Alexi Giannoulias
(Chicago, IL) — December 11, 2009. Ok, we are in with Alexi Giannoulias for $500.
US Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias is making fund-raising calls today and he reached yours truly, the editor of THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER, on our mobile phone to make a pitch for his candidacy.
Giannoulias, who is making calls from his “prison cell” as he refers to it–and as most candidates refer to the fund-raising cubicles to which they chained and which are the bane of a modern candidate’s existence, is all soft sell.
He carefully and casually–as if he had nothing else to do for the afternoon–outlined his campaign’s political strengths, identifying the range and size of his endorsements, including the Illinois AFL-CIO, Citizen Action, Planned Parenthood, and, earlier today, the Illinois Sierra Club.
After listening to Giannoulias–and considering that his opponents David Hoffman, Cheryle Jackson, Jacob Meister have all gleefully promoted polls that show them losing to Giannoulias–we decided to contribute–he made no ask, we offered–to the Treasurer’s US Senate campaign. We did so because we think he has the best chance to hold on to Barack Obama‘s former senate seat.
In fact, the polling firm Rasmussen Reports–which always seems to have its finger on the scale in behalf of GOP candidates in its polls–has a new poll out today–with Giannoulias leading Republican Mark Kirk, 42% to 39%. That tells you something.
This is not rocket science, campers. Giannoulias can win.
So we are putting my money where our mouth–and blog–are at.
We are also now refusing the answer the phone for the remainder of the afternoon.
Gov. Pat Quinn
You may have missed the memo — the base has had it. We’re tired and tapped. My guess, most of us won’t turn out for Alexi. As for the rest, Kirk will chew him to bits. Don’t be surprised if it turns into the 2000 Bush/Gore election. Good luck to you!
Posted by mark | December 13, 2009, 1:36 PMMr Orsmby:
To confirm my point, a poll tonight on DailyKos:
If things keep going the way they’ve been going in our government, what do you plan to do in 2010?
Enthusiastically vote Democratic, volunteer and/or give money to Democrats’ campaigns.
33% 37 votes
Hold my nose and vote Democratic, but nothing more.
25% 28 votes
Vote third party.
20% 23 votes
Vote Republican.
1% 2 votes
Nothing. I will not vote and politics will fall off the radar screen of my life.
6% 7 votes
Undecided.
12% 14 votes
I pretty much left DailyKos over one year ago. I and others that left DailyKos — before, during, or after me — will fall into the “Vote Third Party” or “Nothing Off Radar Screen” categories. What is in this poll is the existing base that still uses DailyKos. These are what you hope are Alexi’s base recruits and voters. Believe it or not, we are beyond fete-ups. We are “MovignOn” beyond the “MovingOn” that you would like. Even moderates Dems that I know are done. Can’t manipulate us any more. We want change. Alexi isn’t it.
Posted by mark | December 14, 2009, 2:38 AMMark,
And good luck to you!.
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | December 14, 2009, 9:12 AMMark,
An unscientific poll is proof of nothing. But good try.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | December 14, 2009, 9:14 AM