IL-06 election TUESDAY! What you can do to help Cegelis

Many of you have followed the action-packed race in the Illinois Sixth District Democratic primary.  From Christine Cegelis' remarkable 2004 race against Henry Hyde, to the DCCC's efforts to find someone a little less independent (and having to go outside of the district to do so -- to someone who hasn't ever voted in a Democratic primary in Illinois!), to the involvement of national political figures, it's been quite a whirlwind.

And Tuesday is D-Day.  And you can help -- no matter WHERE you live.

What can you do?  Check below the break!

Take a few minutes to look through your address book.  See anyone in one of the following towns?

Lombard * Wheaton * Villa Park * Elmhurst * Elk Grove Village * Bensenville * Itasca * Carol Stream * Rolling Meadows * Glen Ellyn * Wood Dale * Arlington Heights * Mount Prospect * Streamwood

Why not give them a call tomorrow morning, or during work, and find out whether they're planning to vote.  If they're independent (or even Republican) they're allowed to take a Democratic ballot in Illinois.  Suggest they vote for Christine Cegelis.  She's local.  She's bright.  She's a fighter.  And she's beholden to nobody but those in her district.

I've been volunteering for the Cegelis campaign for a year, and every day I have been more proud to do so.  Christine is the definition of a real fightin' Dem -- she took on Hyde when the district was thought unwinnable, and she took on the DCCC machinery and money when others would have expected her to drop out.  She has said she couldn't even considering dropping out, not with the legions of dedicated supporters for whom her candidacy represented their empowerment.

Tomorrow there will be live blogging from campaign headquarters.  Keep your eye open for that.

Thanks to everyone who's offered a word or two of support over the past many months.  Thanks even to those who have argued so ... effusively ... against Christine's candidacy (usually due to her fundraising ... neglecting the fact that within the district she has out raised both of her opponents combined, without the help of mass emails from failed presidential candidates).  And thanks particularly to Christine, who has been the absolute model citizen-candidate!  Let's win on Tuesday!!!

•  THANKS

  Thanks Jakester for posting this

  by mlkisler on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:01:55 PM PDT

  •  Forgot to add

    I've been doing a lot of walking around the towns in the various parts of the district, and the support on the ground for Christine is real.  Her opponent is phoning it in - literally, through repeated robo-calling, and figuratively, through her unwillingness to appear at multiple district functions.

    The volunteers I'm talking to are excited.  Cautiously optimistic, I'd say!

    by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:06:23 PM PDT

    •  The whole scenario has been unnecessary

      and it stinks.  Rahm needs to keep his DLC paws out of primary races and instead spend "our" money against the real opposition.  Go Christine.

      Caveat:  I say "our" money, but actually it is no longer mine.  Because of the primary meddling of the DCCC, I'm now off their list and have stopped donating until their regime changes (and that includes Pelosi).

      by busternjake on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:19:51 PM PDT

•  The margin will be slim...

  ...but I predict that Christine will take the nomination. The field polls look great, everyone's morale is up, and election day is planned and ready to launch.

  by RedheadLiberal on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:05:34 PM PDT

  •  signs, signs, everywhere signs

    My count driving around today in conservative DuPage showed single digit Duckworth signs & TRIPLE digit Christine Cegelis signs.

    Not that signs are necessarily great signs, but there you have it!

    Also, the fundraising numbers really do tell a huge story.  It's unprecedented when 98% of your funds come from outside your district.  I mean, has anyone ever heard of that???

    by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:28:21 PM PDT

•  GO TAMMY!!!

  by RandyMI on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:07:58 PM PDT

  •  Sometimes...

    ... you should just let things ride.

    But, no, you celebrate being a dick.

    Go figure.

    by Bob Johnson on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:38:05 PM PDT

    •  Well, golly

      What happened to the First Amendment? You would have thought I called Cegalis a Communist spy, or something.

      No cause, no party and no candidate is sacred, and that includes anyone running in the IL-06. We're all entitled to suppotr who we wish and express it. Sheesh I got the same grief when I said I was supporting Westly for Gov. of CA.

      by RandyMI on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:50:36 PM PDT

      •  Whatever.

        You have no dog in this hunt, but you certainly enjoy being a dick.

        Congratulations.

        by Bob Johnson on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:52:01 PM PDT

        •  As a Democrat

          Who wants to win the House, every district is important to me.

          by RandyMI on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 09:00:23 PM PDT

        •  Play nice everyone!

          Let's limit this discussion to the actual issues of the race mkay?  Substance above all!!!

          by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 09:01:15 PM PDT

          •  SECOND THAT! (n/t)

            by mlkisler on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 09:08:24 PM PDT

•  Go Christine

  generally I support Veterans for congress.  However running Tammy in a district where she has never lived, hoping for the sympathy vote is the worst kind of politics.  I will however support all the other Democratic vets.

  by regis on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:09:52 PM PDT

  •  Not happy with the process either...

    ... of how Tammy was brought in, but I realized soon that it wouldn't have mattered to me HOW she entered the race.  Christine's simply the better candidate, would make the better congresswoman, and is someone I'm proud to volunteer FOR (whereas during the 2004 election, I felt I was volunteering AGAINST someone and the crap he was doing to our country).

    Christine's story might not be as flashy, but it's no less remarkable.

    by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:23:39 PM PDT

•  A real pleasure

  One comment directed at Cegelis bloggers is that we should get off the blog and do something for Cegelis. Being in the office the last few days I found out just how off base that statement was.

  As I was scanning in data yesterday, I was sitting next to another blogger I know online. As I was photographing the parade, I met another three bloggers. Canvassing I met a few more. Tonight I met Will Pitt and another 4 bloggers. I knew all these people from the blogs. Contrary to what it may appear online, they were all working in the field in support of Cegelis as well.

  Good to see you again tonight Jakster. Good advice. Tomorrow will tell what type of Democratic party we want, and what type of representation we will get in my district.

  Regardless of the outcome, I'm proud of Christine and what she has done for the Democratic party in my district. I'm proud to know someone that dedicated to making our government better. I'm proud to have been around to experience her campaign first hand.

  by michael in chicago on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:30:08 PM PDT

•  So as to the action item...

  Who outside the area is going to make a call tomorrow morning?  If yes, please post here!

  by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:33:15 PM PDT

  •  ME! (n/t)

    by mlkisler on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 09:10:59 PM PDT

•  From the 'For What It's Worth' Department,

  Saw veteran political reporter Dick Kay on WTTW last Friday night, and he felt that Cegelis had a real chance of winning, which would be, as he said "a real slap in the face to the party's power brokers."  He also said "She's got a lot of foot soldiers on the ground."

  by jazzmaniac on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:39:56 PM PDT

•  hey at least I didn't say to GIVE GIVE GIVE

  The asking for money starts again Tuesday night :-)

  by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:44:26 PM PDT

•  My son and I

  will both be voting for Christine tomorrow.  Maybe going to the headquarters as well, in the evening.

  My sign is in the yard and has remained there, unmolested, despite my living in the reddest part of the district.

  I hope she wins.  But my God, will I be glad when this is over Wednesday.

  by KibbutzAmiad on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:45:03 PM PDT

  •  Awesome!

    Thanks for the support, and definitely come by!  Assuming this thing comes down to the wire, every volunteer person-second will help!

    The best part about what Christine's done is to make people less afraid in DuPage County, Illinois, to admit to being a Dem!!

    by jakester on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 08:48:16 PM PDT

•  One thing i don't understand is how is?

  44% a great feat in the district if the District is a 53-47 Bush district? If you had to graph me on where i am in this race i am at a lean Cegelis but have my own doubts about her ability to win or move people.

  by dieharddemocrat on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 10:58:35 PM PDT

  •  well bush really underperformed in the district..

    most republicans in the district arn't idealogues.

    All of the county government is in Republican hands.  There is no elected democrats in the district.  Getting 44% against hyde, who was really popular and did good constiualt services in the district was a real accomplishment in my opinion.

    The fine point on this is that Duckworth can't win no matter how much money she has because she is not from the district, has no roots in the districe or the state for that matter.  To beat the republicans in Nov. we need boots on the ground.  Christine has them and to a lesser extent lindy has them.  Duckworth has students from Champaign urbana being paid 10$ an hour and staffers from madigan, schacowsky, blago, etc.  Most Duckworth help is paid.  even the bloggers that monitor these boards and post negative comments.

    Well I have to go out and put Cegelis signs at polling places.  And I'm proud to do it for free.

    by delver rootnose on Mon Mar 20, 2006 at 11:40:34 PM PDT

•  Here Is My Family's Contribution....

  to Christine Cegelis...four votes tomorrow for her.  We live in Roselle, in DuPage County, and this is the FIRST time since we have lived in our home (over 20 years) that we had lawn signs for ANY political candidate displayed on our property.  We are proud to support Cegelis, no matter what the results of the election tomorrow will be.  
  

  If Cegelis wins tomorrow, it will be the voters, the true grassroots of the Democratic Party in IL-06, arising from obscurity to take command of their future and, by extension, that of the government.  We, the netroots and the grassroots, are "Crashing the Gates"!  Stand back and watch us make our presence known to the politicians who doubted our existence or relevance!
  

  Thank you.
  

  Harriet

  by HsLdyAngl on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 12:46:56 AM PDT

  •  Ditto

    I am retired and unabashed couch potato.  But, seeing how our country was bad off track, I became galvanized by the Cegelis campaign.  I, too, put a campaign poster for Cegelis on my law and am hoping for the best in today's primary.

    by pascal on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 05:41:21 AM PDT

•  My fingers are crossed for Cegelis...

  I really think she deserves to win or lose on her own merits, and I resent the GD DLC getting involved - again.  We really need to destroy the  DLC.  Cegelis winning will be another nail in their coffin.

  by dkmich on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 02:38:22 AM PDT