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* Patterson has wise counsel…
The political lesson that I’ll take away from these last few months is that until nominating petitions are filed at the Illinois State Board of Elections, there are no official candidates. […]
We got another example of this with Matt Murphy deciding he wasn’t running for governor but will now pursue lieutenant governor. […]
At the moment, anyone can be an unofficial candidate for anything.
Somebody asked me yesterday to help her figure out which Chicago legislative races would be the most intense. For a variety of reasons, including the fact that many people who are now circulating petitions won’t be on the ballot, and some of the big players have yet to make a decision on where they’re going.
And other than the fact that few people care, one reason why I haven’t written much about the lieutenant governor candidates is that I doubt all of them will successfully file.
We don’t know what it’s gonna look like yet.
* Having said that, Cheryle Robinson Jackson kicked off her US Senate campaign yesterday. Jackson was not a popular person with reporters when she worked for Blagojevich. Some found it difficult to get her on the phone. I rarely ever had that problem. Still, keep an eye out for a bit of payback in upcoming stories.
The Sun-Times was more than fair today I thought…
Stressing her focus on economic development and supporting entrepreneurs like her late father, Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson today formally launched her candidacy for U.S. Senate.
The contrast with her main rivals couldn’t be clearer in the venue Jackson chose: a neighborhood restaurant at 87th and Stony Island.
B.J.’s Bakery owner John Meyer said Jackson’s Urban League helped him grow his business. Democratic front-runner Alexis Giannoulias launched his candidacy from the Hilton Hotel downtown, and Republican front-runner Mark Kirk launched his from his boyhood home in Kenilworth.
State Sen. James Meeks said “I think Cheryle Jackson is the only person who can beat Mark Kirk.”
The Daily Herald was pragmatic…
Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Jackson launched a campaign Wednesday that could make her the only black member of the U.S. Senate if she manages to overcome concerns about her former boss, disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
ABC7 was positive…
The first thing Democratic party voters will notice about Cheryl Robinson Jackson is that she’s the only woman in the race. Her campaign signage has a definite feminine color and look about it and she’s going all out to make herself the favorite of female voters who make up 53 percent of the statewide electorate.
“If it takes a woman to be in Washington to fight for parity and make certain that we don’t lose ground and speak up boldly on behalf of that, then I’m happy to be that woman,” said Jackson.
The channel also included a big applause line at the end of their piece…
* Meanwhile, Democratic US Senate hopeful David Hoffman was on Chicago Tonight yesterday. Go have a look. It was a relatively brief interview and he came off pretty well.
* Related…
* Ill. AG seeks Burr Oak control
* Ill. Senate legislation could shake up Board of Trustees
* Quinn reverses some probation services cuts
* Quinn to restore funding for probation services
* Press release: Quinn finds probation money
* State seeks stimulus cash to reduce rail jams
* Press Release: Cheryle Robinson Jackson Formally Kicks Off Campaign for U.S. Senate at Small Business
* Krishnamoorthi pledges online info - Comptroller candidate cites Texas program as approach that can save money
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:32 am
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Although I have never heard her referred to as Cheryle Robinson Jackson, it seems to be a smart move. She gets to tie her maiden name to the popular Michelle Robinson Obama and distance herself from the Jackson name, especially now that Jesse Jackson Jr is back in the news.
Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:36 am
Another job opportunity awaits DM Cobb!
Comment by Hank Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:42 am
8 years after her boss was elected governor the only industry I see having any success in the state is the u.s. attorney’s office of the northern district of Illinois. atta boy,
It would be nice if for once the state media pretended to be balanced and tough on these democrats. I realize republicans are at a disadvantage because most of the top media in the chicago area live in deep blue areas where her boss’s record is acceptable, but they need to ask her how vibrant the entreprenuerial community is today.
Comment by shore Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:47 am
I like Cheryle Jackson as a canidate. SHe has a good grass roots feel to her campaign and her message. She has a long way to go, but I predict she will come out being a strong canidate. She speaks well and has a good presence when meeting others.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:50 am
I’m fine with Quinn restoring probation services although I wonder where he got the money. Or was it there all along. The Quinn budget is still, well, fuzzy. And taking money away then giving it back might generate some political support…more than if he just made small cuts or none at all.
Actually, doesn’t this kind of to-ing and fro-ing on various budget items feel kind of
Blagojevich-y.
Where he should be getting the probation money is by reducing the Illinois prison population. But that would be too much to hope for from a gubernatorial candidate who seems to lack not only consistency but courage.
Comment by cassandra Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:50 am
Help me understand..Hoffman, who will run rings around Crusts Kirk , has been on government payrolls his entire adult life and wants to be seen as an “outsider” Does not compute. Wonder why smart as a whip CM (just ask her) did not follow up?
BTW has anyone found any media coverage of Crusts downstate campaign swing yet?????
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 10:55 am
Meeks’ comment sounds the death knell for the famed and feared Congressman Jackson-Alexi-Obama coalition. It was nice while it lasted.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 11:00 am
Found money, the best kind.
My guess is about $16 million in vendor bills just took an even more circuitous route to the Comptroller’s office.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 11:01 am
All of these halfway-in, halfway-out candidacies send a clear message to old AA.
It’s time to get the band back together.
Bill for Senate 2010.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 11:43 am
Great sound bite from Cheryle Jackson.
Comment by perplexed & perturbed Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:13 pm
As long as you are monitoring Chicago politics, the campaigns begin as soon as the first signatures are collected. That means covering dozens of people who fall out during the process. Anyone that has folks out collecting signatures is running in a “Pre-Primary”.
As to situations like Murphy, one should consider what he was doing as running for governor - and then losing. Now he is running for lt. governor, and we’ll see where he ends up.
I guess the best way to report it is to stretch and update the terms we use to describe the political process. You can focus on “official” announcements, or you can start focusing on the “pre-primary” processes. Using official announcements helps limit the coverage.
Anyone collecting signatures is a candidate, regardless of what they officially claim.
The act of being a candidate starts even earlier than this. And, as we often see, some guys are nothing but perpetual candidates - not office holders, even if they are actually holding an office.
Let’s start calling them what they are. Obama was a presidential candidate in 2004, running for the US Senate. Blagojevich was a presidential candidate in 2002, running for governor. John Edwards was a presidential candidate in 1998, running for the US Senate seat in NC.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:17 pm
===========
BTW has anyone found any media coverage of Crusts downstate campaign swing yet?????
===========
Not yet, but people have been posting links to the video for a couple of days now on blogs and it looks as if an email went out to supporters recently. Feedback: might want to consider separating the ad from the film on the site, or leave it as is AND add the video separately. Seeing the add only is confusing people.
Re: Hoffman: Agreed. He came off well. However, he needs practice and until he gets interviewing worked out, should probably rely more on press releases for some of the reasons stated in the other thread.
Re: Jackson: The woman’s angle doesn’t really appeal personally to me. From a campaign perspective, it can be downplayed fairly easily by the right candidate.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:23 pm
========
Bill for Senate 2010.
========
I’m not sure, AA. That campaign photo, from his last run, of the back of his head didn’t seem to appeal to the general public. lol
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:26 pm
BTW, I was out yesterday with some from one of our pumpkin patches. Mighty impressive group. Does the heart good.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:32 pm
I should have none better that IL GOP could not win a governors race if it was handed to them on a silver platter.
Comment by IL Mess Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:36 pm
What makes you think we’re not going to win the Governor’s race, Mess?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:38 pm
Re: Crusts’ downstate campaign swing. Should correct my answer: found some local coverage as it was going on.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:45 pm
Andy McKenna Jr. Campaign Contributions (FEC and ISBE websites)
Sen. Dick Durbin
$2,000 (fed limit was $1,000 primary and general)
October 1999
AG Lisa Madigan
$1,500 - July 2001
$1,000 - Feb 2002
Speaker Madigan
$1,000 - Oct 1994
$1,000 - Aug 1995
Sen. Jeff Schoenberg
$1,000 - Dec 2000
$1,000 - June 2001
*JS supported the Safe Choice Zone Act that made it a criminal offense to interefer with people going to or from abortion clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities
* JS was a 2006 ambassador to the Gay Games and participant in the Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade
* JS Sponsor of the stem cell research bill
* JS Supports stricter gun laws
John Schmidt (D candidate for AG)
$1,000
Feb 2002
Comment by McKenna The Dem Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 12:46 pm
So, “Mckenna the Dem” you know that the contributions you are citing are from Andrew Mckenna Sr., right? Your either an idiot, live under a rock or deliberately disingenuous. Probably a mixture of the three. For the record Andy Mckenna Jr. has made Gop contributions, including some to these causes:
$250.00
10/6/2003 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Kirk Dillard
300.00
10/7/2002 Individual Contribution
New Trier Republican Organization
$1,000.00
10/27/1998 Individual Contribution
Al Salvi For Secretary Of State
$200.00
7/5/2005 Individual Contribution
Family - PAC
$500.00
11/4/2002 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Justice Rita B Garman
$200.00
11/2/2003 Individual Contribution
Pro Life Victory Committee
Comment by raising kane Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 1:28 pm
To McKenna the Dem:
Welcome to Illinois. Been here long? McKenna was/is a businessman (Schwarz Paper Co) and it was not uncommon for business people to donate to both sides of the aisle. You aren’t going to get much traction with less then $10K to dems over 15 year period. Nice try though….
Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 1:32 pm
So, when McKenna gets crushed in the primary, will he finally go away?
Also, has Murphy now set a record for the most races declared for in a 6 month period? First it was Cook County Board President, then Governor, now LG. So, when does he announce his candidacy for Congress?
Comment by downstate conservative Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 1:53 pm
Raising Kane…
I went to the SBE website and perhaps you should as well. These are listed under Andrew McKenna JR (not SR); Here is an example cut and pasted from SBE.
YOU need to check your facts.Perhaps you are the idiot or buried under a rock!
McKenna, Jr., Andrew
8338 Austin Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053
Occupation: Chairman
Employer: Schwarz Paper Company $1,000.00
12/29/2000 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Jeff Schoenberg
Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:09 pm
Kane…
And yet another…it seems to be true.
McKenna, Jr., Andrew
8338 Austin Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053
Occupation: Chairman and CEO
Employer: Schwarz $1,000.00
2/17/2002 Individual Contribution
Citizens for Lisa Madigan
Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:11 pm
Charyl Jackson’s fate rests on two questions:
1) Can she respond to the Blagojevich questions;
2) Can she convince potential donors and political heavyweights — especially committeemen — that she can do #1.
In response to earlier commenters, I’ve got the greatest respect for Senator Meeks, but no one, not even his son, speaks for Rev. Jackson.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:30 pm
4%, again Mckenna Sr., lives in Morton Grove. He made that donation. He is NOT running for Gov. Andy Mckenna Jr. has never given any money to a Dem that I can find on the Boards site.
Comment by raising kane Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:40 pm
It’s time to get the band back together.
Bill for Senate 2010.
The famous “getting the band back together” movie. Blues Brothers. You know how that one turned out…with the main characters going in the slammer, like a few IL ex-governors. You might want to re-think that one.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:45 pm
===again Mckenna Sr., lives in Morton Grove===
Raising Kane,
Schwarz Paper Company is based at that address. I doubt either McKennas live in Morton Grove, although it’s a nice community, unless they live at the office, which I sometimes feel like I do….
Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:48 pm
kane..
then why does it say andrew mckenna jr? i did not make up the “jr” - its on the sbe website.
there are plent of andrew mckenna contributions but i looked at the ones with Jr listed and copied them in the above posts.
Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:53 pm
Raising Kane: I’m surprised to being saying this, but those contributions ARE listed on the SBOE site under McKenna, Jr. Haven’t checked the federal stuff.
Comment by Middle of the Road Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 2:53 pm
Those contributions are the fathers. Notice that the occupation is “chairman” of Schwarz Paper. Andy is the President his father is Chairman.
Comment by raising kane Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:08 pm
rk, that happens all the time. I missed it this time. Thanks for correcting that person.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:09 pm
so, are you saying the state board of elections website is wrong? Scroll down to the bottom of this link, it clearly says “Andrew McKenna, Jr.” with contributions to Madigan, Schoenberg, Schmidt, etc.
http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure/ContribListSearches.aspx
Comment by downstate conservative Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:16 pm
dc, look at the addresses and the occupations.
These things happen. People code stuff wrong all the time. It’s not the BoE, it’s the campaigns.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:20 pm
This has been dealt with so many times before..and was brought up in the 2004 race for Senate. Those contributions to Dems are from the father. It’s a closed case. Move on.
Comment by SalukiDog Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:22 pm
How is Jackson caught up in the Blago mess? The federales would have been heard from by now.
Blago was the governor; a lot of people “worked” with, or for, him. Lot of people. He’ll probably call them all to his trial, too.
Speaking of the Senate race, where’s Alexi? I’m not sure the field is settled on the Dem side. It’s a big prize, and no one in the mix so far is going to run away with it.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:24 pm
Andy Mckenna list his residence for his donations which was Glendale Ave and is now Freemont the other listings are his fathers.
Comment by raising kane Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:25 pm
Ok, fair enough. There are dozens of things to not like McKenna for without trying to claim that he gave money to Democrats. He gave several offices to them over the past 4 years.
Comment by downstate conservative Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 3:31 pm
When was the last time a Daley, Hynes, or Madigan family member gave cash to Republican? They clearly know which team they play on.
Comment by Combine Andy Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 4:54 pm
Word,
There’s about five years worth of quotes form Ms. Jackson defending the governor and his actions and behavior. It’d make for some devastating ads. What’s her defense, I was out of the loop, a high-paid mouthpiece with no actual power in the administration? Now that’s what most Senators actually are, but few actually campaign on that.
Comment by Frank Booth Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 6:03 pm
– What’s her defense, I was out of the loop, a high-paid mouthpiece with no actual power in the administration? –
That’s what I’d do. My point is, a lot of people were playing ball with Blago before that December wake-up call.
How do the House and Senate GOP leadership rationalize playing ball with him on a capitol bill in the summer of 2008?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 6:27 pm
Rev. Meeks is right.
So is Raising Kane
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 9:18 pm
Cheryl Jackson’s job before the Urban League gig, among other things like refusing comments to reporters on the most blatant and egregious doings of her boss, was making sure small venues could be packed with loyal, reliable shills or dupes, to make sure that when Rod always entered a room to sign a bill or make a speech, it was filled (as least far as cameras could see) with cheering, adoring fans and nobody else but. Her whole job was trying to turn every official function into a campaign commercial, at taxpayer expense, and to be a wall between journalists who would challenge that virtual reality, and the governor. This I admit she did well.
So I’m not impressed that she can do the same in a small venue, close to the Urban League and her home base of support, where she can find people that work for her, and their friends and relatives, to come out and fill a room. I’ll be more impressed when she does a full-on all-state tour in uncontrolled venues, and has to face up to more unpleasant questions from non-local reporters and people her previous boss left holding the bag…
She left in the first term, fine, but under a cloak of public secrecy as to why. If she didn’t like the moral atmosphere, I have yet to see or read her loud, public, and detailed repudiation of that time when she was a loyal soldier to a guy she knew for some time was no darn good. Does her silence mean she’s waiting to testify at his trial?
Was she fired for standing up to him? Maybe. I’d like to think so. Others were. Will Rod corroborate that in her case?
Was she let go because they thought she was gathering evidence for the feds? Can we get a corroboration on that?
Did she just see the writing on the wall, but bided her time and rather than immediately resigning, played along with the skuzziest governor in state history for several more months before she found another job to jump to? And if that was the case, was this really noble or just self-interest and survival? Is that enough “experience” to hang a senate campaign on?
What it boils down to for me is a variation on the old trick question about wife-beating. In Cheryl Jackson’ case, it goes like this: If you knew it was as bad we know now, why did you stay even as long as you did? If you really didn’t know what was going on, while being so high up in his organization, are you a fool or a liar? How could you keep doing that job for him and lying to us, deliberately obscuring the truth, for as long as you did? Was leaving even your own choice?
Don’t brag that you left, and think that settles everything. Explain just how come, and what took you that long.
Comment by Tinfoil hatter Thursday, Sep 17, 09 @ 11:58 pm
Some great points and Qs, Tin.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 18, 09 @ 12:21 am
Tin Man,
This is not the land of Oz, so quit whining for the oil can. Besides; put your thinking cap back on man, after all its the Scarecrow that went out in search of a brain, and all you may need is a heart instead.
While the answers to your rhetorical questions may lie somewhere over the rainbow, have you forgotten the most important lesson of that storied fable? There’s no place like home; no place like home, no place like home!
CRJ’s choice of venue is no more playing to the home crowd, than was Alexi or Kirk when they did the same. In their photo op announcements, neither of them placed themselves in an uncomfortable position to answer the tough questions either, and there are plenty for each. As a consequence, in order to be un-biased, and fair and balanced , you would have to be equally unimpressed with all of them, but you didn’t say that, you only criticized her.
At the end of the day; if she wins, you will have a smart, attractive, articulate, African American Democratic woman in a deep blue state running for the seat previously occupied by the POTUS, against a decorated combat veteran with decades of experience on Capitol Hill, and a voting record to stand on, and for opponents to exploit.
Contrast that with a Kirk vs. Galexi race, and tell me whether you feel that he, or CJR represents the strongest candidate to take on Kirk? Which Democratic candidate do you think the “base” is more likely to rally around? By the time the professional hatchet men get done with Galexi at the end of the primary season, he will be damaged goods; based on his own actions and poor judgement. CJR will be able to effectively deflect the Blago stuff, but why should she do that now, when nobody is listening, and tip her hand as to how? All that would do is allow her opponents to re-shape the questions to fit their purpose and agenda down the road. I suspect that she’ll be ready to address that at the appropriate time in an effective way.
The only question now is whether she will have the $ to be able to respond forcefully in the media if necessary. It may not be however; because GAlexi and others must tread softly due to race and gender issues that could otherwise backfire on them and work against them in a general election, even if a primary attack were to be successful.
Like most things Democratic in this state; this D primary race, and the General election for that matter will come down to where MJM stands on this one. Do you think POTUS is going to come back here and campaign for; or endorse GALEXI over CJR? Not a chance!
POTUS is going to leave GALEXI to sink or swim on his own here, and in a mid term election without POTUS on the ballot there will be no coattails to ride on through the primary; and into office.
MJM on the other hand has a AA caucus (African American, LOL, although he probably has, or should have an AA caucus too) to be concerned with, as well as a motivated base that will be necessary to maintain control of the statewide offices, and GALEXI inspires none of that base to come out in November.
While your questions might be poignant on a theoretical basis; in a practical reality they are meaningless as to what will dictate the primary campaign and perhaps determine the outcome of the general election.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Friday, Sep 18, 09 @ 2:59 am
Tin Man,
P.S.; in short, Rev, Meeks is right.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Friday, Sep 18, 09 @ 3:01 am
Gotta love all that TubBoat McKenna affection out there
BTW it appears Crusts Kirk has joined the ACRON witchhunt with both feet…He even noted the group has recevied mucho feds buckeroos since 1994….perhaps he could review the era 2001-2008 and tell us what he or his pals at Rove/Cheney Tortures R Us did to rid the landscape of this awful group….remembers this is the era when W’s $1,200 to all families would solve the recession, we needed a lot of wars and Wall Street would be just fine.
Tell Oh Tell Commando Crusts
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Sep 18, 09 @ 7:33 am