Thus far only one Independent Expenditure (IE) connected with anti Catalina Lauf robocalls, but another $200K IE added against Jim Oberweis
This morning, Catalina Lauf sent a 3-part tweet, which are transcribed below:
“Thank you to my Establishment opponents Ted Gradel, Sue Rezin and Jim Oberweis for launching thousands against me in classless, last minute attack robo-calls. We’re seeing hundreds from our district going to my website and signing up to join our movement!
“Not to mention within the last 24 hours we received unprecedented financial contributions in a single day. As a candidate, your desperate attacks are showing the people exactly the type of people you are through the slanderous campaigns you’re running.
“I hope when this is all over, this Primary becomes an example of the desperate need for unity in our Party in a State like IL. Our enemy is not each other, it is the growing rise of a socialist movement that has the ability to damage our Country. #OurFutureOurFight“
Catalina Lauf, via Twitter 3/14/20
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Lauf’s main political consultant, Kristin Davison of Axiom Strategies tweeted the following:
“Classless but also weak as [expletive, deleted]. I get these teams underestimated Catalina Lauf & now throwing mud at the wall, but jeeze.
“Seen better in a high school class president’s race.”
Kristin Davison, via Twitter, 3/14/20
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A couple of blog commenters, both in comments and via email, reported about the robocalls, but were unclear who paid for them.
But, yet another New Prosperity Foundation dark money Independent Expenditure (IE) posted today with the FEC, and the IE is $14,500 to Victory Calls, LLC out of Grand Rapids, MI. The IE is solely in opposition to Lauf.
The audio of the New Prosperity Foundation funded robocall is below, and starts about 3 seconds into the recording:
An additional IE from the Illinois Conservatives PAC was posted to the FEC. The additional $200,000 is in addition to the $710,100 posted last week, bringing the amount of media for TV and radio commercials to $910,100 in opposition to Jim Oberweis from this dark money PAC.
The new totals in post February 26 campaign finances is updated for Lauf and Oberweis under IE opposition:
Finally, McHenry County Blog did receive an audio recording of a robocall in opposition to Lauf, and if it can be posted for listening, it will be in an update to the article.
McHenry County Blog did confirm with a source close to the Rezin campaign says Rezin for Congress is not involved with using robocalls against Lauf.
Attempts to confirm the same from Jim Oberweis’ campaign has thus far been unsuccessful.
Three more days to go until primary day.
I find it quite funny the same PAC who is funding all of this ..supported Bruce Rauner.
Ted’s Consultant is Chip Englander who was on Rauner’s team and Ted’s campaign guy is also from Rauner’s team.
Not to mention, Doug Ducey who Ted was recently endorsed by, didn’t support Trump.
If anyone is the Rauner candidate it’s Gradel.
None of this matters though, even Marter will beat Gradel
hilarious that you don’t think Lauf is doing anything Negative
Jokeberweis, I didn’t say that Lauf hadn’t done anything negative, just haven’t seen anything in a mailing or in a TV commercial (Lauf has none) that is something negative that is going to stick with voters.
I’ve heard her at debates railing against “career politicians”, and she points to Jim Oberweis, Sue Rezin and James Marter in that description.
She comes to the line on ageism when she emphasizes electing someone “younger”, and while with Oberweis, to a point that can be seen as an issue, all the remaining candidates except Oberweis and Jerry Evans are in their 50s (Anthony Catella turned 50 last Sunday).
Now, the dark money expenditure for Lauf will be hitting mail boxes if not on Saturday, then Monday for sure.
We’ll see how effective the dark money attack on Oberweis, Rezin and Gradel will be.
You’re in the big boys sandbox enjoy the game or grow a pair!
Actually that robo-call does bring up an interesting question?
Did you notice any Republican references on any of Catolina’s posters or literature?
Maybe she is, secretly a Democrat in a Republican wrap.
Frankly Speaking, doubtful on your closet Democrat theory.
If she had cast a ballot, other than Republican, in the 2014, 2016 or 2018 election cycles, we’d have heard about that a long time ago.
Agreed, minor question to ask someday why the word “Republican” or the logo was not on her signs, but other candidates need to answer that question, too.
Lauf worked for traitor Bruce Rauner in his re-run for Gov. against Jeanne Ives.
You’re saying she’s not a Republican now because she didn’t have an elephant on her yard signs?
What?
How clearer does she need to be.
Proud to see her interviewed by Fox News yesterday
https://www.foxnews.com/media/catalina-lauf-gop-candidate-trump-supporter
You all are just jealous she has more courage than most of you key board warriors.
Working for Rauner isn’t a reason to not elect someone.
We all take a gamble on new people who have no voting record.. that’s been the case since the beginning of elections.
I’d much rather have a young person like Lauf than a mike madigan funded puppet or someone who blinded people.
Marter has no chance
Funny how all this money is now directed at Lauf…as per usual the establishment is out of touch with the voice of the people.
Too late.
Anyone questioning her party affiliation is grasping at straws.
Sadly you are desperate now.
I received this robocall and called their number back.
I left a pro-Lauf recording shaming the organization.
Oberweis is a disgrace.
Lauf is obviously rising – she’s going to win against career politicians.
Distrusting, first, let’s be clear. “…all this money…” you’re referring to is a grand total of $23,500, from one dark money group. To my knowledge, Jim Oberweis & James Marter have bended the truth in comparison pieces against Catalina Lauf, but they did similar to the other candidates.
By contrast Oberweis has had over $1 million in dark money negative advertising against him, most of it on TV/radio.
Agreed, Marter has no chance.
To a point, working for Rauner, by itself, should not disqualify Lauf.
But pretending it didn’t happen, as Lauf has done throughout the campaign, does make me wonder what she may be hiding.
And to this date, no one who worked with Lauf at the Commerce Department or at Citizens for Rauner has come out openly saying how great a worker at Commerce/campaign Lauf was. No one.
Something to think about.
Gradel’s campaign is similar to the one run against Doug Bennett including the stupid (IMO) robocall just a few days before the election, siren and all.
Yep, a former Rauner campaign consultant getting paid big $$’s to repeat what lost last time.
We know who wins here and it’s NOT their candidates.
Gladly,it’s also not my problem!
When will Republican candidates learn to find a consultant or manager that will give them a campaign that will actually help them WIN?
The various types of primary mud slinging are entertaining but their Ill Dem counterparts will eat them alive in the general election!
Two things to think about here:
If Lauf was a political appointee you have to understand that those appointed to the Administration are legally unable to talk about people running for office due to the Hatch Act.
Steve Cortes is the closet person affiliated to Trump, thus has endorsed her.
Secondly, if there are countless Rauner rats working for other’s campaigns, One I will not name (who worked on Rauner) is affiliated with Sue Rezin via Adam Kinzinger and is the one spreading the lies about Lauf being demoted, (also a Rauner person works for Ted) why would anyone who worked for him talk positively about Lauf?
Let’s also assume the WH asked for references upon her appointment.
Do you recognize how difficult it is to get into the President’s Administration?
You think they’ll just take anyone off the street?
No.