SPRINGFIELD – A full slate of Illinoisans agree that Donald Trump is the only hope for America, as conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly reiterated last week in an interview with Breitbart – the second time she's surprised followers with her adulation of Trump in the past few months.
“Trump is the only hope to defeat the Kingmakers,” the 91-year-old founder of Eagle Forum told Breitbart. “Because everybody else will fall in line. The Kingmakers have so much money behind them.”
Schlafly, who in the past has focused her support more behind social conservative candidates, says the issue that's most important to America's future in this election is immigration.
“The Kingmakers,” Schlafly told Breitbart, “have picked our last bunch of losers. And there’s one loser after another because they were more interested in maintaining their flow of money from the big donors and their cooperation with the Democrats—their bipartisanship—and that’s not my goal. I’m for America [Schlafly slams hand on table] and America first [slams hand on table again].”
Trump is leading in national polling, and a full slate of delegates' petitions were on hand early on the first day of filing at the State Board of Elections, putting Trump in contention to be the first name voters see on the March 15th GOP ballot.
Springfield attorney Kent Gray led the petition effort consisting of a majority of candidates that are on a primary ballot for the first time, except immigration activist Rosanna Pulido (13th), who ran for Congress in the past and Jack McInerney (11th), who also ran for lieutenant governor.
Jackie Menconi (8th) has been active in the northwest suburban Tea Party since their formation in 2009.
Cook County resident Frank Biga III told Illinois Review why he's running as a delegate in the 9th District.
"I support Donald Trump because he will focus on the needs of American workers by actually controlling our border and negotiating better trade deals," Biga said. "He is also beholden to no one and will do what's best for the American people rather than what has been a seemingly singular focus on what lobbyists and special interests want. I am proud and honored to be on his delegate slate in the IL 9th district."
Will I support Trump if he is nominated. Absolutely!
But Cruz seems to have a pretty firm track record of standing up to the elites in his own party and has taken a lot of heat from the Bush/McCain types for doing so.