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Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) took another step toward reelection from the 10th Congressional District Saturday when he opened his Highland Park campaign headquarters for a campaign that promises to be one of the country’s most competitive.
Before he even took his oath of office last January, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) began concentrating on the race. Last month, the DCCC officially put the district on its red to blue list as a constituency worthy of resources for the March 20 primary winner.
Dold raised a total of $1.66 million in 2011, and now has a $1.24 million war chest for the race ahead. On Saturday he began his effort to get his supporters geared up to assist his quest.
“We’ve been concentrating on fundraising up to now,” Dold said. “We want a place where our volunteers can come and be engaged. We’re reaching out to people and putting our ground game in place.”
Five months after Dold took his seat in the House of Representatives, the Illinois General Assembly placed his Kenilworth home in the 9th Congressional District along with 14-year incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston).
A few days after the new map was announced, Dold said he would run in the 10th, where the vast majority of his current constituents live.
“The district is two points more Democratic but the people of the 10th will determine their representative not the legislature,” Dold said. “I have been rated by the Congressional Quarterly as the Republican most likely to cross over (and work with the Democrats).”
Dold was referring to an article in the Congressional Quarterly that looked at the voting record of all Republicans and judged their potential support for the agenda of President Barack Obama, according to Dold spokesperson Kelley Folino.
“This district has a tradition of thoughtful, independent leadership,” Dold said. “It started with (former Rep.) John Porter (R-Wilmette), a friend and mentor, and continued with (Sen.) Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park), also a friend and mentor. Representing the people of the district is my No. 1 priority.”
More than 100 people were on hand to inspect the offices and show their support including state Rep. Sid Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove), Lake County Board President David Stolman (R-Buffalo Grove), other candidates for office, volunteers for his first campaign and new supporters.
Dold will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Deerfield management consultant Brad Schneider, Waukegan community organizer Ilya Sheyman, Long Grove business owner John Tree and Mundelein attorney Vivek Bavda.
Dold Cockroach
6:32 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The polls have Dold down 52 to 46 versus the Dem generic nominee according to Pioneer Press and 49 to 43 according to Tribune/CBS Cbannel 2. I love the new map and the inaction/obstruction of the GOP.
Jim
10:13 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Who did these polls? The same people that had Dan Seals up 13 against Dold two weeks out?
Lisa Spano
10:26 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Is there not a requirement to live in the district you seek election in?
Jim Powers
11:28 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Hi Lisa. Great question. The answer is no. It is not a requirement in Illinois for a person running for Congress to live in the district. Dan Seals did not live in the 10th district in the last election, and and John Tree does not in this coming primary.
Lisa Spano
11:35 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Hi Jim- do the other candidates running in the 10th district live in it? Seems odd that this would not be a requirement. Although, I see that in Dold's case, redistricting pushed him into the 9th district.
Jim Powers
11:55 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Yes, they do. Thanks, Lisa.
Dold Cockroach
1:16 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Jim, the biggest criteria in the Dem leading is Dold continuing to vote against Medicare. Handing out gift certificates to pay for private insurance isn't popular, it is not liked by people. They want guaranteed health care. Also he continues to vote to get rid of the EPA that protects our drinking water and air we breath. Kirk generally voted to protect the EPA as a house member. Dold has accepted a lot of money from the Koch brothers and tea bagger funds. You can look it up online as any donation over $200 is reported. The Pioneer Press poll is 23 days old and the CBS poll 18 days. Lastly, the 10th District is 3 points more Dem with the new map. Dold said 2 but with all the new Hispanic voters many feel adds another point.
Gary
9:17 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
"They want guaranteed health care."
Of course they do, everyone does.
Q: Who pays for it?
A: Our children. We enslave our children to ensure we live comfortably in our old age.
Q: What right does Washington have to promise health care to anyone?
A: None. It's un-Constitutional.
Replace the Medicare scam with personally owned HSAs, grandfather in anyone older than xx years, and end this Ponzi scheme before finish selling our children to China to pay for our foolishness.
RB
5:37 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Mr. Dold holds allegiance to Grover Norquist and not to the 10th District, regardless of where he lives. The District deserves a Representative willing to consider all decisions at the time of debate, not selling out to the Tea Party when running for election.
Louis G. Atsaves
5:51 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Who did these so-called polls "Cockroach" speaks of? Tribune/CBS2 and Pioneer Press? No evidence of them on their websites. Not even a mention. Only a Pioneer Press poll in Minneapolis, MN! "Getting rid of" Medicare and the EPA is also a gross distortion of the Dold voting record, as is "selling out" to the Tea Party which refuses to endorse him and ranks him a moderate.
Democratic extremists who distort the Dold record are common place. But it is time a few folks call them on their distortions and misrepresentations.
Chris
8:20 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
What are the Republicans who made a huge deal about Seals not living in the district saying these days? [crickets...]
Sully
3:33 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Gary, is this really what you think health insurance is all about?
"Q: Who pays for it?
A: Our children. We enslave our children to ensure we live comfortably in our old age."
Health insurance to ensure we live comfortably in our old age? Really?
Dold Cockroach
6:18 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Mary, in response, the polls can easily be found using a search engine. I used Nexis Lexis but you can use Google. Just type Google.com on your address bar. Your complaints are the same a few used when medicare came about. Nothing new. That logic is useless. Dold is a tea bagger politician. He begged not to be endorsed by them along with a fringe pro life group so people can't point it out. Dold is just another Michelle Bachman. His time is over. I love the new map. God Bless!