I think if I were a reporter I would go beyond simply repeating the press release from a campaign. I see no mention of the vast majority of township Democratic organizations, labor unions, teacher groups, etc., that have endorsed Sheyman. Nor do i see any insight about the timing of the poll being immediately after a hard 4-week direct mail push by Schneider and just at the start of the Sheyman campaign's media efforts. I'd like to see more thoughtful reporting here.

Hi NS Mom. Thanks for your comment. This is not a news story, but a blog or opinion column coming directly from Brad Schneider. That's what Local Voices is. There is also one on here from Robert Dold. Same idea. It's coming directly from him. Your comments are most welcome, and we hope the blogger responds.

So, basically, 50% of likely primary voters are still undecided after being flooded with Schneider mailers. I personally received more than 10, probably around 12, but I lost count, in just the past few weeks. Bad, but predictable, news for Sheyman. However, Schneider can't get over 50% of potentially sympathetic votes after a huge unmatched ad campaign. What will happen vs. Dold? Might be time for district Democrats to consider a new option.

nsmom, I must respectfully disagree with the statements that you have presented. The facts are crystal clear:

Brad Schneider has been endorsed by the Maine Township Democrats and recently by the Vernon Township Democrats, which has over 40 precincts and 41,000 voters. He has more local and grassroots endorsements than any other candidate, including State Senators Susan Garrett and Jeff Schoenberg, Former State Rep. Julie Hamos, and over 4 local unions. His local endorsements also include a dozen mayors, county board members, leaders in the Democratic Party in the 10th District, and local leaders.

Schneider has more national endorsements than any candidate, including minority Whip Steny Hoyer, former Congresswomen Melissa Bean, and the New Democrat Coalition (whose members include Allyson Schwartz, Joseph Crowley, Gabby Giffords, and Jared Polis).

Your claim that would make it seem as though Sheyman has not been campaigning hard, but in fact all candidates in the race, Vivek Bavda, Brad Schneider, Ilya Sheyman, and John Tree have been campaigning extremely hard for the democratic nomination. It is clear that local leaders and more importantly, the voters, overwhelmingly support Brad Schneider and know that he is the only progressive Democratic candidate who can defeat Rep. Dold in November.

Campaigning and buying media are 2 very different things, and Schneider is the only one who has been spending on communications (and heavily) over the last several weeks. See Ms. Gill's remarks above. You can't claim a big lead when you're the only one who's advertised so far and 51% remain undecided.

Do you folks REALLY want to vote for anyone endorsed by a union?

@Abigail
Yes. For two reasons. I prefer leather shoes to cement and I can't swim.

Abigail, that says all we need to know about who the real progressives are supporting and which candidate is the progressive. 79% of Democratic primary voters want to vote for a progressive.

John Tree is a real progressive, has significant life and work experience and was not a Republican campaign donor. He supports unions too.

Only if you're a conservative, Abigail.

Well, yes, I am a conservative , but I still don't understand why any VOTER--either conservative or liberal--would support a candidate who wants to be endorsed by a union. Unions long ago served their purpose to protect workers--now all they do is support the high-paying jobs of union leadership. They also take money from members and use that money to support only Democrat candidates, when maybe the a lot of the union members aren't Democrats. So, what I am saying is that unions use the dues paid to them to support candidates that some members won't be voting for. Is that proper use of union dues?

Schneider asks you to read way to much into this poll. For starters, we don't even know where the households are in the district. Then, it does show 50%+ undecided. The only thing this poll shows that sending 12 mailers gets you name recognition. He may very well win the primary on name recognition that the band of door knockers on Sheyman's campaign cannot muster, but he will lose to Bob Dold because Dold is the real Republican and Schneider is the Democrat trying to sell Republicans on the notion that he's a sort-of Republican. That was Seals' last campaign and it didn't work when Dold was less known. It's a shame Tree got in late, but if people would consider him, he's a far better candidate than either Schneider or Sheyman because he's a strong Democrat running as a Democrat and running on real record of service.

Ha ha. What about a pole dancer? In any event I see poll, not pole, but I am famous for letting my iPhone "correct" me. In any event, I'm been looking for research on the effectiveness of various campaign techniques. They still say door to door works best, but I'm not so sure that it does not depend on who is going door to door. When the candidate himself or herself goes, I think that works best. Next best would be neighbors talking to neighbors when they actually know each other. I'm not so sure that sending around a bunch of kids works well with older voters. When I was in Iowa for Kerry, the orange jacket/hat wearing Deaniacs annoyed the voters, they told us so when we subsequently came calling, both older and dressed professionally.

That's easy, because it's in the media more, particularly not during the summer Olympics. Goes to show, advertising works.

Brad, there is a gentleman here in the coffee shop reading over my shoulder. He is attempting to impart advice to you as I type. He says ``Tell that (fellow) Schneider not to get cocky. The Cubs had a big lead in the 10th once and it vanished just like -- that.``

Alex, your condescending comments about Ilya are beneath this campaign. While many of us worked our butts off for the last 3 elections to elect a democratic congressman, Schneider was raising and contributing to Kirk. I believe in the quality of years/experience rather than the quantity. Ilya has spent the last 10 years working on progressive causes while Brad refused to support an excellent candidate who was even strong on his singular interest in Israel. Democratic voters who know this react very strongly.

We Ali know that the Schneider campaign has polled before and didnt report the results, so it's clear they waited to get the best results possible and this timing - just after his advertising and before anyone else's - was intentional.

Who cares which Democrat candidate is leading! The country is a mess: the Democrats have had their way in Washington, DC, for almost four years. (Democrat Senate leader Reid has not allowed a vote on bills from the new Republican House). We now have the largest debt in world history for your grandchildren. Unmployment surpasses 15 percent (U-6 number includes those who have given up looking). It's time to clean house of all Democrats, as the USA approaches Greece. "Takers" exceed "makers" as dependency on goverment payments hits record highs...

Abigail, when you say 'these people', to whom are you referring? American citizens who have the right to believe something other than what you believe?

"These people" = Democrats. Those of you who are posting on this article expounding on the virtues of those Democrat candidates who want to help themselves to more of my hard-earned money. Those who don't know how to get this economy back on track. Those who blindly follow other Democrats simply because they aren't Republicans.

Got it there, Sully?

So anyone who disagrees with Abigail shouldn't have the right to vote, but those who want to control the love lives, sex lives, and religious freedom of others while taking benefits from the poor and giving tax breaks to the rich should control everything? Not the American dream in which most of us believe, not what the founders conceived, and not how thinking, caring adults want to live.

Nor is your version of what this country would look like under republican domination. So democrats should not have the right to vote? Interesting, Abigail. Only "the right kind of people", I suppose. Well, that use to be White Anglo-Saxon Protestant males who owned land. So I guess you fit right in with today's republican party. Let's set the country back a couple of hundred years and everything will be just fine.

Nightcrawler, you are so right. And fortunately extreme conservatives skew very old and are slowly disappearing. Republicans are legitimately frightened of the changing face of America, where most are not white, Christian, and heterosexual or closeted, and where voters support the rights and freedoms of all.

And Abby, if you are unaware of what today's republicans are proposing regarding people's personal lives, their individual rights, and the role that religion should play, I'd strongly recommend you pay more attention.

Funny, Abigail, that's exactly what I've thought about your posts. Actually, more ignorant than delusional. You may want to read some real news or watch something other than Fox News. I assume you've missed all the research showing that Fox viewers are the most ill-informed of news consumers and in fact know less about what's going on than people who watch no news at all.

Delusional about what Abigail? Did I produce the link out of thin air? Has Santorum and other republicans not made religion an issue in this year's election? Please, be specific.

That's okay. I can wait.

Those who want the end to unions are saying they want the beginning of child labor, 12-14 hour days, on weekends too (because corporations do not really care if anyone can go to church or not), for low pay, in dangerous conditions. My grandmother lost her first and middle finger on her left hand (and she was left-handed) to a machine in a shoe factory in the 1920s. The union that subsequently took the shop was very important to her and she was a member of the united garment workers for years thereafter. Look for the Union Label! Union YES!

Wow.
THIS conversation was hi-jacked.
Abigail, Ellie, why don’t you ladies go back to your Fox News shows so you can figure out which of the remaining clowns –er, candidates—in the Republican presidential circus—er, race—you’ll be voting for in the primary.

While the comments seems to focus on the eastern part of the district, what is clear is that the candidates have not worked the western part of the district because I hear time and time again. What do you mean I can't vote against Joe Walsh. Any candidate who thinks they can win with east district support will have bloodshot and puffy eyes come the morning of 3/21/12.

I get DMAC. People think they're in the 8th, but they aren't anymore. They're in the 10th. DMAC is concluding that had the IL-10 Democrats reached out into that part of the new district, these folks would know they are in the 10th. It's not a perfectly political world and many people don't answer the door or pay attention to anything, but I do get DMACs point and it's well-taken. No one is going to win IL-10 by winning Highland Park and surrounds.

Not anymore night.....grass root organizations have been busy the last ten years and it is beginning to show. Overall in Lake County we have more democrats on the ballot than ever before and primaries...WOW!....great Democratic Candidates vying for your vote. The Lake County GOP has had 175 years of organization and fund-raising in the county and it is a tough nut to crack. Lots of big bright signs are populating the streets, but notice how many aren't on personal property. When is the last time you stood next to a sign in a polling place? People vote, signs don't; granted some voters do color the oval on familiarity. Yet in the primary it is the base that comes out, and those candidates who made a face to face impression will be the candidates who get the tally.

Alex, there have been several other 25 year old congressman, and a lot of them 26-30. Joe Biden went to Congress at 28. So intentional or not, calling him a "kid" is condescending. And obnoxious. 15 year olds are not in 8th grade, they are sophomores in high school, and I know many teens who are or have been politically active, so save your jokes. He was a junior when 9/11 occurred. So who has the math issue here? I haven't heard one Democrat who wasn't seriously disturbed by Schneider's pattern of contributions, not to mention his actual fundraising for Kirk. I don't know what you were doing the last several election cycles, but most of us were working hard to elect Dan Seals. We did not appreciate Democrats who were fighting us on bogus beliefs about Kirk being better on Israel.

If you want to debate the polling, you are in a weak position. Campaigns nearly always release their actual poll questions, and Brad's did not. That is suspect. But the biggest issue with his poll is the timing. You only poll at the end of a surge of advertising and before your opponents advertising for one reason - to capture a moment in time when your popularity is highest vs. your competition. And that is for PR purposes only, not to gain any learning.

Schneider may win this, but if he does it'll be because Ilya's campaign didn't reach enough voters. To meet him or hear about him (esp. vs. the others) is to become a supporter in nearly all cases.

This is Fan of King Louis Astaves the Ellen Slayer (FOKLAES) also once known as Fan of King Louis Astaves the Alexi Ellen and Pup Slayer (FOKLAAEPS) since retired because they lost.

1. Schneider spent the last 10 years standing between you and beating now Senator Kirk and NOW you're going to nominate him? You're going to nominate the guy who spent the last 10 years ensuring mark kirk could vote for the Iraq war, the bush tax cuts, and all sorts of other policy goodies for the right wing? You might as well just go with Team America. Oh wait team america did not also contribute to a bunch of prolife senators like schneider.

2. I am sure Paul Wellstone is up in heaven somewhere saying yeah Schneider is totally from the democratic wing of the democratic party, Schneider is a progressive just like me and howard dean.we agree on so much like supporting Mike Johanns for US Senate!

3. what's the point in having a democratic party if you nominate a REPUBLICAN for congress?

4. None of this matters anyway because with the worst economic "recovery" since the great depression, soaring gas prices, high unemployment, soaring debt, a president with broken promises on changing washington now using super pacs to compensate for depressed funding, and a jewish community that has deserted democrats you guys don't have a shot.

5. Anyone know if Hank Perrit's available for you in 2014?

6. we miss the pup. He always had great excuses for losing. Wuff Wuff!

Fan of King Louis Astaves the Ellen Slayer

to nightcrawler

Phil Torf

I'm left wondering if that is a reference to me, who exactly has been "slayed" and if I should be calling the police. Hey Patch, do you tolerate threats made on your blog?

Ellen we love you and Democat and Aaron Hussein Freeman's drum circle too much and for the record we are peaceful. The blog name refers to Louis Astaves a local operative who you used to verbally duel with. It's just shorter than saying Fan of King Louis Astaves the ellen blog comment rebuttler.

Unlike the local 10th district groups who chased mark kirk down hallways with video cameras and questioned his sexuality (how very undeerfield of you that was) I don't think anyone has ever even met you in person or frankly cares. We admire your nuttiness and ability to lose elections and strongly feel that democat would be the strongest cat-idate if it were to enter the il-10 dem primary.

Watch it buster because I do not hesitate to call the police and I never chased down Mark Kirk or anyone else anywhere.

....and I never ever discussed Kirk's sexuality. I never thought he was gay and really don't care. I just criticized his votes and stand on my comments. Feel sorry for the guy now and was working on a project to get a group of people together to buy him a puppy to help him with his recovery (or a coupon for a puppy at Save a Pet or Orphans of the Storm for when he's feeling up to it).

the name has been in use for 4 years. Many democrats and liberals have commented on that blog, even more have read it, including lots of political staffers and journalists, not one has ever raised an issue. I am sorry you're disappointed by your party's pathetic inability to again find serious candidates beyond a rightwing extremist and a 12 year old to fight a doomed campaign. If you want to call the police I would call them on the schneider campaign who seems to be breaking child labor laws with all the pictures on their facebook page of 7 year olds phonebanking for them constantly.

I find no blog of that name in a search. However, I will be taking the proper steps regarding the phrase use on Larry Falbe's blog. Thank you for the tip as I never read that stuff.

Since I am a compassionate conservative and you are a hyper sensitive individual I will change the name to FOKLAPS with the p for pup slayer. You are more than welcome to have your local PETA chapter protest my house.

As for democat yes I think it'd be the stronger cat-didate in your primary since it's both of age to be a member of congress and doesn't support pro-life senators. Democat has its PAWS on an agenda that fits your party as it believes in spreading (the cat food) wealth so it should be a PRR-fect nominee who will be LION-ized by its supporters.

Brad Schneider will unfortunately be the winner of the March primary. Sorry fans of the boy. It just is inevitable. Maybe Tree will make a better showing than this poll indicates. But the bottom line is Schneider will be the Democratic nominee.

Then on the morning after the election you can send your congratulations to Bob Dold for winning a second term. Schneider is the worst candidate of this sorry group. Reminds me a bit of Romney in some ways compared to Sheyman's Newt whose followers seem so arrogant from my meetings with them at the train station. Does Schneider really have any followers other than the printing house that does the mailers?

Bottom line is that 2012 will add another losing streak for the Democrats who manage to shoot themsleves in the foot every two years. I would say from looking at all these candidates that John Tree is the best of this group and has the most potential to win in November. But he will not win the primary.

I think you have to ask yourselves whether you want a right wing republican who has spent the last 12 years fighting you in the 10th district as your nominee. All those years of door knocking in late october, phone banking, fundraising, blogging in Ellens case, organizing, registering people to vote to beat Mark kirk and brad schneider was sitting in the kirk campaign donating money to him, funding prolife pro iraq war candidates basically doing everything he could to undo all your work.

If a Seals donor ran for congress in this seat as a republican who had backed russ feingold or barbara boxer or chuck schumer he would not only not be considered for the nomination he would be tarred and feathered for even thinking he could even be the nominee.

the "he can win" argument is one of the most bs things in politics. It didn't work for kerry, it was what your idol kos argued against successfully in taking over the democratic party. in the 10th district in 2000 we knew we were going to go against gash and we didn't go with hochberg who like schneider had donated to members of the other party, we didn't go with donnelly who like gash was a woman, we went with the guy who we believed in and then fought our guts out for him.

Foklaes you are correct about Schneider. If he wins the Dem primary, that would be the biggest joke you local Republicans could have pulled off in many years. Besides getting Mark Kirk re-elected all those years and replacing him with Kirk-clone Teabagger Bob Dold.

It's now foklaps. we are trying to be kind to ellen.

as far as dold and mark kirk goes, if you had a conversation with a real tea party member they would probably tell you that kirk and dold are not tea party. they may like kirk on national security but these are guys that are especially in kirk's case a lot more like you than say mr. walsh.

you won't win this seat or retake the house and you'll likely lose the senate. when you do next year you'll be grateful that kirk and dold are still around to put some cold water on the hot rhetoric and vision of the real conservatives.

Find a candidate who can actually do the job and let him run on his merits? What a concept. Haven't seen many of those in the 10th lately.