EAST MOLINE - Liberal special interest groups are set to blitzkrieg the Illinois 17th District with campaign ads defending Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline).
With more than seven months to go until the November election, Center Forward, a liberal Super PAC based in Washington, D.C. has purchased $124,000 of TV air time to help shore up Congresswoman Bustos' weak polling numbers. Center Forward is run by former liberal Congressman Bud Cramer (D-Alabama).
Bustos has recently criticized Super PACs. In February she asked her supporters to sign a petition opposing Citizens United, and criticized "shadowy groups" for "trying to buy our elections."
Her GOP opponent Bobby Schilling says he isn't concerned with how much Bustos and her allies are going to spend.
"Liberal Super PACs are going to pour millions of dollars into this race to help Congresswoman Bustos—that's the reality," Schilling said. "We aren't worried about that. ...liberal Super PACs can't steal this election—this is the people's seat, and the people will ultimately make their decision on November 4."
Jon Schweppe, communications director for Schilling, said that Bustos is being hypocritical and should condemn all Super PAC spending on her behalf.
"Congresswoman Bustos tells her supporters that Super PACs are evil, but then she happily takes their support when they say nice things about her on TV," Schweppe said.
