Progress Illinois

Via Capitol Fax, Cal Skinner notes on his blog that $1.2 million of the $1.3 million in contributions reported by state representative and potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Franks actually came from himself and five other individuals.  Three of those major contributors share his last name:

- Eileen Franks, Eileen, Occupation: retired, Marengo - $450,000
- Herbert H. Franks, Occupation: attorney, Marengo - $250,000
- Deborah Franks, Occupation: housewife. Marengo - $200,000

This is one way to make yourself look like a legitimate statewide candidate: Log some huge donations by close friends or family, generate some buzz, and attempt to convert it into some actual fundraising.  Then, later in the campaign, maybe some of those large contributions get refunded.  We'll see.

And if you need some idea what a Franks for Illinois campaign will sound like, be sure to listen to this audio of him railing against the stopgap budget -- from the right -- on the House floor last week:

Internal mp3

FRANKS: What we've been doing is we've been focusing on redistribution of wealth.  We've been talking about tax increases when we should be talking about growing the economy so more people can get to work.  And we have to lift people up -- not hold them back.

"Redistribution of wealth"?  Sounds an awful lot like the McCain playbook, doesn't it?