*** UPDATE 1 *** Fox Chicago has a story up about misleading poll questions in a survey sponsored by Rep. Feigenholtz’s campaign. Both Rep. Fritchey and Commissioner Quigley blast their opponent for the poll. Click here to watch the story.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Quigley responds to the Feigenholtz poll via press release…
“The people of the 5th Congressional district deserve better than this kind of negative, slash-and-burn politics and personal attacks,” Quigley said. […]
“This campaign should be an honest discussion of which candidate has the best record of reform and the ability to bring change to Washington—not a contest to see who can sling the most mud.
[ *** End of Updates *** ]
* We’ll see if any winnowing happens in the coming days as challenges are filed, but the 5th District field is jam-packed, and Ald. O’Connor’s people say that “the sleeping giant” has been awakened…
Twenty-six candidates will vie to succeed former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the incoming White House chief of staff, in a March 3 primary in the 5th District.
Among those filing nominating petitions by Monday’s deadline was Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th), Mayor Daley’s unofficial City Council floor leader. O’Connor filed about 5,000 signatures — nearly five times the 927 needed to get on the Democratic ballot — in an apparent show of force designed to combat a slatemaking embarrassment on Jan. 10.
O’Connor went into the slatemaking session saying he was close to wrapping up the Democratic Party’s endorsement, but state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) got nearly three times as many weighted votes.
“Some people blamed me. They said I wasn’t aggressive enough,” O’Connor said Monday. “It wakes you up. . . . It strengthened my resolve to make sure I was filing a large number of signatures.”
The full list is here.
* Laura Washington thinks recent history shows Rep. Sara Feigenholtz has a great shot at winning the Democratic primary…
The “experts” already are calling Feigenholtz, a North Side legislator, a front-runner for the Democratic nomination. The diverse district spans a chunk of Chicago’s North Side and extends into the west suburbs. The 14-year legislator claims a $300,000-and-counting war chest and filed 4,000 signatures on her petition for the March 3 primary.
There are a couple of other women contenders, but right now they don’t have significant skin in the game. So this pundit advises that Feigenholtz remember just two words: Anita Alvarez.
Last year, in her first pitch for public office, the career county prosecutor whipped a crowded field in a heated Democratic primary race for Cook County state’s attorney. She was dismissed as a no-name by the party honchos and dissed by her own boss, who endorsed her office rival, Bob Milan.
Alvarez capitalized on their myopia by promoting a platform of the working mom bound to serve and protect children and families. She donned snazzy red suits, ran a flurry of snappy commercials, and touted her record. She took the nomination and went on to clobber Republican rival Tony Peraica with 78 percent of the vote, becoming the first Hispanic and woman to serve as the county’s chief prosecutor.
* I told you about Mike Quigley’s poll a few days ago, here’s more from the polling summary…
Quigley also maintains a 4-point lead over Feigenholtz when O’Connor is included in a similar vote (Quigley 14% / Feigenholtz 10% / O’Connor 8% / Fritchey 7%). Quigley is better able to translate his popularity into real vote — 40% more than O’Connor is able to do
with the same name identification. Quigley also leads the pack as the most likely “second choice” of voters.
In one-on-one match-ups with other leading candidates… Quigley leads Feigenholtz by 13 points (Quigley 30% / Feigenholtz 17%) and Fritchey by 19 points (Quigley 32% / Fritchey 13%).
…Almost 90% (89%) of voters would be more likely to support a candidate who has led the fight for government reform on the Cook County Board (56% much more likely)… Similarly, a candidate who led the fight against Todd Stroger’s sales tax increase is also extremely appealing (72% total more likely / 43% much more likely).
Forrest Claypool is extremely popular among 5th District Democrats (66% Fav / 9% Unfav), with a favorability ratio of better than 7 to 1. A Claypool endorsement could play a major role in this race, with 56% of primary voters more likely to vote for a candidate with Claypool’s support.
Those high undecideds make this race impossible to call.
* Related…
* IL-5: Internal Poll Shows Quigley With Early Lead
* 26 file for congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel
* Professor aims to challenge Chicago Way