Ex-legislator Robin Kelly wins Democratic race for ex-US Rep. Jackson
Jr.'s Chicago-area seat


Chicago (AP) Former Illinois legislator Robin Kelly captured the
Democratic nomination Tuesday in the race to replace disgraced ex-U.S.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., after a truncated campaign season where she got
a boost from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's super PAC.

The nomination all but assures that she'll sail through the April 9
general election and head to Washington, because the district is
overwhelmingly Democratic. The Republican nomination is also being
chosen Tuesday night.

From a crowded field of candidates in the Chicago-area district, Kelly
emerged early as a leader on gun-control issues. The former state
representative from Matteson, a south Chicago suburb, favors an assault
weapons ban.

During the campaign, Bloomberg's super PAC, Independence USA, poured
more than $2 million into the race by airing anti-gun ads in her favor
and against another Democratic front runner, former U.S. Rep. Debbie
Halvorson. Halvorson, who unsuccessfully challenged Jackson in a primary
last year, is against such a ban.

After casting her ballot in the snowy weather that pelted the region
Tuesday, Halvorson warned that if the ads were successful Bloomberg
would try to "buy seats" across the country. "We can't let that happen,"
she said.

Another Democratic front runner, Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale, also
took issue with the ads, saying people are "extremely upset" that
someone from New York is trying to tell people in Illinois how to vote
and predicting that there will be a "backlash."

Guns were a leading issue at candidate forums and email blasts from
candidates, even as Jackson's legal saga played out in court and
frustrated voters who've seen two other congressmen in the office leave
under an ethical or legal cloud.


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I supposed candidate Beale thinks it is OK when the NRA supports
candidates.