October 27, 2004
McAULIFFE SURGING IN 20TH DISTRICT HOUSE RACE
In the marquee matchup among Illinois' state legislative contests, Republican State Representative Mike McAuliffe has run a flawlessly perfect campaign against Democratic State Representative Ralph Capparelli in the 20th District. McAuliffe's "magic numbers" are 53/55/44. That means he must win at least 53 percent of the vote in the 41st Ward, 55 percent in the suburbs (Norridge, Harwood Heights and Niles), and 44 percent in the 36th Ward. In 2002, McAuliffe's numbers were 62.5/57/39. Capparelli is a much stronger candidate than 2002's Bob Bugielski, but McAuliffe has run a much stronger race, pounding Capparelli's character, and negatively defining him. McAuliffe will win by between 400 to 1,000 votes. Other winners will be Michele Bromberg in the 17th House District, Barack Obama for U.S. Senator, and Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District. Full Article...
October 20, 2004
BANK'S "NEUTRALITY" MAY TIP HOUSE RACE TO McAULIFFE
It's not unusual for nations to declare neutrality, and sometimes for politicians to do so in primaries. But it's almost unprecedented for a Chicago Democratic Committeeman to be neutral in a general election contest for state representative featuring a fellow Democratic Committeeman. But the 36th Ward's Bill Banks is neutral in the race between incumbent Democrat Ralph Capparelli and incumbent Republican Mike McAuliffe in the northwest side Chicago 20th District. "So what?" blurts Capparelli, the dean of the Illinois House. But it could tip the election to McAuliffe. Banks is still angry over Capparelli's failure to deliver a big vote in the 41st Ward in 2002. Capparelli, sitting on a $1 million campaign warchest, has been ripping McAuliffe's House votes; McAuliffe has countered with mail pieces ripping Capparelli two pensions, personal and campaign spending abuses, and missed Springfield votes. The outlook: Both men are well-known and popular; McAuliffe (40) is younger and is campaigning harder than Capparelli (80). The winner will be the one who attaches the most negatives to his foe. Give McAuliffe a slight edge. Full Article...
October 13, 2004
SCHAKOWSKY'S "RADICAL" VOTES DON'T DENT HER POPULARITY
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-9) once claimed that a candidate "can't be defined as too far left" in the 9th congressional district, which encompasses Chicago's north Lakefront and Evanston, and moves west into Skokie, Lincolnwood, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Glenview, Rosemont, Norridge and Harwood Heights, plus some of the 40th and 41st wards. Republican candidate Kurt Eckhardt begs to differ: "Schakowsky is radically liberal, and out of the mainstream." Schakowsky said she doesn't like labels, but admits to being "progressive. Schakowsky promised to be a "skunk in the garden" for the Bush Administration, and has done precisely that, criticizing the president's Iraq policies. Schakowsky also opposed tax cuts, banning the U.S. Supreme Court from striking "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, a ban on flag desecration, a ban on gay marriage, a ban on partial-birth abortions, and Iraq funding. But is that out of the mainstream in the 9th District? One cloud on Schakowsky's horizon is the pending federal indictment of her husband, Bob Creamer, on 36 counts of bank fraud and check-kiting. Schakowsky infers that it's a political vendetta against her by the Bush Administration. Full Article...
October 6, 2004
PRIMOGENITURE AN ISSUE IN 15TH DISTRICT RACE
"Chronic" is an adjective used more commonly in a medical rather than a political context. But that adjective is flying fast and furious in the open Northwest Side 15th Illinois House District. Republican challenger Bill Miceli is accusing opponent John D'Amico -- and his family -- of chronic corruption. Democrat D'Amico, grandson of the late Alderman Tony Laurino, and nephew of current Alderman Marge Laurino (39th) and former State Representative Bill Laurino, dismisses Miceli as a chronic candidate. It should be noted that D'Amico's father and mother, as well as grandfather and step-grandmother, were indicted in the U.S. Attorney's ghost payroll probe, and that the candidate's parents served jail time. "They made a mistake," said D'Amico. It should also be noted that Miceli has run for many offices in the past -- and lost every time. The issues are quite clear. The candidates differ on gun control, abortion and taxes. Miceli pledges not to be a "Mike Madigan soldier." But district voters seem chronically disinterested, which means that Democrat D'Amico will win in this Democratic district. Full Article...
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