Rush: Andrzejewski is Illinois's Scott Brown

National Review Online ^ | 2-1-10 | Stephen Spruiell

[kingattax]

Rush Limbaugh has thrown his support behind Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced "an-gee-EFF-skee"), a Republican candidate for governor of Illinois. (Audio here.) Tomorrow's GOP primary is crowded with challengers, and Andrzejewski has trailed former state party chairman Andy McKenna in the polls. But he has been riding a surge lately, starting with an endorsement from former Polish president and Solidarity founder Lech Walesa on Friday, and continuing with Rush's declaration that Andrzejewski might be "the Scott Brown of his contest."

"I have not heard Rush’s remarks yet — I’ve spent the day campaigning in Polish neighborhoods all over Chicago — but people I’ve talked to have said his support was strong and very clear, and I’m gratified by that," says Andrzejewski. "When I built my business, I did not hold the CEO card, I held the salesman card, and I went out in my car on nearly 60,000 sales stops. I listened to a lot of Rush over that ten-year period, and I’m deeply touched that he gave my campaign such profile and prestige today."

Andrzejewski says he hasn't had a chance to check the endorsement's impact on donations, but he says: "My personal cell phone has been bombed with calls, texts, and e-mails."

In the middle of our conversation, Andrzejewski has to pause. When he gets back on the phone, I ask him what happened. "We were pulled over by a Chicago police officer who wanted to shake my hand," he says sheepishly. I ask him if he's kidding. He says no, he's not, that this is the kind of attention he's been getting since the Walesa endorsement. (As we talk, his campaign is caravanning from a Polish diner, Staro Polska, in Chicago, to its headquarters, where Fox News is scheduled to show up with its cameras.)

"Walesa came into Chicago and issued what he said was his first endorsement ever of an American politician," says Andrzejewski. "He was very unequivocal, solid and showed real strength and humor in his remarks. He told a story from the early days of Solidarity, when nobody gave them a chance. And if you added up the tanks, guns and airplanes of the Communists, they didn’t stand a chance. He said the difference was that Solidarity's principles and values were stronger." Andrzejewski says the same logic applies to his campaign to retake Springfield from "the Illinois combine" — a nickname for state government which refers to the bipartisan culture of patronage and favor-trading. "He said I reminded him of a young Lech Walesa. I was touched by those remarks."

I ask him why conservatives seem to be backing him over McKenna: "Andy McKenna came into the race acting like I didn’t exist and running on all of my policies and all of my themes," he says. "He calls himself the only outsider in the race. That's a disingenuous statement at best." (McKenna was the state party chairman for five years; Andrzejewski is a newcomer to politics.) "He's no outsider, no reformer, and he had his own ethics problems as party chairman." (The state party investigated McKenna after he paid for a personal poll using party money.)

Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts — could Obama's Illinois be next? "I think the parallel . . . is that Republicans are winning in Democratic strongholds by healthy margins, and I expect the same in November when I’m our nominee."

[fightinJAG]

I hope Walesa’s remarks get big airplay. (Rush!)

He actually made my heart hurt when he said something like America is no longer the beacon of freedom in the world, the world’s best hope.

[Falcon28]

Adam is the best candidate for Governor.

I hope conservatives will also get behind

Patrick Hughes for US Senate

http://www.patrickhughesforsenate.com/Home.aspx

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Nextrush]

Walesa’s speech is an under reported news story.

Rush needed to talk about the race for Senate where his buddy Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham have come in behind Patrick Hughes against Mark Kirk.

Is Rush’s talking about the governor’s race in the GOP primary a diversion from his silence about the U.S. Senate Primary.

Rush is not working against Kirk. Will Rush be with JD against McCain?????

[SunkenCiv]

(pronounced "an-gee-EFF-skee")

Thanks kingattax.

[kingattax]

Is Rush’s talking about the governor’s race in the GOP primary a diversion from his silence about the U.S. Senate Primary.

interesting question

[Crichton]

Is Rush’s talking about the governor’s race in the GOP primary a diversion from his silence about the U.S. Senate Primary.

Mark Kirk, unfortunately, has a huge lead in the Senate primary over Hughes.

Andrzejewski is in striking distance in a winnable primary against a mixed field with some pretty pathetic figures leading in the polls.

Illinois conservatives who really want to make a difference late in the game should focus efforts on the race where a win is possible. If anything, there's been too much media attention on the Senate race and not enough on the McKenna-Dillard-Ryan travesty.

We need real victories, not moral victories.

Of course, getting conservatives to the polls tomorrow will help all the conservative candidates.

[kingattax]

yw

[Verginius Rufus]

So, unlike Wojciehowicz (on “Barney Miller”), his name isn’t pronounced just like it’s spelled. (Or was Wojciehowicz’s name spelled just like it’s pronounced? It’s been a while.)

[Stosh]

Polish names are never pronounced the way they’re spelled.

I had a kid in my class in grade school named “Przybyla” - take a shot a that one!

[Chi-townChief]

I’m going with Andrzejewski with strong reservations and Hughes.

[Lurker]

I’m voting for Andy tomorrow.

[Fred Nerks]

LEAVE A COMMENT!

To the People of the Great State of Illinois:a

It is with great pleasure that I wholeheartedly endorse Adam Andrzejewski for the office of Governor of the State of Illinois. In writing these words I feel particularly touched because, sadly, it is so seldom in the United States that a Polish son becomes involved in politics. But I do not endorse Adam only because of his Polish roots.

I applaud Mr. Andrzejewski’s commendable effort to bring real reform to politics. His insistence on transparency in public life are badly needed not only in the great state of Illinois, but in any democracy. I have heard that Adam’s opponents criticize his lack of political experience. I still remember when some 30 years ago, my opponents were similarly critical of my lack of political background. History has shown, however, that in order to create real change, new factors are sometimes necessary. Adam Andrzejewski can be that factor for the State of Illinois.

I do hope, that what Adam Andrzejewski can bring change when elected for the office of Governor of the State of Illinois.

Lech Wałęsa Former President of the Republic of Poland

[Soul Seeker]

Quite ridiculous conclusions. How do you go from not speaking of the Senate race to being against J.D.? Sheesh.

I haven’t heard the show today but I suspect it has something to do with one poll that showed this guy down just 2%. Hughes to my knowledge has no close poll.

Although it’s just one poll and I am sceptical about pulling this turnaround in just one week. But at least there is some reason to hope for an upset here.

[exit82]

Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul II, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

They brought down the Soviet Union without firing a single shot.

We can never say we can;t prevail against Zero and his Commie minions.

We have a road map, purchased at great cost.

God bless Lech Walesa!

[itssme]

YES! Adam for Govenor. Patrick Hughes for US Senate.

[SeattleBruce]

“Mark Kirk, unfortunately, has a huge lead in the Senate primary over Hughes.”

I hope Hughes gets as much support as possible...unfortunately, he didn’t announce til about a week ago...not much time to ride any sort of wave...

Rasmussen had Hughes down 53 - 18 about 5 days ago - I’m sure he’ll close that, hope he’ll close that and put the fear of God and the Tea Party into Kirk, should Kirk win.

[SeattleBruce]

We have a road map, purchased at great cost.

God bless Lech Walesa!
+++++++++++

Hear, hear!

[SeattleBruce]

“I’m going with Andrzejewski with strong reservations”

What are those?