Report from Adam Kinzinger's conference call about next month's GOP primary

Kinzinger

The Machiavellians in Springfield--in an attempt to expand Democratic hegemony in Illinois--created a gaggle of gerrymandered districts that are an insult to Land of Lincoln voters. One byproduct of this mess is that Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican freshman, is running in the new 16th congressional district against longtime congressman Don Manzullo, who is also a GOPer.

Illinois' primary elections will be held on March 20.

So far Kinzinger has visited all 14 counties in the new district and he says he has "held 15 open town hall forums in just over a month."

Kinzinger criticized Manzullo's support of the cash for clunkers program and raising the debt ceiling 12 times. He called Manzullo "one of the top earmarkers among the Republican delegation."

Putnam County, new 16th dist.

When my turn to ask question arrived, queried the congressman about his Tea Party support, which was crucial to him when he soundly defeated incumbent Democrat Debbie Halvorson in 2010. That bloc is split between him and Manzullo, Kinzinger replied. Although he mentioned that the Livingston County Tea Party--where Manzullo spoke--ended up endorsing Kinzinger. His small government message, Kinzinger said, will resonate with the rank-and-file Tea Party members.

Interestingly, although Kinzinger has only been a congressman for 13 months, he has outraised Manzullo--who has been a member of Congress since 1993--by 70 percent.

While Kinzinger doesn't have the experience of Manzullo, he points to his own drive. Manzullo hasn't been a committee chairman since 2006, Kinzinger said, and "since then you can't really find any pieces of unique legislation that he has passed."

Dixon,  new 16th dist.

"What is he going to do in the first two years," Kinzinger rhetorically asked about his primary opponent, "that he wasn't able to do in the first twenty." He added, "I think twenty years makes you a career politician."

Click here to view Kinzinger's latest TV ad.

Technorati tags: Republican gop Congress news manzullo government illinois illinois politics Peoria manzullo rockford Halvorson cash for clunkers