…publically … and privately?
If Erika loses, but dmamges Rodney enough to lose, Jerry Clarke, and the rest of the ‘Former Staff’ get to take on a former Metro East judge, Democrat, without the STAIN… of taking on and wounding Rodney Davis… and … they can marginalize Erika …”Erika had her chance, she lost, you should back Clarke…”
It is ripe for those with “personal agendas” to try to take out Rodney solely for the reason to make themselves relevent, and using Ms. Harold as the instrument to do it…while a Certain former Tim Johnson aide runs,… and is above it all.
It’s about 2014, if the Staff can get their jobs back and relevency back quicker, … but 2016, and setting this up with a Democrat holding the seat to be taken out by the Tim Johnson Crew is not a bad fall-back plan.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 3:49 pm
Sad to see this happen. Tim’s Kiddie Korps likely can’t even carry Champaign County let alone this district. I agree with Willy and FKA that Harold is just a pawn in their dirty little scheme.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 4:08 pm
==You HAVE a Congressional seat right now.==
I wasn’t aware Rodney Davis was from Champaign County.
==you can still feel proud that you stuck together as a County vs the rest of the sizable District.== Champaign-Urbana is the biggest part of the district.
==Rodney lives smack dab in the middle of it with an otherwise Democrat leaning County in his back pocket that loves him== Only C-U is Democratic in Champaign County and it’s not that long ago that it wasn’t as Democratic as it is today. Try a decade ago.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 4:32 pm
Champaign County Republicans couldn’t even get a local primary right, how are they going to get this right?
Comment by OurMagician Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 4:41 pm
It’s good old Champaign County GOP politics trying to go bigger & inevitably will screw up the works. These guys are something else. Why don’t they leave well enough alone ? Those trying to be relevant here never really were.
Comment by annon Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 4:50 pm
===This congressional seat belongs to Champaign County and we are going to take it back.===
Awesome reason to Primary the only successful contested Republican congressman from last cycle!
What a Crock!
Blame Tim Johnson, Blame Jerry Clarke, Blame Erika Harold, and Blame Mike Cys.
What, having a Republican Congressman is NOT enough?
Dopes!
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 5:11 pm
=Champaign-Urbana is the biggest part of the district.=
Not by much. The 13th is not a Champaign-centric district like the old 15th was. This is a fact you and other Champaign people can’t seem to grasp or get over.
===Rodney lives smack dab in the middle of it with an otherwise Democrat leaning County in his back pocket that loves him== Only C-U is Democratic in Champaign County and it’s not that long ago that it wasn’t as Democratic as it is today. Try a decade ago.==
I’m not sure how that’s relevant at all to what I said that you were (attempting) to respond to. Rodney lives in the middle of the DISTRICT in Christian County, which if it was any other Republican but him running will likely vote D. The District includes a lot more than ChampaignCounty, which, again, USA fact you can’t seem to grasp or don’t want to admit.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 5:36 pm
I am not a fan of Erika Harold, far from it, but even Barack Obama did one stupid thing early in his career, trying to take out Bobby Rush in a primary. I agree with everybody who says this is a stupid move, but not that it is necessarily fatal to her career in the long run.
Comment by jake Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 5:37 pm
Other than the fact that she’s…..a Harvard law grad.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 5:52 pm
===…..a Harvard law grad.===
While very impressive, and it shows a great deal about her academically…
Being a Lawyer, even a Harvard Grad Lawyer doesn’t mean much. Not ALL lawyers are the “cat’s pajamas”.
Sorry to all Counselors …
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 6:05 pm
==Other than the fact that she’s…..a Harvard law grad==
In the 13th that’ll get you a pat on the back and a “good for you”…but it won’t get you votes. Especially going against someone who’s worked with a lot of its counties and constituents over the years.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 6:20 pm
You know… it will be kind of ironic if one of the things that Harold’s crew uses to whack Davis during the primary is Davis’s involvement in Schock’s primary shenanigans against Manzullo.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 6:27 pm
To hisgirlfriday–
But Erika will not say or do anything negative. It would be beneath her. After all, she walks three feet above the water.
Comment by jake Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 7:08 pm
When it comes to shenanigans as indicated above….the Champaign crew ought to watch out on that one. It’s a personal thing , an entitlement thing & while things didn’t work out as they had hoped or perhaps planned they are still holding a grudge. So rather than accept that fact, move on & worry about more local campaigns let’s screw up the process and possibly loose the seat. Nothing against the proposed candidate at all ; just think they sold her a bill of goods. She might have a political future someday but not this.
Comment by anonymous Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 7:49 pm
The only thing Davis has to worry about is Andy Manar. Repubs in Springfield like this guy, liberal voting record but conservatives respect him. But he’ll never pull the trigger against Davis.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 8:53 pm
==I’m not sure how that’s relevant at all to what I said that you were (attempting) to respond to.== Davis is well liked by enough GOPers in Champaign County, so I figured that’s what you’re referring to because your Christian County stuff is total nonsense. 06 Guv Topinka .07 for Alexi over Radogno that year Rutherford got 44% Shimkus 62%
08 McCain
2010 Kirk 57% Brady 60% Rutherford/Topinka both over 57% Bobby Schilling 53-40 over Hare
2012 Romney 60% The Decatur mayor > Manar Sue Scherer lost there
http://www.christiancountyil.com/countyclerk/elections.htm
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 9:05 pm
Hardly the Dem stronghold you claim.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jun 4, 13 @ 9:07 pm
Anonymous is the only one in this thread who appears to have talked to actual Republicans in this district. Entertaining thread, though!
Comment by T.J. Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 5:09 am
This was allowed to happen by the vacuum of state GOP leadership. State GOP management is by crisis, not objective. She obviously represented potential as a candidate, but left to her own devices and dubious advice has chosen the wrong race at the wrong time, both for her and the State GOP. We have people in leadership positions, but they either fail or are incapable of leading.
Comment by Voice of Reason Wednesday, Jun 5, 13 @ 9:16 am