Hutchinson exits race for Jackson’s US House seat

Associated Press ^ | Feb 17, 2013 5:46 PM EST | Jason Keyser

[Olog-hai]

A well-known Illinois state senator dropped her bid Sunday for the U.S. House seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr., narrowing the field and consolidating key support behind another Democrat in a race where gun control has emerged as a central issue.

State Sen. Toi Hutchinson, targeted in recent days by critical anti-gun campaign ads funded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s political action committee, said she was leaving the race and swinging her support to former state Rep. Robin Kelly. The major shake-up came with just nine days to go before the Feb. 26 primary.

Hutchinson’s move reflected the sharp divisions over the gun control issue, but also appeared to be in line with efforts to consolidate support for one of the many black candidates in the black-majority district. Community leaders had expressed concerns that the black vote could be split, thus boosting the chances of former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, a white candidate whom Jackson defeated in last year’s primary battle. …

[GeronL]

Is the child molester Mel Reynolds still running?

[CrazyIvan]

This is Illinois. Is it a race or an auction?

[johnthebaptistmoore]

How come one conservative candidate running for this seat, along with a bunch of leftist candidates, CAN’T WIN, but one leftist candidate running for a certain seat, along with a bunch of conservative candidates, CAN WIN? Frustrating!

[Seaplaner]

Illinois election?

One worries that the ballots might be counted long before they are cast.

.

[ronnie raygun]

Classified.....looking for a BLACK politician to replace a BLACK politician who is willing to steal cheat and lie. Candidate must be BLACK because it would be racist and against the law to replace him with a white candidate. Candidate will also be free of any future prosecution of criminal activity, a get out of jail free card so to speak this only applies to candidates of color