2010 Bobby Schilling

schilling grew democrat, has become more conservative on years , characterizes himself reagan republican. influenced radio , television personality glenn beck. schilling 1 of 9–12 candidates, group led beck, , signed 9–12 contract of principles , values. schilling has said inspired run office because preparing franchise restaurant, cancelled plans when saw then-presidential candidate barack obama telling joe plumber government needed spread wealth around. schilling announced candidacy in april 2009 , officially filed republican nomination in october 2009.

schilling vowed not participate in congressional pension program, keep private health insurance instead of congressional plan, donate pay raises receives, limit himself no more 8 years in congress, , not vote bill hasn t read. m not going make career out of this, says.

early in campaign, political websites rated 17th district race safe democratic. however, election day race rated leans republican realclearpolitics, cook political report, cq politics, , new york times. race profiled on cnn 1 of country s top 100 house races, in said, schilling trails in overall money race, s raised enough message out , give incumbent worry about.

in september 2010, schilling named national republican congressional committee s young guns program.

hare criticized schilling living 0.99 miles outside 17th district, though constitution requires congressmen live in state wish represent. schilling s wife notes family s restaurant in 17th , employs people , pays taxes there. says family fell out of district because of gerrymandering.

unopposed in primary election, in general election, schilling won unexpectedly large margin, taking 53 percent of vote hare s 43 percent. notably, carried hare s home county, rock island county, heavily democratic county home district s 2 largest cities, moline , rock island, 9 points. after election, schilling hired chief of staff mike roman, political consultant known posting video showing alleged voter intimidation during 2008 presidential election. roman, along policy director scott tranter, resigned schilling s office in april 2011.

schilling s campaign set off-year fundraising record challenger in 17th district, amassing $89,000 in 2009. schilling s campaign fundraising relied largely on individual donors, accounted 80 percent of $1 million raised campaign. hare depended more heavily on political action committees, contributed two-thirds of campaigns $1.3 million total. following election, schilling has relied more on political action committees retire campaign debt, bulk of december 2010 fundraising coming pacs, including wal-mart, american medical association, caterpillar inc. , archer daniels midland co.

schilling ended campaign total of $1,095,167 raised , $1,078,911 spent.

the following organizations endorsed schilling in 2010 run congress: illinois federation right life pac; catholicvote pac; quincy tea party group; john deere pac; , united states chamber of commerce.

individuals endorsed schilling included: u.s. representative aaron schock (r-il); u.s. representative michele bachmann (r-mn); former governor of massachusetts mitt romney; political figure , author joe plumber (joe wurzelbacher); and, sgt. john f. baker, jr., recipient of medal of honor.

newspapers evenly divided in endorsing schilling on hare, chicago tribune , sauk valley news among supporting schilling. in october 2010 schilling endorsed chicago tribune.