Progress Illinois

The latest from the 2010 electoral landscape ...

IL GOVERNOR

This morning, Rep, Mike Quigley formally endorsed Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, saying that "the best indication of future behavior is past performance."  Watch an excerpt from Quigley's remarks:

The Quinn campaign has also posted some highlights from UNITE-HERE's recent endorsement, which you can watch here.

U.S. SENATE

This morning, Republican Senate candidate and congressman Mark Kirk announced a $1.6 million third quarter fundraising haul:

Five-term GOP Congressman and Navy veteran Mark Kirk, the leading Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois, today reported his campaign set a new single-quarter fundraising record for federal Republican candidates in Illinois raising more than $1.6 million. That brings the campaign’s total receipts for the election to more than $2.9 million with $2.3 million in the bank.

The quarter ended last Wednesday and all federal candidates must file their reports by October 15.  So far, Kirk is the only U.S. Senate candidate from either side of the aisle to announce his totals.  Politico also reported Friday that the North Shore Republican continues to get help from Sen. John McCain, who has provided "counsel" to the campaign and apparently handed over his list of donors as well.

Rep. Danny Davis held a candidates forum on Chicago's West Side this past Saturday, with contenders from a variety of races appearing.  Here is Democrat David Hoffman's 10-minute speech to the crowd, posted by his campaign:

We're hoping to get video of some of the other candidates' presentations as well.

Finally, Alexi Giannoulias appeared on WLS Radio's Don Wade & Roma today to discuss his Senate campaign, the ongoing Bright Start settlement negotiations, as well as his effort to crack down on predatory debt settlement companies. You can listen to the full segment here.

(UPDATE, 2:45 pm: Hoffman announced this afternoon that he raised $400,000 in his first month of campaigning and leant his campaign another $500,000 in personal funds.   Meanwhile, Giannoulias campaign spokesperson Tom Bowen responds to Kirk's release: "Alexi Giannoulias is the first U.S. Senate candidate in Illinois history to refuse contributions from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists. Mark Kirk has taken over 3.5 million dollars from PACs in his career and they own him. ... Voters should ask why Kirk is covering up the facts and why he won't release his total contributions from federal lobbyists and corporate PACs.")

COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT

Pat Quinn recently appeared before voters at a forum in Chicago's 4th Ward, where he had some extremely positive things to say about local alderman and Cook County board president candidate Toni Preckwinkle. From Sam Cholke's September 30 article in the Hyde Park Herald:

"We don't want people when they hear Illinois to think greed and corruption. We've got to do it the Toni way: honestly,"  Quinn said.  The current governor was complimentary of Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward) and supportive of her bid for the Cook County board but stopped short of an official endorsement.

Preckwinkle, who joined the governor for several campaign stops on Saturday, said she only has high praise for the work the governor is doing in Springfield.

10th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Late last week, Democratic State Rep. Julie Hamos also announced healthy fundraising totals for the third quarter. From a press release:

The Julie Hamos for Congress campaign raised more than $545,000 this quarter. Donations were received from more than 1,000 individuals in nine weeks.

This preliminary number accounts for fundraising from July 28 through September 30 and is subject to change as reports are finalized. The deadline for submitting reports to the Federal Elections Commission is Thursday, October 15.

The campaign also reports that 565 people have signed up to become volunteers.

Hamos also confirmed last week that she has officially moved from downtown Evanston to a new home in the 10th District.

14th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

An Illinois-based conservative group, the Economic Freedom Alliance (EFA), has erected a billboard advertising the following URL: DoNotLetBillFosterKillJobs.com. The website criticizes Rep. Bill Foster's support for the Employee Free Choice Act and is part of a broader campaign that similarly targets 11th District Rep. Debbie Halvorson and three other Midwestern members of Congress. The Beacon News reported over that weekend that EFA has hired Karl Rove and former House Speaker Dennis Hastert as consultants on the project. Hastert's son, Ethan, is attempting to challenge Foster next year. He told the paper that he had no idea about his father's involvement in the EFA effort:

[EFA President Ron] Gidwitz said Hastert's involvement has been ongoing.

"Denny Hastert and Karl Rove have been involved since we got started back in November, early December and have been advising us all the way," he said.

This surprised Ethan Hastert.

"I didn't know that," the younger Hastert said when told of his father's EFA involvement. "News to me."

Meanwhile, the Hill reports on the emerging GOP primary battle in IL-14 between Hastert and State Sen. Randy Hultgren.