Bloomington State Senator Bill Brady is jumping or half jumping in the Governor’s race. I’m having a hard time figuring out why a State Senator is running for Governor in his first statewide attempt, but more to the point this can only be fun. In the 2000 Republican Primary in the 15th CD, Brady and Tom Ewing’s spawn entered into a mutual suicide pact in which both tried to out Christian the other. I remember visiting home and reading the letters to the editor which were all about how often they were at Bible Study. Not surprisingly then, Tim Johnson, never one to be accused of being overly religious, pulled out a win and ultimately won the seat.
At one point, the fight turned into one over a letter that said Ewing was the only Christian.
SPRINGFIELD – Following the blowup over George W. Bush’s visit to Bob Jones University last month, religion has become an issue in Central Illinois’ hotly contested 15th Congressional District race.
On Wednesday, a supporter of state Rep. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, claimed that a letter sent out on behalf of opponent Sam Ewing was “nothing but a veiled attack on Catholics.”
The letter, signed by B.J. and Jennifer Armstrong of Bloomington, was sent to 1,100 residents of the 15th District. In it, the couple wrote, “We believe Sam is the best candidate, and more importantly, the only Christian candidate in this race.”
Mike Stokke, who is a key Brady supporter, said that smacks of anti-Catholic bias. Another candidate in the race, state Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Sidney, also decried the letter.
“The Armstrongs know Bill Brady, and they are aware of his Catholic faith,” said Stokke, a Bloomington resident who is an aide to U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. “Given those facts, I must conclude that their letter is intended to exploit Bill Brady’s religion as a campaign issue.”
Brady has never been a guy that struck me much at all, but is probably a decent fit for Bloomington. I can only hope he’ll provide tons of material. I can’t imagine the scenario where he pulls it out with the current and expected pack of candidates.