Down ticket GOP statewides lean conservative in Rockford

Winnebago County is one of the top twenty voting counties that votes in primaries, and last night in Rockford Illinois, down ticket statewide candidates answered questions raised by Concerned Christians for America.  The candidate forum moderator Larry Jacobs asked all candidates who appeared -- LG candidates Jason Plummer and Don Tracy, as well as State Comptroller candidate Jim Dodge -- the following questions:

• Do you support or oppose civil unions and/or same sex marriage? All three said 'Oppose."
• Do you support or oppose a Constitutional Amendment protecting the one-man/one-woman definition of marriage? All three said "Support."
• Do you support or oppose making Illinois a Right to Work state? All three said "Support."
• Do you support or oppose ending state funding of embryonic stem cell research? All three said "Support ending."
• Do you support of oppose lifting the death penalty moratorium in Illinois? Plummer supported lifiting the ban and proceeding to execute, Tracy opposed lifting the ban, Dodge supported lifting the ban.
• Do you support or oppose the concealed carry law in Illinois? All three supported, Tracy wanted requirements attached.
• Do you support of oppose the expansion of gambling? All three opposed.

Comments

[right winger]

Don Tracy's liberal roots are showing through. Now you can see why he ran as a democrat in 2002.

[Steve Ruggiero]

Jim Dodge a conservative?? Ha! I hope no one is fooled by his answers.

William Kelly is the only conservative in the comptroller's race. Doesn't the Illinois Review cover conservatives any more? They have been ignoring Kelly for some unknown reason, even when he has garnered media attention.

Jim Dodge just writes up a statement about his visit to a township meeting and IR posts it. The favoritism is unprofessional and obvious.

[OPVoter]

William Kelly the only conservative? How does chugging beer and goofing on sports make one a conservative? Kelly seems like a nice guy, but he's run for everything from dogcatcher to congressman and he's never proven he can run an effective, winning campaign. What makes you think he can beat the Democrats? Jim Dodge is a qualified, serious candidate. He knows about finances and he's won plenty of elections. And yes, he's a conservative. The only conservative that can win.

[Tim Caraway]

William Kelly announced his campaign in July, and Jim Dodge announced his campaign about a month later. Since Dodge entered the race, he'll probably cause the anti-Topinka vote to split, helping her win the primary. If Dodge was a conservative, he wouldn't want that to happen.

[Gabe]

Sorry "right winger" but there's no way to spin the anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, anti-union, anti-gambling, (mostly) pro-gun Don Tracy as a liberal just because he doesn't support lifting the moratorium. Don't be absurd. Perhaps he's not AS conservative as Plummer but "liberal roots" is a stretch to say the least. Also, from what I hear, he ran as a D in '02 because Cellini had things locked up in Springfield. Again, not ideal, but far from liberal.

[Steve]

William Kelly is a joke and anyone who knows anything about Illinois politics doesn't give him the time of day. He's a goof and he's making other well-meaning but politically naive folks look pretty gullible.

Jim Dodge is the best choice in the comptroller race. The only choice.

[You need to pay more TAXES!]

Like government has any business in it
anyway--did you not listen when the 'big
man' Rush said--You can't legislate morality?

[Shade]

Jim Dodge double deals with Democrats in Orland Park against Republicans. We don't need anymore of that.

[downstate conservative]

Gabe: Don Tracy ran as a democrat in 2002. I don't want to hear about "why" he ran as a democrat, the fact is, he did. No self-respecting Republican would do such a thing. And we're not talking about 1982, we're talking about 2002. That's only 7 years ago. He's also supported tax increases to balance the budget. Is he now flip-flopping on that, too?

[tara_pie]

Jason rocks.

[Josh L]

Jason Plummer is the definition of a Conservative. Tracy is a squishy Democrat. In fact, he's not even a good Democrat because he's running as a Republican. He's not a good Democrat or Republican and he won't make a good Lt. Governor. Plummer's getting my vote.

[Facts are Stubborn Things]

Jason Plummer is a genuine, hard-working person and has been battling for the conservative cause for a long time. I should know, he talked me into becoming a precinct committeeman several years ago.