* A deluge coming? Maybe…
Added campaign cash could be flowing into contested area congressional primaries in a matter of days, thanks to Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Illinois political observers predicted.
“I would imagine, based on the ruling today, you may see some corporate play within a week and a half,” said state Rep. Jim Durkin, a Westchester Republican, and a former candidate for U.S. Senate. “Clearly this is going to have a major impact on midterm elections next November. I can’t even fathom how much money is going to go into these elections.”
I wrote “maybe” because, at least with the unions, they’re so committed right now to funding the Democratic governor’s race that they won’t have the cash to get too involved with federal races. As for corporations, well, that could be a different story, although many companies are having tough times these days. Things will change by the fall campaign, however.
But it doesn’t appear that there will be any impact on Illinois’ state races…
The court’s ruling is predicted to similarly end corporate and union restrictions in 24 states. However, Illinois has no existing restrictions. Limits on such spending also were not part of a campaign finance overhaul that legislative Democrats and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn approved last year.
Those laws, which begin with the 2012 campaign season, for the first time here limit how much individuals and businesses can give to candidates, but don’t restrict how much a company or union can spend on its own to support candidates.
Alexi Giannoulias on the ruling via press release…
“I profoundly disagree with today’s Supreme Court ruling. The very corporate special interests that got us into this economic mess should be given less power to influence elections, not more. I am proud to be the first U.S. Senate candidate in Illinois history to refuse money from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists because I believe that to get our economy back on track and create the next generation of good-paying jobs, we have to break the grip of corporate interests in Washington.
“My likely Republican opponent Mark Kirk doesn’t believe there is a problem. In his decade in Washington, he has taken more corporate PAC money than just about any other politician. He then voted their way on one reckless Bush economic policy after another. That is why he refused to disclose how he would have voted on the confirmation of Justice Sotomayor and that’s why he still won’t speak about it even today. He cannot be trusted to be an advocate for working families or the middle class.”
Mark Kirk responds to Giannoulias…
“According to state and federal records, Alexi Giannoulias took $504,700 from corporate and union Political Action Committeesas state treasurer and already accepted another $63,500 from special interest, business and union PACs in his bid for Senate,” Kirk spokesman Eric Elk said. “In the wake of Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris, Illinois voters deserve better.”
* Related…
* Illinois Dems on Supreme Court Corporate Spending Decision
* Kirk, Giannoulias trade barbs over fundraising ruling
* Illinois Dem. Senate Debate Shaped by Massachusetts
* Scott Brown makes rounds in Senate: Moments before Brown walked into McCain’s second floor Russell office, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) — the GOP front-runner for President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat — came through the crowd of reporters booming, “Illinois is next!” and entered the Arizona senator’s reception room.
* Congressman Mark Kirk Joins Senator John McCain in Washington to Welcome Senator-Elect Scott Brown
* Poll: Blunt leading Carnahan as Demo candidates sink: In Illinois, Sabato said, Democrats would have had a better chance in November had state Attorney General Lisa Madigan chosen to run. As for the GOP’s likely candidate, Rep. Mark Kirk, “He’s the perfect profile of a Republican who can win in a good year,” Sabato said.
* GOP victory in Massachusetts: Will it matter here?
* Phil Krone Says Wins by David Hoffman, Dan Hynes and Toni Preckwinkle Can Blunt “Scott Brown Affect” in Illinois
* 3 Dems debate on who’s the best ‘outsider’ to beat Kirk
* Democrat Senate hopefuls visit southern Illinois
* Gay Senate candidate denied participation in WTTW debate
