IL-02 special election thread

[Beet]

According to the latest poll, the pro-gun Debbie Halvorson will win tonight.

Oh god no. Will there be a run-off? It's hard to imagine her winning the nomination with less than a quarter of the vote.

[Beet]

Victory for America!

You've been duped by Bloomy's Super PAC campaign too? Lame.

I'm no lefty, but I dunno how any Democrat could vote for Halverson. Pandering to Fox News and the NRA.

Spite. Kelly only won on Super PAC funds.

Normally I'd feel the same, but in this case I'll make an exception. The NRA is usually such an omnipotent juggernaut that can roll over even the most hallowed of American interests, including first responders, teachers, doctors, the chamber of commerce, and families of schoolchildren. Even a Super PAC is an underdog when going up against it.

[Beet]

Victory for America!

You've been duped by Bloomy's Super PAC campaign too? Lame.

I'm no lefty, but I dunno how any Democrat could vote for Halverson. Pandering to Fox News and the NRA.

Spite. Kelly only won on Super PAC funds.

Normally I'd feel the same, but in this case I'll make an exception. The NRA is usually such an omnipotent juggernaut that can roll over even the most hallowed of American interests, including first responders, teachers, doctors, the chamber of commerce, and families of schoolchildren. Even a Super PAC is an underdog when going up against it.

The NRA didn't fund this race (indeed, if they had it would have backfired). And Halvorson correctly pointed out that this race is about more than gun control, but Kelly wanted to make it a single-issue campaign and Bloomy made it so.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is the local affiliate of the NRA. They urged their members to vote Halvorson through direct mail.

[Beet]

The issue was, they pretty much all agreed on the major issues. Halvorsen has a RECORD of speaking out on conceal and carry and spruiking her A rating from the NRA. That's the thing about records, they tend to stick to you.

Gun violence is especially an issue in that part of Chicago, so it became the dividing line. Halvorsen coming out for Universal background checks doesn't really address the issues of conceal and carry nor talking about her A rating as a badge of honour.

It's her record and if Bloomberg et al didn't have anything to use against her... then... yeah.

Plus, this is a special election in an off-year... you aren't going to get normal GE voters out for that. You get the passionate ones...

In what way does a member of Congress get to affect concealed carry laws?

They determine concealed carry rules on federal property, such as Amtrak, national parks, and the like.