NRCC Adds Bob Dold to "Young Guns" Program

As Politico reports today, IL-10 GOP candidate Bob Dold has been selected for the NRCC's "Young Guns" program:

The thickest concentration of new “Young Guns” is in Illinois, where candidates Bob Dold, in the 10th Congressional District; Adam Kinzinger, in the 11th; and Randy Hultgren, in the 14th, all made the cut.

We'll have more on this later. Busy day today.

Congressman Mark Kirk Goes on Offensive vs. Alexi Giannoulias With New TV Ads: "Risky" and "Stand"

In the wake of yesterday's mea culpa press conference by Congressman Mark Kirk over mistakes made in touting his military service record, Kirk is further seeking to change the focus of this race back to the foibles and vulnerabilities of his Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias. A set of new TV ads will begin airing on cable and broadcast TV, entitled "Risky" and "Stand."

The Kirk for Senate Campaign summarizes the ads as follows:

The first ad, “Risky,” details Giannoulias’ failed record as a banker and Treasurer, including his loans to organized crime figures, risky lending schemes that brought down Broadway Bank and losses in the Bright Start college savings fund. “Risky” also reminds voters about Giannoulias’ support for higher taxes and increased spending. The second ad, “Stand,” focuses on the candidates’ differences on BP and job-killing energy taxes.

"RISKY"



"STAND"



You can see from these ads that Team Kirk means business. However, we can all recognize that, much as Alexi was essentially forced to go up on TV several weeks ago to rehabilitate his image in the wake of the damage done to him by the failed Broadway Bank, I think it's fair to say that Kirk wasn't planning to have to shoot bullets like these until the fall. It's going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride into November, that's for sure.

Mark Kirk Addresses Tough Questions At Press Conference, Vows to Correct Mistakes and Move Forward

Congressman Mark Kirk faced down the Chicago news media today to answer what many of them felt were issues that Kirk had not yet adequately addressed concerning his military service and other accomplishments. After reading some fairly brief prepared remarks, Kirk took questions from the press for about 45 minutes.

"I’ve made mistakes when characterizing certain aspects of my accomplishments and experiences," he stated in his prepared remarks. "I apologize for my mistakes and I pledge to correct any errors. I am not perfect, and I was careless. I will do better and make sure this never happens again.

In probably his best line of the day, Kirk took a dig at his opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, and stated that "Going forward, I will present my official record of service to compare to my opponents," which drew a big round of applause and laughs at Alexi's expense, given that Alexi never served a day in the armed forces.

Kirk summed up the difference between he and Alexi in that his platform is to "tax less, spend less, create jobs, protect the environment, and clean up corruption." On the other hand, Alexi wants to "raise taxes, spend more and maintain the status quo of leadership in Illinois."

Kirk answered questions from reporters on a wide range of topics, including health care, Iran sanctions, Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings, DADT, and Afghanistan. Kirk also returned again to his statements on his military record and repeated that he was sorry for his mistakes and pledged to address any other errors, if any come up.

Kirk was asked about Q2 fundraising reports, since the second quarter closes tomorrow and reports are due days thereafter. Kirk declined to give any specific figures, noting that money is still flowing in, but that he expects the Q2 totals to be "robust."

I think Kirk has the right strategy on his military record. Stick to the facts, stick to the official record, and every time from now until November that it comes up, the comparison against Alexi's lack of credentials and accomplishment, especially in this area, will be all that we need.

Here are Kirk's prepared remarks, as released by his campaign:

Congressman Mark Kirk
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
June 29, 2010


Good morning – thank you all for coming today.

The problems our country and our state confront in the summer of 2010 are among the most difficult and urgent as any we faced in our lifetimes. This year’s election will determine whether or not we chart a new course toward restoring the confidence in the ability of our government to meet America’s challenges.

The United States is mired in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Economic growth is anemic.

Unemployment hovers around ten percent nationally and even higher in Illinois. The numbers increase when you include people who gave up hope of ever finding a job and withdrew from the workforce.

Consumer confidence remains low. Foreign competition to every sector of our economy grows stronger each day. While traditional sources of jobs and income are disappearing, we find tougher competition in new industries from countries that only a decade or two ago struggled to feed themselves.

Our government continues to overspend and pile up debt at a terrifying rate that could ultimately damage our economy with inflation, high interest rates and a weakened dollar. Generations of Americans will struggle to pay the costs of our extravagance.

Washington searches for new taxes to offset its reckless spending rather than curtail its waste. Many of the new tax increases fall disproportionately on small business employers, the primary job creators of our economy - depriving them of the means to grow and hire more people.

We need to change our ways:

The way we budget;

The way we spend;

How much and who we tax;

The way we structure and run our spending programs.

We need to change the way we regulate businesses to make sure that reckless and dishonest business practices do not destroy the savings of innocent Americans. Most importantly, we should not stick the American taxpayer with another bill for other people’s greed.

Congress needs to make it easier for well-run, honest employers to grow and competing in the global economy.

We need to plug the hole in the Gulf, clean up the mess and assess liability.

Moving forward, we should rebuild a bipartisan American energy independence policy based on domestic sources, nuclear power, and permanent incentives for wind, solar, hydro and other renewable energy.

America is fighting wars in two countries. We made great progress in Iraq. But we still face challenges to ensure the Iraqi government is capable of defending its democracy as the United States withdraws.

In Afghanistan, I support President Obama’s new strategy to prevent the return of the Taliban and al Qaeda. But great challenges remain as we work with the Afghan government, our NATO allies and Pakistan to empower a new Afghan solution that results in a country that poses no future danger to the United Stares or her allies.

Terrorists around the world remain intent on killing Americans, disrupting our economy, and forcing us to live in fear. The Government of Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, is determined to develop nuclear weapons to threaten our interests, our allies and the stability of the Middle East.

Numerous other security and economic challenges, including the European debt crisis and North Korea, are growing in number and complexity in almost every corner of the world.

To address them effectively, we need to continue rethinking, restructuring and reforming how we organize and equip our military, how we collect and analyze intelligence, how we employ our diplomacy, and how to make the most effective use of our soft power.

Over the course of the summer, I will give a series of speeches discussing these challenges in greater detail, and the policies that would most effectively master them.

But to make progress on all these fronts, we need to elect to office Americans who put the country’s needs ahead of personal or partisan interests.

We need men and women who have the experience, maturity, judgment and determination to work creatively. For a country as innovative, resourceful and industrious as America, we should join together in good faith to implement solutions to our problems. We are tired of unproductive partisan bickering and time-wasting political gamesmanship.

We need public officeholders who don’t excuse, ignore or take personal advantage of corruption. The people of Illinois have seen more than their share of political corruption.

Elected officials from both parties went to jail for violating the public trust. Corruption has been, but doesn’t have to be, part of our culture. Change is nowhere more urgent than right here, in our state.

When you’ve spent most of your adult life, as I have, in the service of the American people, you can see the daunting challenges confronting us as an opportunity to make a real difference in the future of this blessed and wonderful country. You get excited about the opportunity to use your experience to give your best service in the cause of our country’s greatness.

I am excited about that opportunity, and very grateful for it.

Now, I’ve made mistakes when characterizing certain aspects of my accomplishments and experiences. I apologize for my mistakes and I pledge to correct any errors. I am not perfect, and I was careless. I will do better and make sure this never happens again.

My service to the American people means a great deal to me, particularly my service in the U.S. military. To all my fellow veterans here today, thank you for your friendship and your strong support.

I welcome an honest debate about my vision and service to Illinois and I’m happy to compare my record in the military and in the Congress.

Going forward, I will present my official record of service to compare to my opponent’s. I will be mindful of my imperfection, remain humble, and the kind of public servant you deserve.

I will give you my clear views on the issues and plans to solve our problems. You can then make the best decision about whom to support in this election.

I place my trust in your judgment and consider it a great privilege to stand subject to it.

This election will come down to a clear choice between two people and two very different directions of where to take our country and our state.

I think my views are more in line with the voters of Illinois. I think we should tax less, spend less, create jobs, protect our environment and clean up corruption.

My opponent wants to raise taxes, spend more and maintain the status quo of the current leadership in Illinois.

In short, I think we need to send a fiscal conservative, social moderate, independent-minded servant to the Senate – and I am that candidate.

Thank you for being here today and thank you for all that you do to make this country great.

###

Giannoulias Subpoenaed for Blago Trial: First Smoke, Then Smolder, Then...

As we mentioned last week when Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias' name was first mentioned at the ongoing trial of disgraced former Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich, where there's smoke, there's fire.

Well, it's now been a couple days, and there is no fire yet, but with the news that Alexi has now been subpoenaed by the defense in the Blago case, there is going to be a lot more scrutiny over exactly what was Alexi's involvement in Blago's scheme to sell or otherwise personally profit by Blago's ability to name a replacement to then-Senator Obama's seat, if and when Obama was elected president. It appears that Alexi was more involved in trying to get Obama friend Valerie Jarrett appointed to the spot than perhaps Alexi previously wanted to let on, including brokering and then attending a meeting between SEIU president Tom Balanoff and Jarrett.

I think we've definitely gone from a wisp of smoke to a healthy smolder. We'll see just exactly what happens next, but the Kirk for Senate campaign has a lot of questions it hopes reporters start asking about just how deep Alexi was in the middle of all of this.

By the way, Team Alexi and his supporters in the media are already trying to spin this as Alexi being a 'victim' of the crazy former guv, who is trying to ensnare everyone on the planet as a bit player in his trial. But it seems pretty clear from what we're learning now that Alexi is the one who reached out to Blago, so this line of how 'Alexi and Blago were never close' kind of misses the point as far as I can see. Blago had the power to make a hugely important U.S. Senate appointment, and Alexi chose to involve himself in Blago's decision -- whether on his own initiative or Obama's, it doesn't really matter. The current issue, is how deep Alexi's involvement went, and if Alexi has been entirely candid about the extent of his involvement in this mess up to now, all of which now remains to be seen.

IMHO, Alexi's playing a dangerous game by being coy with the media. They just spent the last month beating up on Congressman Kirk, and the fickle pendulum of the MSM would like nothing better than to swing back so that all the reporters can prove they are equal-opportunity-beater-uppers. Woe be to Alexi if the media decides that he's been less than forthcoming on any of the details of this intriguing development...

From the Kirk for Senate campaign:

Kirk Campaign Statement Regarding Giannoulias Subpoena in Blagojevich Corruption Trial

Statement by Kirk Spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski:

“Today's news developments further emphasize the troubling pattern that has emerged concerning Alexi Giannoulias. As state treasurer, Giannoulias lost more than $70 million in Bright Start college savings funds and his family's bank cost the FDIC nearly $400 million in losses. Now we've learned Giannoulias' name has come up on federal wire taps talking about the Illinois Senate seat and he has been subpoenaed in former and disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich's public corruption trial. This revelation raises additional questions about Alexi Giannoulias that he needs to answer.”

Key Questions for Alexi Giannoulias

-->1. When did Alexi Giannoulias receive his subpoena notice?

-->2. What did Alexi hear and say during the meeting he brokered between Tom Balanoff and Valerie Jarrett?

-->3. Alexi Giannoulias claims Tom Balanoff “reached out to me to get in touch with Valerie; he did not know how to get ahold of her.” Why would Tom Balanoff need Alexi Giannoulias to reach Valerie Jarrett if Balanoff had a direct line to the President-elect?

-->4. What day did Tom Balanoff call Alexi Giannoulias?

-->5. What day did Alexi Giannoulias, Tom Balanoff and Valerie Jarrett hold a meeting?

-->6. Does Tom Balanoff agree with Alexi Giannoulias’ version of events?

-->7. Why did Alexi Giannoulias previously claim that the Blagojevich staff reached out to him regarding his possible appointment to the U.S. Senate seat when in fact he had called John Harris and brokered a meeting between Tom Balanoff and Valerie Jarrett?

-->8. Why did Alexi Giannoulias make no mention of his subpoena or his meeting with Balanoff when reporters first asked him about a wiretap conversation in which Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris tells Rod Blagojevich that Giannoulias had called?

A Timeline of Inconsistencies

November 7, 2008: A federal wiretap records the following conversation between Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris – this is never brought to public light until the Blagojevich trial last week:

Harris: “So, Alexi called me. Wants to meet with me a few minutes this afternoon. He says it's...I said what's it about? He says the seat but not for me, for someone else.” (Source: Session 374, 10:46 AM)

December 4, 2008: Alexi Giannoulias tells the Chicago Tribune that Rod Blagojevich’s staff “reached out” to him about the Senate seat.

“Giannoulias also said that staff within Blagojevich's office have "reached out" to him as a possible candidate to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, though a Blagojevich spokesman said the governor has not contacted Giannoulias directly.” (Chicago Tribune, “Giannoulias mulls governor run, Senate seat,” 12/4/2008)

December 9, 2008: Blagojevich and Harris are arrested:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a "staggering" level of corruption involving pay-to-play politics in Illinois' top office. (Chicago Tribune, “Blagojevich arrested on federal charges,” 12/9/2008)

December 12, 2008: Alexi Giannoulias claims he hadn’t thought about the Senate seat until after Rod Blagojevich was arrested:

"I haven't really thought about it to be honest with you," he said during an appearance at Aurora University. "I've been focused on trying to do my job and trying to rebuild the public's trust in us as elected officials.“ (Daily Herald, “Giannoulias 'too busy' to think about vacant Senate seat,” 12/12/2008)

December 18, 2008: Alexi Giannoulias avoids CNBC question about being contacted by Blagojevich and says he was never in serious contention for the Senate seat:

Host: Is it true, there are reports out there that his office reached out to your office to see if you’d be interested in Obama’s Seante seat. They didn’t hit you up to see what you’d be willing to give for that?

Alexi: I don’t think I was ever seriously in contention for that seat.

(Source: CNBC Interview, 12/18/2008)

March 3, 2009: Alexi Giannoulias’ spokesman claims Giannoulias began looking at the Senate seat following Rod Blagojevich’s arrest:

“Giannoulias’ spokesman Scott Burnham said Giannoulias was interested in the seat when it became vacant and began to look at it more closely following the arrest of Rod Blagojevich in December.” (Daily Herald, “Ill. treasurer exploring run for U.S. Senate,” 3/3/2009)

June 24, 2010: Giannoulias campaign spokesperson matter-of-factly admits for the first time that Giannoulias called John Harris to advocate for Valerie Jarrett:

"Alexi did not call Harris at the behest of President Obama," she said. "Alexi thinks very highly of Valerie Jarrett, and it was well known that he thought she would make a terrific senator. So naturally, he was an advocate for her appointment." (Washington Post, The Fix, 6/24/2010)

June 24, 2010: The Giannoulias campaign refuses to tell reporters whether Alexi Giannoulias made any other calls or contacts with the Blagojevich team regarding the U.S. Senate seat:

The campaign is bit hazy about whether other calls were made, saying only that, "It was no secret he thought highly of Valerie and talked to people about it." (Crain’s Chicago Business, 6/24/2010)

June 27, 2010: Alexi Giannoulias reveals for the first time that he brokered a meeting between SEIU Illinois President Tom Balanoff and Valerie Jarrett to discuss the Senate seat:

"Tom Balanoff reached out to me to get in touch with Valerie because he didn't know how to get a hold of her, and I put the two of them together," Giannoulias said. He said he also attended an informal meeting between Jarrett and Balanoff sometime after Obama's election but "didn't really participate in it." (Associated Press, 6/27/2010)

After the election, Giannoulias told me he "reached out to Harris to give him my thoughts and at a certain point, Tom Balanoff reached out to me to get in touch with Valerie; he did not know how to get ahold of her. I put the two together in the meeting." (Chicago Sun-Times, 6/27/2010)


###

Where There's Smoke, There's Fire: Giannoulias Called Blago Regarding Obama Senate Seat

We are learning this morning in the corruption trial of former IL Governor Rod Blagojevich that Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias called Blago to discuss the appointment of a replacement to the U.S. Senate seat that was held by Barack Obama.

Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post said this:

At the end of a Chicago Sun-Times blog post on the trial is a recorded exchange between former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris and the governor, in which Harris passes along a note from Giannoulias. The state treasurer, according to Harris, had called about the Senate seat President-elect Obama was set to vacate.

"So Alexi called me. He wanted to have a discussion about the Senate seat," Harris is heard telling Blagojevich. "I imagine he'll tell me ... Barack wants Valerie (Jarrett)."

Blagojevich responds, according to the Sun-Times: "Listen to me, don't see him today. Just ... let's run the clock now."

According to Alexi's camp, the call was not made at the behest of Obama.

But the call was made. So now we have Alexi meddling in the U.S. Senate appointment with a disgraced former governor who tried to sell the seat.

The seat Alexi is now running for. Rich at Capitol Fax Blog thinks this is no big deal.

I think as far as we're concerned here, we'll see how this develops before making that pronouncement.

More on the Giannoulias Campaign Event Gone Wrong

I'm pressed for time this morning, so as a quick follow-up to our previous story on this issue, I am going to put up a press release I just got from the Kirk Campaign and we'll discuss this more later:

Kirk Campaign Expresses Serious Concern over Report that Giannoulias Event Host Intimidated Young Woman after Fundraiser

Giannoulias should identify all those involved, terminate affiliation with the campaign and apologize to the people of Illinois

Northbrook, Ill. – The Kirk for Senate campaign today expressed serious concern regarding a report in Politico that a campaign fundraiser for Alexi Giannoulias' Senate campaign intimidated a young woman in Washington, D.C. following a campaign fundraiser last week.

The report follows a video that surfaced on the Web last week showing Giannoulias campaign affiliates manhandling a videographer at a Giannoulias DC fundraiser.

“The news that Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign event host intimidated a young woman at her home in Washington following the campaign’s DC fundraiser raises serious concerns with regard to the integrity of the Giannoulias campaign and its associates,” Kirk spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski said. “We call on Alexi Giannoulias to immediately apologize for his campaign affiliates' intimidation tactics, publicly identify all those involved and terminate all association with them.”

###

VP Biden Drones On at Seals Fundraiser; Alexi Protested for Bright Start Failures

VP Joe "Say it ain't so" Biden was in town yesterday for a pair of Democratic fundraisers, first for 10th Congressional Congressman Dan Seals, and another for U.S. Senate candidate and current State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

According to the media reports, Biden droned on for 40 minutes at the Seals event. He sounded a little defensive... perhaps even desperate... that the Dems seem to have lost momentum and some faith going into the November midterm elections:

Speaking for nearly 40 minutes before about 200 supporters at the Seals event, Biden said he might have "gone on so long" because "I'm so frustrated that Democrats are getting a little down in the mouth, because there's no reason to."

Biden also acknowledged that now is the time in which Democrats are "most vulnerable," referring, I assume to the midterm elections, in which the president's party traditionally loses seats.

Biden kept it a little shorter for Alexi. He's a "stand-up candidate," according to Biden. Since Biden flew in and out, he probably missed the Alexi protesters outside the Metropolitan Planning Council's annual luncheon complaining about the millions of dollars in college savings that Treasurer Giannoulias lost on his watch:
























At the same luncheon where Alexi appeared, Congressman Mark Kirk also spoke, and tacitly acknowledged his recent issues with his military record, but also took a poke at Alexi's banking problems with his family's failed (not sold) Broadway Bank:

But Kirk seemed to hint at the controversy during his address when he recited a list of facts about the tough economy and other challenges facing the nation.

"Some may wonder if I've exaggerated the last points," Kirk said.

He also was quick to take a jab at Giannoulias, who has proposed using money to come from the oil industry to modernize the nation's infrastructure, including roads and rail systems, by setting up a special fund or bank.

"At least the FDIC wouldn't close that bank," Kirk cracked to groans and some chuckles from the audience.

Unfortunately, the media seems to have focused more on Kirk's exit from the event, which many of the MSM deemed a bit hasty. Some pundits in Chicago indeed had more than a little fun with describing Kirk's departure. But, hey, Kirk's an easy target right now for those who make their living throwing jabs at politicians.

According to the AP, "Kirk spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said in an e-mail that he was there for the event and had other items on his schedule."

My final thought on all of this is that Seals wasn't even important enough to have any protesters show up at his event. You first need to take a stand before anyone can criticize you for your position on the issues, and you need to take some actions before anyone can criticize them.

Of course, seeing Alexi's track record, maybe Seals is on to something.