In a stunning development, Rich Miller's Capitol Fax reported on Saturday that Illinois State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-40) will quit the race for the 2nd Illinois Congressional District and throw her support to the leading candidate in the race, former state rep Robin Kelly.
A top source close to Sen. Toi Hutchinson’s congressional campaign confirmed widespread rumors tonight that Hutchinson will likely drop out of the 2nd District special primary race on Sunday.
The reasons are many, including Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to point his massive super PAC right at Hutchinson while backing rival Robin Kelly.
On Friday, the Bloomberg PAC endorsed Robin Kelly on the strength of her anti-NRA stance, as Robin Kelly has an "F" rating from the NRA. The news of the Bloomberg PAC endorsement was picked up by most major news outlets, as this Illinois special election has suddenly become ground zero for the gun debate. Time magazine picked up the story. So did the Washington Post and Politico.
Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times also reported the same, also citing the onslaught of another Bloomberg's PAC ad buy of an additional $730,335.95, bringing the total spent to over two million dollars. The Bloomberg-controlled PAC, the Independence USA PAC, has been bombarding the Chicago-area airwaves with a relentless attack on former Rep. Debbie Halvorson and her "A" rating from the NRA. The new ad also targets Toi Hutchinson.
The real problem may be this news, first reported by Fox News 32's Dane Placko that Toi Hutchinson paid her mother $57,000 in campaign funds. The Chicago News City Hall Examiner reported about this yesterday. The news came on the heels of former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s guilty plea in the misuse of campaign funds.
Send John Presta an email and your story ideas at johnpresta@att.net.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, 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. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns and is currently an unpaid volunteer for the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign. Robin Kelly also has a facebook fan page.
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