WASHINGTON–The annual AIPAC policy conference here–American Israel Public Affairs Committee–drew Democratic and GOP Illinois candidates looking for Jewish-American support.
Illinois GOP Senate nominee Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (R-Ill.), who is making his support for Israel a major part of his campaign, hosted a group of Illinois AIPAC members–about 100 at a session at a hotel here on Tuesday afternoon. I’m told by someone who was there he was “warmly received.”
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was also seen introducing around AIPAC the Illinois Democratic Senate nominee, state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Durbin was an honorary host for a bi-partisan Illinois delegation reception in honor of Lee Rosenberg – the incoming president of AIPAC, who is from Chicago – Monday night, but he did not attend.
Democrat Dan Seals and Republican Bob Dold, candidates running for Kirk’s vacant House seat–in the heavily Jewish 10th Congressional District–also hit the AIPAC conference. Dold also made some other calls while here.
State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), the GOP candidate for Illinois governor also flew here for the conference to woo votes to a community where he is barely known.