Vice President Joe Biden will be in Chicago tonight to support Dan Seals for Congress of the Illinois 10th Congressional District, and Alexi Giannoulias for United States Senate. This is a classic one-two knockout punch since a victory by both these gentlemen obliterates the political career of Mark Kirk. Dan Seals is running to replace Mark Kirk in the United States House of Representatives. Mark Kirk is vacating his House seat because he is running for United States Senate for President Barack Obama's old seat.
Dan Seals ran for Congress against Kirk in 2006 and 2008 and lost both times by a 53-47% margin. This election Seals faces a much weaker primary opponent, Bob Dold, and is expected to win the race.
Alexi Giannoulias has had a great month of June, getting the Broadway Bank issue behind him, coupled with a prominent series of missteps and "misremembering."
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden will be both supporting Alexi Giannoulias in his bid for Obama's old Senate seat.
Dan Seals has been assembling a great grassroots organization, with hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers going door-to-door, manning the phone banks, soliciting donations. The GOTV (Get out the Vote) preparation in gearing up toward election day. Today's visit by the Vice-President at the Union League Club will go a long way toward solidifying Seals' support.
Alexi Giannoulias campaign has successfully overcome many obstacles and now has a clear field in front of it. Alexi has been talking about the issues all along, and recently proposed a $45 billion dollar infrastructure proposal, to improve the nation's roads and rail systems, financed by ending tax breaks for big oil. Alexi's populist themes have resonated with voters, including his refusal to take campaign money from special interests. Mark Kirk has not made such a commitment and has in fact taken money from special interests, according to Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times.
According to www.opensecrets.org, 15 percent of Kirk's political money comes from political action committees, compared to 4 percent for Giannoulias. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is hosting a fund-raiser for Kirk next month in Manhattan.
In addition, Kirk faces challenges from the right and in a few days it will be known whether some tea party candidates get into the race. The right has been critical of Kirk for many reasons, the main one being he isn't "conservative" enough. And Kirk has refused to appear with Sarah Palin, which also offended the right.
Dan Seals is on his way to the House of Representatives, but only with your help. Click here to donate to Dan Seals. He has already received $1,686,433 through Act Blue.
And of course, I have been asking for donations for Alexi for many months and you have been generous. I have always felt it is better to get $1 from a million donors than $1 million dollars from one donor. In that spirit, give all you can. Click here to donate to Alexi. Or donate through Act Blue.
Let's send Mark Kirk into political retirement. Happy retirement Mark. Maybe you can go into teaching. For real this time.
Chicago City Hall Examiner and The Chicago Grassroots Political Examiner. John is the author of a book published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon.
Writer's note: Alexi Giannoulias needs your help. Please read the diary and help me get a recommended diary so we can raise some serious money for our friend, Alexi Giannoulias. Donate today directly to the campaign here, or donate on Act Blue here.