Team America's 10th District Blog

For some reason I'm not as pessimistic about the f...

2009-12-18T11:43:29.247-06:00

For some reason I'm not as pessimistic about the future of the 10th Congressional District as many posters are around here. Perhaps because I have interacted with the candidates on many occasions, from having them appear at a regular Moraine Township Meetings, to the debate our Township held in November with them, and seeing them in action in West Deerfield Township, Shields and Waukegan forums and debates, and at various fundraisers and meet and greets.

Before Cadigan dropped out, I would assure nervous Republican voters that any one of the top four candidates would do us proud in that race. Since Friedman jumped in, and Cadigan now has dropped out out, I guess I can still say this.

Coulson, Dold, Friedman and Green (in alphabetical order) bring different talents and perspectives to the campaign, but they are all extremely sharp and intelligent individuals. If you want to continue the legacy of "thoughful" representation, they would all fit the bill in varying degrees.

All four of them would out debate Hamos or Seals. They are sharper on their feet than either one of the top two Democrats.

Who is the most electable of the bunch? Who can raise money to get his/her message out? Who can everyone rally behind after the primary? Who will excite enough voters to win? Who will draw from independents and disappointed Democrats?

We should be focusing more on those questions right about now.

On the Democratic side I see a race to the far left by their top two candidates, which outside of my township and perhaps Waukegan/North Chicago, isn't going to register very well in the rest of the district.

So cheer up Republicans. The national Democrats are our best allies these days. And we are truly blessed to have strong candidates in our District that will keep it in the "R" column for the next few years.

Louis G. Atsaves

It is more than tv commericals, it is that Arie ha...

2009-12-18T11:12:03.288-06:00

It is more than tv commericals, it is that Arie has no organization combined with not enough money for tv or other outreach or experience. You can run a personality campaign in a state rep race because the candidate can talk to bunches of voters. The 10th is just too big for Arie to be competitive in. Running for Congress without money is like talking to a convention hall without a PA system or even a megaphone. He should have run a smaller race which is more like talking to a big house full of people--if you get the analogy.

For example, he had a $25 fundraiser last night at Flatlanders in Linconshire. Low numbers, they didn't think to rent the backroom, so there was obvious confusion in the main bar area. It was VERY JV.

One can't just wake up one day and be a doctor, it takes a lot of planning and preparation. Arie woke up one day very late in this race and thought he could be Congressman, I just don't think it works that way in this District.

Hello, I just moved to this district 6 months ago ...

2009-12-18T10:44:54.273-06:00

Hello, I just moved to this district 6 months ago and I am a republican political junkie. I have been looking at all the candidates websites, caught a couple forums etc. and can't figure this race out. The conventional wisdom on this blog seems to be that Friedman (who was an idiot for getting into the race late) will get swamped by media campaigns of dold/coulson/green. I don't want to hear a partisan screed but is that true--do primary voters here see some commercial on fox news and stagger to the polling place without doing any research. I ask this because it seemed to me (don't hate on me) that he has the most electable personality. thanks for any light that you can shed on this.

I am not buying Coulson's electability argument sh...

2009-12-18T07:31:57.213-06:00

I am not buying Coulson's electability argument she tried to sell me. I am worried that she will not shore up the base. Kirk was able to do this with a moderate record because he is military and uber knowledgable on foreign affairs--plus he is likable, good on his feet and an excellent speaker. Coulson, I fear, is even more left than Kirk, is a horrific public speaker and does not have the military angle that Kirk does.

"I know Mark Kirk, Mark Kirk is a friend of mine, and Ms. Coulson, you are no Mark Kirk"

Sarcasm aside, I agree that Friedman does not win ...

2009-12-18T07:29:50.352-06:00

Sarcasm aside, I agree that Friedman does not win this without money. I also think Coulson or Dold are such flawed candidates that we defintely lose this seat - pro ably for a generation.
What a mess. Another example of the self-dissolution mode of the Illinois republican party. Its not the people moving left, it's the right basically disappearing from the scene through incompetence.

It's a 2 candidate race between coulson and dold a...

2009-12-17T22:10:21.563-06:00

It's a 2 candidate race between coulson and dold at this point. Sorry arie, this is a race for congress not crains 40 under 40. Money and organization matters. I think the base of the party is a lot more conservative today than it was 10 years ago which might give dold the edge. Given that the issue is shaping up to be spending the business thing might work for him in contrast to coulson who is a system candidate and will have trouble making that argument come january as a career politician.

Dold has the better shot at winning the primary. I think beth has the better shot at wining the general.

I struggle to see how dold will do better than mark in a general, seeing as how mark had 10 years of pulling out all the stops and raised 5 million last time. Dold will have 9 months to raise money and will be lucky to get 1.5 million. Mark also had good will in the jewish community. Dold's right to life endorsement will be a deal killer.

This was a poor recruiting effort by pat brady.

FOKLAEAS

Porter hasn't not yet endorsed her, at least not y...

2009-12-17T20:47:21.257-06:00

Porter hasn't not yet endorsed her, at least not yet. Any I think it is telling that her endorsements are all politicians, almost all of whom do not live in the District. I'm not sure the good folks of Arlington Heights are really looking for Springfield insiders for guidance on how to vote.

If only he had the slightest chance of winning a g...

2009-12-17T20:47:02.607-06:00

If only he had the slightest chance of winning a general election this would be money well spent. But as it is . . . Dold's advantage in public speaking is only when he doesn't do it.

Good ad. Good intro for the candidate. Positive ...

2009-12-17T15:27:41.653-06:00

Good ad. Good intro for the candidate. Positive message. Something to build on with future messages.

Dold has a major advantage in public speaking and he comes across naturally while speaking.

Louis G. Atsaves

What two people running for office have not gotten...

2009-12-17T15:24:22.602-06:00

What two people running for office have not gotten all crazy as the election nears? Coulson & Kirk. Folks they are seasoned veterans for a reason. There is no worry, there is no response to the attacks, there is no hysteria. The wannabe’s are huffing and puffing and the veterans are building up to the big push. Any huge dollar amount invested before Dec. 27th at the earliest is a waste. Nobody outside of the blogosphere is paying real attention until after the holidays. Campaign’s run by folks that truly know what they are doing will pounce on these wannabe’s in do time.

Hebda still has her work cut out for her. Sugrue ...

2009-12-17T14:46:02.350-06:00

Hebda still has her work cut out for her. Sugrue has been building an organization now for nearly two years, so I would assume he has a significant advantage in terms of grassroots.

However, if he squandered that time and did not build a fundraising base or grassroots base, than it is time for a different candidate.

But it seems clear Dems were much more worried about Hebda winning the primary than anyone else.

This is not an election cycle where elected offici...

2009-12-17T13:56:06.159-06:00

This is not an election cycle where elected official are popular. Do you really think that voters are going to be looking for guidance from the DC politicians turned lobbyists and Springfield politicians who have ruined our state and country? Coulson should do some polling, because she is a bit out of touch with the mood of the electorate.

The part with the swings makes me dizzy. It's pret...

2009-12-17T13:55:04.014-06:00

The part with the swings makes me dizzy. It's pretty mediocre and uninspiring but I voted for him in my Township and I'm still voting for Dold.

Coulson will lose because her team is slow and rea...

2009-12-17T13:49:18.670-06:00

Coulson will lose because her team is slow and reactive. They didn't even send our a press release for getting the most votes in the Libertyville and Northfield townships endorsement sessions -- Facebook only, real JV. Bob is out working her camp, plain & simple. Nice ad Bob and Kelly!

I agree with The Hill article, this has the feel o...

2009-12-17T13:45:29.424-06:00

I agree with The Hill article, this has the feel of a news cast. Also, trying to throw too much into a 30 second spot. I hope the second ad is better. Come on Kelly/Felipe!! Im pullin' for ya!!

no one watches news during the holidays and on the...

2009-12-17T13:36:34.904-06:00

no one watches news during the holidays and on the north shore most people are away.

the ad is forgettable and junior varsity.

FOKLAEAS

This is a cookie cutter ad and is poor quality. I ...

2009-12-17T13:34:04.501-06:00

This is a cookie cutter ad and is poor quality. I am still voting for Dold, but I expected more.

You people who claim that Coulson is a "card-carry...

2009-12-17T13:27:45.288-06:00

You people who claim that Coulson is a "card-carrying Democrat" look silly: that means that Edgar, Porter, 4 GOP Congressmen, 15 GOP State Reps, the GOP Lake County Board members, etc., etc. who have endorsed her must also be Democrats; and Mike Madigan, who consistently targeted Coulson for defeat, must be the true Republican. Maybe you critics must be the actual "RINOS", not Coulson!

Not too bad. Nice contrast to the anger-mongerer ...

2009-12-17T13:21:15.394-06:00

Not too bad. Nice contrast to the anger-mongerer ad.

Arie township endorsement = 0 Arie politician endo...

2009-12-17T13:12:52.794-06:00

Arie township endorsement = 0
Arie politician endorsements = 0
Arie money = ~$0
Arie groundgame = 0
# of Arie mailers to District =0
# of Arie tv commercials = 0
Arie political experience = 0
Arie lame blogging = priceless
Arie name rec. outside his circle = 0

uh, yea.

Arie needs more time, like 2 years and no money. ...

2009-12-17T13:10:04.773-06:00

Arie needs more time, like 2 years and no money. He's got nothing. This is between Green and Coulson.

If Porter endorses Coulsen (w/ Cadigan out) this t...

2009-12-17T12:35:28.828-06:00

If Porter endorses Coulsen (w/ Cadigan out) this thing is over. Arie needs a little more time and this primary will come down to the wire. Could be very interesting...

Speaking of "tweets", Crazy4glf, any info on this ...

2009-12-17T12:20:41.009-06:00

Speaking of "tweets", Crazy4glf, any info on this Twitter account?

http://twitter.com/SarahPalinUSA/status/6718647044

Arie needs 12.5 million dollars to win on Feb 2?

2009-12-17T12:18:21.737-06:00

Arie needs 12.5 million dollars to win on Feb 2?

Anonymous 12/16 3:51pm: Would Hughes have voted F...

2009-12-17T12:07:48.821-06:00

Anonymous 12/16 3:51pm:

Would Hughes have voted FOR or AGAINST HR 2892?

Anonymous?