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* From a fundraising request…
Ten years ago, I invited a wounded warrior from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to join me in the Capitol for the State of the Union address. Her name was Tammy Duckworth.
Now, my friend, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth is running to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate in an amazing journey from the battlefields of Iraq to the campaign battleground in Illinois.
Tammy is no stranger to tough challenges, but to win this race, she is going to need our full support. Join me in backing Tammy’s campaign for U.S. Senate by contributing today. […]
From the beginning, Tammy impressed me with her determination to overcome adversity and her commitment to her brothers and sisters in uniform.
It wasn’t long after I met her that she was calling me about problems facing other wounded soldiers and combat veterans at Walter Reed. So eventually, I encouraged her to run for Congress so that she could better advocate for veterans and for working families.
She’s already doing a terrific job, working to help veterans find jobs and access mental health care, and standing up for working families on issues like protecting Medicare and making college more affordable.
The incumbent in this race is already running television ads — 18 months before the election! Tammy needs our help to catch up.
Illinois families deserve a champion like Tammy Duckworth fighting for them in the U.S. Senate. Contribute $5 now to support her campaign.
Thank you for joining me in supporting Tammy,
Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator
* Lynn Sweet…
The timing of Durbin’s endorsement is an extra boost. At the end of March, Duckworth announced her bid to replace Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill. Since then, competition in the March 2016 Democratic primary surfaced.
Andrea Zopp, who is leaving as Urban League chief and Chicago Board of Education member, also is running, with a formal announcement coming in July or August, her campaign said.
I asked Zopp for her reaction to the Durbin move, and she noted that his endorsement was no surprise.
* Remember when Sen. Mark Kirk refused to endorse Durbin’s Republican opponent last year? Well…
Kevin Artl, Kirk’s campaign manager, said in statement that Durbin “is once again choosing political party over Illinois. By hand-picking Sen. Kirk’s opponent, he abandons the bipartisan partnership that they have cultivated on behalf of our state and has delivered a real blow to Illinois.”
* The ILGOP piles on…
“It is clear that Dick Durbin’s endorsement of Tammy Duckworth’s fledgling campaign is a reflection of growing concern among Washington powerbrokers about her candidacy. Duckworth is not an independent voice because she is beholden to insiders in Chicago and the nation’s capital. Senator Mark Kirk is a thoughtful, reform-minded leader who speaks for all Illinois citizens,” said Nick Klitzing, Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party.
The Republicans are attempting to cause as much trouble for Duckworth as they can because they apparently fear her more than Zopp.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:18 am
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I wish Artl and his Crew all the best.
This race is going to be absolutely brutal.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:23 am
Durbins endorsement was already assumed. Now he just codified that duckworth is the dc pick. If Zopp can put it together, she could create huge problems for duckworth
Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:25 am
To some extent the candidates will be watching while the really big guns go at it.
Harsh attacks on Duckworth won’t be coming out of Kirk’s mouth. He’s too smart for that.
And Duckworth will tout Kirk’s military service all day long. The more that topic is top of mind, she has an advantage.
Comment by walker Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:29 am
You stay classy, Senator Durbin.
Ron Burgundy /s
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:31 am
In other news, water is wet.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:33 am
I enjoyed the bipartisanship between Kirk and Durbin. Sad to see Durbin ending it to protect Duckworth from a primary.
Comment by CousinVinny Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:35 am
And later this afternoon, Kevin Artl will release a statement about rumors of gambling in Casablanca.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:40 am
Oh Vinny: You really think bi-partisanship must include not supporting your own party’s candidate?
Pretty idealistic.
Comment by walker Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:42 am
Oh, it is terribly shocking that a Democrat didn’t endorse the GOP candidate.
Don’t these flacks of all stripes know that their constant barrages of faux outrage, filled with ten pounds of talking points in a five pound bag, make them sound like brainwashed cult members?
No rational person speaks that way. You are a spokesman trying to communicate with rational people. Act accordingly.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:45 am
Kirk 53% VS DUCK 45%
Comment by scott aster Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:56 am
A bipartisan partnership keeps the whole of Illinois in mind but Durbin seems to have forgotten this with his endorsement of Duckworth.
Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 10:56 am
It’s sad to see Durbin choosing his party over what’s best for Illinois. Looks like ILGOP has it right on the money calling her a party insider.
Comment by Caitlin Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:00 am
Word: lol
When I say “idealistic naïf” you say “incompetent flack.”
Dan we settle on campaign intern?
Comment by walker Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:02 am
Its right for Kirk to fear Duckworth, he can pull a lot of moderate votes based on his recent medical problems and him fighting through it. Duckworth takes that away with her own story.
But honestly, Duckworth isn’t a great candidate, even in 2012 when she ran against Walsh she finished below Obama’s numbers for her district, in a district that hated Walsh. The dems can’t be happy with her work ethic.
Comment by Sleepysol Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:34 am
Who was durbin’s republican opponent last time? Oberweis? if so kirk had his own selfserving reasons to not associate with him so his supporters can remove him from the bipartisanship purity pedestal any time.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:40 am
Durbin has been Duckworth’s enabler since Day 1. Apparently, the powers that be think that having a disabled veteran in office provides the Democrats with cover from all of the lefties that who antagonize most of the active military members into voting GOP. Duckworth would fill the same role that Georgia’s former US Senator Cleland used.
Comment by Under Further Review Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:50 am
UFR, I think you missed a couple of cynical stereotypes there.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:09 pm
==- Under Further Review - Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 11:50 am:==
The same Senator Cleland that Republicans called a terrorist sympathizer.
By the way, if Kirk is such a bipartisan man, why did the NRSC and NRCC spend tens of millions of dollars supporting him? Why did conservative John Cornyn send out fundraising letters on Kirk’s letterhead?
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 12:56 pm
so he’s not bipartisan? please prove your point PC.
In my view, Kirk has clearly broken from his party on significant issues, like marriage equality and environmental issues. He’s definitely not ruled by the DC class.
Comment by DecaturGuy Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:00 pm
“…they fear her more than Zopp” For good reason: remember Alan Dixon, beaten (in primary, I believe) by the woman who’s name escapes me-She wasn’t a military veteran, got in only because she was a woman. Got in trouble with the law- Duckworth may not be the most qualified but she is a disabled veteran and a woman. Kirk’s stroke and recovery may be a “lucky” thing vs. her in this election.
Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:10 pm
downstate commissioner - You really forgot Carol Moseley Braun’s name? You apparently also forgot Al Hofeld’s name as well. Braun won on the strength of two things - Dixon’s vote for Clarence Thomas but more importantly, Al Holfeld dropped a lot of his own money and took votes from Al the Pal. In a head to head match-up Al would have killed CMB.
Comment by tominchicago Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 1:51 pm
Some short memories around here: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/04/17/kirk-reverses-course-endorses-oberweis-against-durbin/
Comment by So_Ill Friday, Jun 5, 15 @ 2:15 pm