As Sen. John McCain steps up his criticism that Democratic presidential rival Sen. Barack Obama's talk of bipartisanship is hollow rhetoric, the presumptive Republican nominee finds one of his convention delegates in the cross-hairs of the debate—Illinois state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale).
The suburban Republican, a former GOP county chairman, appeared in a TV ad for his friend and one-time colleague in the Illinois legislature attesting to the Democrat's willingness to cross the political aisle. The ad was run by Obama campaign throughout the extended primary campaign.
But Dillard, elected on Feb. 5 as a convention delegate for McCain, has asked Obama's top political strategist, David Axelrod, not to use the TV ad for the general election campaign, now that the battle for the presidency is down to a one-on-one partisan contest. Dillard sent a letter to Axelrod at a request of the McCain campaign. Obama campaign aides said they would honor Dillard's request.
The ad, which began airing before Iowa's caucuses in January and was used in later contests, showed Dillard saying that Obama "worked on the deepest issues we had and was successful in a bipartisan way." In the ad, Dillard also said, "Republican legislators respected Sen. Obama. His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well."As Sen. John McCain steps up his criticism that Democratic presidential rival Sen. Barack Obama's talk of bipartisanship is hollow rhetoric, the presumptive Republican nominee finds one of his convention delegates in the cross-hairs of the debate—Illinois state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale).
The suburban Republican, a former GOP county chairman, appeared in a TV ad for his friend and one-time colleague in the Illinois legislature attesting to the Democrat's willingness to cross the political aisle. The ad was run by Obama campaign throughout the extended primary campaign.
But Dillard, elected on Feb. 5 as a convention delegate for McCain, has asked Obama's top political strategist, David Axelrod, not to use the TV ad for the general election campaign, now that the battle for the presidency is down to a one-on-one partisan contest. Dillard sent a letter to Axelrod at a request of the McCain campaign. Obama campaign aides said they would honor Dillard's request.
The ad, which began airing before Iowa's caucuses in January and was used in later contests, showed Dillard saying that Obama "worked on the deepest issues we had and was successful in a bipartisan way." In the ad, Dillard also said, "Republican legislators respected Sen. Obama. His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-mccain-illinois_wedjun18,0,5035039.story