Riding a wave of “super PAC” spending that helped catapult her to the front of a crowded Democratic field, Robin Kelly, whose campaign called for tougher national gun laws, clinched her party’s nomination Tuesday in a special primary election for the House seat vacated by Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
In Illinois’s Second Congressional District, which includes parts of the South Side of Chicago and southern suburban counties, Mr. Bloomberg’s super PAC financed a wave of mailers and television advertisements that criticized Ms. Halvorson, a former House member, for having gotten an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association in earlier elections and for opposing bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazine clips.
Ms. Halvorson, who supports universal background checks for gun buyers, was forced to defend her positions at campaign stops throughout the district.
Last week, the Illinois State Rifle Association responded to Mr. Bloomberg’s effort by sending out mailers asking its members in the district to vote for Ms. Halvorson on Tuesday. Ms. Halvorson said she had not asked for the endorsement.
In her victory speech, Ms. Kelly, a former state representative who has worked as a chief of staff for the Illinois state treasurer, told supporters they had sent “a message that tells the N.R.A. that their days of holding our country hostage are coming to an end.”
So, the candidate with the "F" rating from NRA wins by 52% to 25% over the pro-gun Democrat who got an "A" rating from the NRA...And she did it by hanging that "A" rating around the loser's neck. Indeed the days of the NRA opposition being the "kiss of death" to a candidate is coming to an end. The NRA did everything they could to get their people out to vote...and they still lost...
Reality check: in a traditional Dem seat Bloomberg had to spend loads of carpetbagger money to keep it antigun. Bravo less money he can spend on gun control in Colorado. Non-story. One gun banner, campaign donation stealing Jesse Jackson Jr. replaced with another gungrabber.
Talk to me when Romanov beats Coffman. (Which could easily happen.)
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
