Today’s the day to get out and vote, to get out and win!

We voted today. Have you?

—Brad

I’ve heard uplifting stories of opportunity and heartbreaking stories of struggle. More than anything, people are telling me they’re tired of business as usual in Washington while businesses continue to close at home. People can’t find work and growth is screeching to a halt, and the people of the 10th district are losing faith in Congress’s ability to recognize the problem and do something about it.

There’s ...]]> Traveling around this district, meeting folks and hearing their stories, has been one of the great privileges of my life.

I’ve heard uplifting stories of opportunity and heartbreaking stories of struggle. More than anything, people are telling me they’re tired of business as usual in Washington while businesses continue to close at home. People can’t find work and growth is screeching to a halt, and the people of the 10^th district are losing faith in Congress’s ability to recognize the problem and do something about it.

There’s the wife whose husband had been laid off for a second time, and all they’re looking for is a fair shot.

There’s the man who wrote to me saying that for 30 years he’d worried about being fired simply for being honest about his sexual orientation.

There’s the mother who’s concerned her kids won’t have clean air and clean water.

There’s the couple who was getting worried they couldn’t send their kids to college and plan for a secure retirement.

These stories are becoming all too common in the 10^th district and across the country. If we don’t take action right now, change the direction of Congress right now, and break the gridlock right now, then we’ll break the generational promise that our kids will have a brighter future than we were given.

Reversing this direction is a matter of having the right priorities and acting.

When groups like the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, the Fraternal Order of Police, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs Committee–all of whom previously endorsed Mark Kirk–endorsed me, they cited my experience and my priorities.

Two decades of experience helping small and family-owned businesses succeed and plan for the future have given me the skills to bring people together, find common ground, and solve tough problems. I’ve seen the impact of an overly complicated tax code, and I’ve seen how burdensome rather than smart regulation can get in the way. I know how to help businesses overcome their obstacles.

By focusing on rebuilding the middle class, improving our infrastructure, offering incentives to small businesses, improving education, preserving our environment, and keeping our promises to seniors, we will break through this stubborn gridlock and achieve real results.

But obstructing this progress is a slew of Republican policies based on the wrong priorities.

In two years, Congressman Dold has sided with Republicans – and the extreme of his party – on issue after issue. He has voted to defund Planned Parenthood, allow drilling in Lake Michigan, slash $250 million from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, end Pell Grants for a million students, repeal healthcare provisions preventing insurance companies from denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions, and replaced the Medicare guarantee with a voucher system. And all these votes, all these cuts funded tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and subsidies for big oil companies.

Rep. Dold talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk: “F” from the Sierra Club; 34 percent from the League of Conservation Voters; 35 percent from the Human Rights Campaign; and 0 from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

The record is clear: these policies are on the wrong side of history and must be defeated.

This won’t be easy, and our opposition will be fierce. But I’m optimistic about the state of the American spirit, and I’m confident that we can get this done.

I honestly believe that adopting the right priorities will mean opportunities for that woman and her husband, all Americans feeling secure in their employment, the environment preserved for our children, and families resting a little easier knowing their kids can be educated and their retirement will be safe.

I hope to earn your vote this Tuesday.

—Brad

GOP congressmen in heated suburban races forced to defend votes on Ryan budget plan

Democrats zero in on proposed Medicare changes for future retirees

For Illinois Republican congressmen, Tuesday’s election represents a voter referendum on the GOP’s two-year control of the House that has centered on a conservative drive to cut government spending and reform entitlement programs.

The political dynamic this time is flipped from 2010, when Republicans here came out on top in five critical House contests in what amounted to an early referendum on how ...]]> From Chicago Tribune

GOP congressmen in heated suburban races forced to defend votes on Ryan budget plan

Democrats zero in on proposed Medicare changes for future retirees

For Illinois Republican congressmen, Tuesday’s election represents a voter referendum on the GOP’s two-year control of the House that has centered on a conservative drive to cut government spending and reform entitlement programs.

The political dynamic this time is flipped from 2010, when Republicans here came out on top in five critical House contests in what amounted to an early referendum on how Democratic President Barack Obama’s leadership in recessionary times was viewed in his home state.

While the GOP focuses on Obama’s record in a presidential election year, Republican incumbents in three closely contested suburban congressional races have found themselves having to defend their own voting records — in particular the budget plan offered by their vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan.

For two of those Republicans, freshmen Reps. Robert Dold of Kenilworth and Joe Walsh of McHenry, it’s the first time voters will be able to judge them on their records. In the new 11th Congressional District, voters have the chance to weigh the voting records of a sitting Republican congresswoman, Rep. Judy Biggert, and a former Democratic congressman, Bill Foster.

“As a freshman, there’s enormous pressure to do what your party says and does,” acknowledged Walsh, the tea party icon being challenged by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, during a meeting with the Tribune editorial board.

“In many ways … this election is less about Duckworth and Walsh. It’s really about who do you want controlling Congress because it’s going to be (Democratic Rep. Nancy) Pelosi or it’s going to be (current GOP House Speaker John) Boehner, end of story,” said Walsh, who is running in the northwest and west suburban 8th District.

Democrats have made the House-passed Ryan budget plan the centerpiece of their criticism against Republicans. The idea is to target seniors, a dedicated bloc of voters, and zero in on the plan’s proposed changes to Medicare for future retirees.

Democrats contend Republicans are trying to end the “guarantee” of Medicare and replace it with a voucher system. Republicans argue that Medicare will go broke in 2024 without changes. The GOP also says those who are 55 will have the current system, while those age 54 and younger can choose between traditional Medicare or a taxpayer subsidy to buy their own health care.

But the nuance, particularly in the highly partisan-charged atmosphere of a campaign, can get lost in semantics. That was evidenced in a recent debate between Foster, of Naperville, and Biggert, of Hinsdale.

“You cannot replace Medicare with a low-value option, with a low-value voucher,” Foster said.

“It’s not a voucher. It’s premium subsidies,” Biggert replied.

“It is called a voucher by Congressman Ryan on his website,” Foster responded.

“I don’t care what he calls it,” Biggert said. “I care how I call it, so let’s not get down to those nitty-gritty.”

The back and forth has echoed into the 10th District contest, where Democratic challenger Brad Schneider has sought to use Dold’s support of the Ryan budget as evidence that the Republican is not as independent as he suggests.

“The most important votes in this Congress, on every vote my opponent’s taken, he’s voted with the Republicans,” Schneider said. “We need to stop talking about one side failing and the other side succeeding and work in a way that we can all come together and all succeed.”

Dold has maintained that the Ryan proposal represents a debt- and deficit-reduction plan that’s still evolving. “Unless we come together to try to come up with something different than what we’re doing right now, we’re in some big trouble,” Dold said.

In an overarching way, Democrats have sought to use the Ryan budget as a symbol of the tea party’s influence within the Republican caucus that controls the House. Democrats note Speaker Boehner’s inability to work out a large-scale deficit-reduction plan with Obama as a rebellion by tea party faithful.

Boehner “can’t deliver his caucus right now. That’s why you’re not seeing action being taken,” Schneider said. “What we’re seeing now with this tea party, with the intransigence on the right, that the balance of blame (among parties) isn’t equal.”

In an unusual acknowledgment by a Republican incumbent, Dold said that “everybody associates a do-nothing Congress with the House of Representatives.”

But Dold also suggested that the Democrat-controlled Senate shares blame.

“We’ve passed bill after bill after bill, passed jobs bill after jobs bill — over 30 of them are sitting on (Senate Democratic leader) Harry Reid’s doorstep, stacking up like cordwood. It requires the Senate to pick them up, debate them, amend them, tell us what’s wrong with them and send them back. That’s when we can start to move forward,” he said.

Elections seem simple, straightforward.

Truth is, the amount of work, hours, and sheer manpower of a grassroots field operation is astonishing.

During the summer, there were 87 college and high school interns and fellows making phone calls every single day in the office. Dozens of volunteers knock on doors every day, reaching out to voters. Volunteers, interns, and fellows have collectively reached more than 550,000 phone calls and door knocks, telling voters about Brad.

But this all comes down to our effort to get folks out to vote. ...]]>

Elections seem simple, straightforward.

Truth is, the amount of work, hours, and sheer manpower of a grassroots field operation is astonishing.

During the summer, there were 87 college and high school interns and fellows making phone calls every single day in the office. Dozens of volunteers knock on doors every day, reaching out to voters. Volunteers, interns, and fellows have collectively reached more than 550,000 phone calls and door knocks, telling voters about Brad.

But this all comes down to our effort to get folks out to vote. And in the last week of the campaign, with early voting going on each day, we need to make sure that everyone actually goes to the polls and casts their ballot.

I have people ask me every single day, “Reed, what’s the best way to help out in the last few days?” My answer: Help us get out the vote.

Phone calls and door knocks getting people to the polls in the last few days can make a real difference in the outcome of this election and mean real change in Washington for years to come.

I know the results matter – for you, for our neighbors, for our parents, and certainly for our kids and their future.

Brad has worked hard every single day since this campaign began nearly 18 months ago. He’s received support from all over the district, and this race has been watched by folks all across the country. I know how much your support has meant to him – the hours you’ve volunteered and the work you’ve done.

Now, we’re nearly to the finish line. Please run with Brad through the last stretch.

The future of the middle class is on the line. The security of Medicare is on the line. The health of our environment is on the line. The ability to create and keep good 21st Century jobs in this country is on the line.

We know Brad will stand up to the Tea Party ideology that has pulled Congress to the extreme and thrown it into gridlock. He will stand up to right-wing attempts to turn Medicare into a voucher or repeal important healthcare provisions, like preventing insurance companies from denying those with preexisting conditions or charging women more for the same coverage as men. But most important, Brad will stand up for you.

We’re so close to Election Day, and yet there’s still so much work left to do. And then the real work will begin on November 7th.

A democracy demands the attention of its citizens – to stay active and informed. You have a voice. For two years you’ve said that the middle class is being hammered and that gridlock is preventing any progress from being made.

Now please stand up and let all the politicians in Washington hear you. Please help us make sure that everyone stands up and is heard.

Brad hears you.

Now let’s go win together.

Onward,
__
Reed Adamson
Campaign Manager

Although U.S. Rep. Bob Dold (R- Kenilworth) claims he’s an environmental steward, critics say his voting record shows otherwise. With the race a close one, that may prove to be important.

Dold is seeking re-election for the 10th Congressional District, a North Shore area that includes several forest preserves, state parks and a large stretch of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. The area is well-known for ticket splitting – district voters routinely vote Democratic in presidential races but have sent Republicans to Congress for ...]]> From Medill Reports Chicago

In a sign that Election Day can’t come too soon now, the Republican National Committee has demanded that a local Democratic candidate for Congress stop breaking the law — by running a picture of its elephant logo.

Yes, folks, in a Beltway-made tempest in a teapot, the RNC wrote to Democrat Brad Schneider’s campaign and told him to “cease and desist” picturing the logo next to a shot of Robert Dold, Mr. Schneider’s opponent, in a new TV ad.  Mr. Dold is, um, a Republican.

The latter, ...]]> From Crain’s

In a sign that Election Day can’t come too soon now, the Republican National Committee has demanded that a local Democratic candidate for Congress stop breaking the law — by running a picture of its elephant logo.

Yes, folks, in a Beltway-made tempest in a teapot, the RNC wrote to Democrat Brad Schneider’s campaign and told him to “cease and desist” picturing the logo next to a shot of Robert Dold, Mr. Schneider’s opponent, in a new TV ad.  Mr. Dold is, um, a Republican.

The latter, from RNC Associate Counsel Jon Waclawski, says it has come to his attention that the ad “displays (RNC’s) Official Elephant Logo without RNC permission.”

Continues the sternly worded note, “The RNC owns a trademark in the Official Elephant Logo (Federal Trademark Registration Number 1908397) and takes infringements upon its trademarks seriously. Please cease and desist from using the Official Elephant Logo or we will be forced to consider a legal remedy.”

In a note back last week — via snail mail, incidentally — Schneider campaign attorney James Lamb more or less told the RNC where it can put its Official Elephant Logo.

The use of the logo, if it indeed is the Official Elephant Logo, “does not constitute an infringement of the RNC’s trademark,” Mr. Lam wrote. Why not? Because the use “is not ‘likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake or to deceive” since Mr. Dold “is, in fact, a Republican and the picture of an elephant only reinforces that fact.”

Concludes Mr. Lamb in equally stern language: “Bob Dold is a republican. And we are going to continue letting the voters know that fact.”

For whatever it’s worth, Team Dold is denying any advance knowledge of the letter and pretty much hoping the whole thing will go away.

Maybe Mr. Schneider will start walking around offering voters peanuts as a peace gesture.

All of the big super PAC money that’s suddenly sloshing around this election cycle certainly poses some real questions about why certain interests are providing so much help to certain politicians.

But are things as bad as they appear, or more innocent? A political foul, or guilt by association?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell. Which leads to a real-life story about U.S. Rep. Dold, R-Winnetka, who frequently presents himself to voters as a pro-environment kind of guy, but who is being aided this week ...]]> From Crain’s Chicago Business

All of the big super PAC money that’s suddenly sloshing around this election cycle certainly poses some real questions about why certain interests are providing so much help to certain politicians.

But are things as bad as they appear, or more innocent? A political foul, or guilt by association?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell. Which leads to a real-life story about U.S. Rep. Dold, R-Winnetka, who frequently presents himself to voters as a pro-environment kind of guy, but who is being aided this week by a nearly $1 million “independent” TV ad buy funded by a group that has received a possibly record contribution from a big oil company.

Here’s the background.

Though a Republican, Mr. Dold has labored to present himself as a man in the tradition of predecessors Mark Kirk and John Edward Porter, who held control of the 10th Congressional District for decades despite its Democratic tilt.

As part of that effort, Mr. Dold has stressed environmental matters. Only yesterday, his campaign-closing bus tour of the district focused on environmental matters, such as his support for cleaning up Waukegan Harbor, call for energy conservation, vote against oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife preserve, etc. Allies of the Democratic candidate, Brad Schneider, have countered that the record isn’t nearly that good and charged that, overall, Mr. Dold is a tea party guy.

Anyhow, Mr. Dold has been holding his own in the debate. But then the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to GOP House Speaker John Boehner, let it be known that it was launching a late TV blitz in which it would spend nearly $1 million slashing Mr. Schneider.

The spot, which now is airing, focuses on taxes, not oil. But CLF this month got a $2.5 million donation from Chevron Corp. According to the Washington Post, the gift appears to be the largest any one company has made since the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the ban on direct corporate political spending in 2010.

The Democrats are screaming their heads off about this.

“Congressman Dold got this reward after relentlessly protecting tax breaks for Big Oil companies like Chevron at the expense of Medicare,” the party’s campaign committee said in a statement.

Team Dold responds that CLF’s spending is not controlled by the congressman and that, in fact, it would be illegal for the super PAC and the Dold campaign to consult and coordinate. Adds a spokesman, “Congressman Dold also supports closing corporate loopholes for large corporations, including oil companies, and has publicly criticized the Citizens United ruling for opening the door to unrestricted outside campaign spending.”

To that, I’d add that Chevron and Mr. Dold probably agree on a lot of things that have nothing to do with the environment, such as Democratic tax policies. And that CLF has received millions from sources other than Chevron.

But isn’t it an interesting coincidence when a super PAC gets a huge donation from an oil company and then shortly thereafter makes a big TV buy on behalf of a congressman who lauds his environmental record?

As I asked above: Are things as bad as they appear, or more innocent? A political foul, or guilt by association? Good questions.

In an effort to build momentum in the final days leading up to Election Day, Democratic candidates competing in two of the most hotly-contested congressional races met with supporters in Arlington Heights on Saturday to urge voters not to wait until November 6 to cast their ballots.

Early voting began in Illinois on October 22, and totals thus far have already kept pace with the records set in 2008, despite having one week less compared to four years ago.

As of October 28, more than ...]]> From Progress Illinois

In an effort to build momentum in the final days leading up to Election Day, Democratic candidates competing in two of the most hotly-contested congressional races met with supporters in Arlington Heights on Saturday to urge voters not to wait until November 6 to cast their ballots.

Early voting began in Illinois on October 22, and totals thus far have already kept pace with the records set in 2008, despite having one week less compared to four years ago.

As of October 28, more than 97,000 ballots had been cast throughout suburban Cook County, according to the Cook County Board of Elections website, about 40 percent of the total number of early votes cast throughout all of the 2008 election.

“If voters keep turning out in such large numbers, we may reach the Early Voting record set in 2008,” Cook County Clerk David Orr said in a press release.

Political experts have viewed heavy early voting turnout in 2008 as one of the factors that helped President Barack Obama win the White House, as a majority of those individuals tended to vote for Democratic candidates.

Looking to seize upon that advantage, Democratic congressional candidates Tammy Duckworth, who is running in the 8th district, and Brad Schneider, who is running in the 10th district, joined longtime incumbent, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9) in a get-out-the-vote rally that concluded with Schakowsky walking two blocks with a number of supporters to a nearby polling station where she cast her ballot.

“Early voting is important because it creates a momentum,” Schakowsky said. “If we show that Democrats are coming out early and in large numbers, then it will help to build that kind of momentum that we need to get Democrats out between now and Election Day and on Election Day.”

Of the three candidates, Schakowsky was the only one who actually voted on Saturday. Duckworth said she was planning to vote on Election Day, while Schneider said he would vote sometime over the next few days.

Given the tight nature of many of the races this election cycle, both Republicans and Democrats see early voting as playing an even bigger role than it did in 2008, with projections indicating that as much as 40 percent of the electorate could be made up of those who have cast a ballot prior to November 6.

Thus far, early voting trends appear to be keeping in line with past elections, showing Democrats with an early lead in the race for president. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week, Obama led Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney 55 percent to 41 percent among those who have already voted.

Though not a swing state, early voting in Illinois could play a pivotal role in determining which party ultimately wins control of the House of Representatives. Six contests could go in favor of Democrats, who need a net gain of 25 seats in order to win a majority.

“As we stand here ten days away from Election Day, today and every day going forward truly is Election Day until November 6,” said Schneider. “It’s important that everyone stand up and be counted; that all of us make our voice heard at the ballot box.”

Duckworth, whom the latest polls indicate has a ten percentage-point advantage over Tea Party-backed incumbent, U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-8), urged the crowd of nearly 100 attendees to vote so as to counteract what she described as the efforts of “special interests” and “outside groups” to “silence” the voice of voters by pouring large sums of money into advertising in support of her opponent.

“In the last weeks and months we’ve seen Washington special interest and outside groups come in our state to try to silence your voices,” Duckworth said. “This is your chance to make a stand.”

Despite the projected increase in early voting this year, or maybe because of it, GOP-led legislatures in several states have led efforts to roll back the process by reducing the number of days in-person early voting can occur in swing states, such as Florida and Ohio.

As our nation looks to the future, we all know we must make difficult decisions to bring discipline and balance back to the budgeting process. But these decisions should be guided by our values, not the undue influence of a few special interests.

I believe that my opponent, Rep. Bob Dold, and Congressional Republicans have adopted the wrong priorities. The most telling example: twice in 20 months, my opponent has voted for the Ryan Budget. That means twice ...]]> Budgets reflect our priorities, what we consider most important.

As our nation looks to the future, we all know we must make difficult decisions to bring discipline and balance back to the budgeting process. But these decisions should be guided by our values, not the undue influence of a few special interests.

I believe that my opponent, Rep. Bob Dold, and Congressional Republicans have adopted the wrong priorities. The most telling example: twice in 20 months, my opponent has voted for the Ryan Budget. That means twice he made it clear that an additional $250,000 tax break for the most fortunate Americans, and billions in subsidies for oil companies are more important than protecting the Medicare guarantee we promised to our seniors.

Last week, I hosted a seniors roundtable with Senator Dick Durbin and Max Richtman, President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. We were joined by 10th district residents – current and future Medicare recipients – all with the same concern: “What do we do about Medicare?”

It’s clear that Medicare can’t remain on its current path forever, and we must address the issue to ensure the promise made to our seniors. It’s a promise worth keeping.

That’s why I supported the President’s plan to extend the solvency of Medicare by eight years without sacrificing a single benefit. We need to continue stamping out fraud, waste, and abuse in the system, guaranteeing access to quality care. I also think it’s time to look at allowing Medicare to negotiate the costs of prescription drugs to increase savings. Flexibility and efficiency must be the hallmarks of Medicare moving forward.

But reforming Medicare can’t mean ending its guarantee or shifting the cost burden to seniors.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Ryan plan would do – a plan my opponent voted for twice. Congressman Dold voted twice to hand seniors a fixed check and say, “Deal with the insurance companies; you’re on your own.” Congressman Dold voted twice for a plan the AARP and the Congressional Budget Office agreed would hurt seniors, that it would force seniors to pay thousands more.

The Ryan Budget’s voucher system is bad for seniors – to say nothing of the million students who wouldn’t have Pell Grants or the local governments who would lose $10 billion in federal aid – and Republicans know it.

That’s why 10 Republicans stood up against it. Congressman Dold wasn’t one of them.

And even though Reps. Ryan and Dold try to pretend that their plans would have absolutely no effect on people 55 and older, they would. All people – current and near enrollees – would be subject to as much as $6,400 more in prescription drug costs from the Ryan reopening of the “Donut Hole.”

This approach hasn’t worked in the past, and it won’t work now. But unfortunately, Congressman Dold has shown no indication that he will stand up to Rep. Ryan’s plans. Make no mistake: defeating these irresponsible voucher plans won’t be easy. But nothing could be more important than defeating them.

In order to do it, we need a new direction and a renewed commitment to the promise of Medicare, for this generation of seniors and for generations to come.

Near the end of our roundtable discussion, Max Richtman handed me a pair of boxing gloves. He told me to prepare for a fight. Not just over the next week, but once I get to Congress as well.

I have one message for the people of the 10^th district: I’m ready.

—Brad

Schneider presses Medicare issue in waning days of campaign to unseat Dold

Democrat seeks to refocus North Shore congressional race with TV ad attacking Republican’s votes.

Democratic challenger Brad Schneider sought to refocus a North Shore congressional race on Medicare, airing a new TV ad blasting Republican Rep. Robert Dold for votes to introduce a private insurance component into the program.

Schneider also campaigned with Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to hammer home that message with seniors in the 10th Congressional District.

The new Schneider TV ad ...]]> From the Tribune:

Schneider presses Medicare issue in waning days of campaign to unseat Dold

Democrat seeks to refocus North Shore congressional race with TV ad attacking Republican’s votes.

Democratic challenger Brad Schneider sought to refocus a North Shore congressional race on Medicare, airing a new TV ad blasting Republican Rep. Robert Dold for votes to introduce a private insurance component into the program.

Schneider also campaigned with Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to hammer home that message with seniors in the 10th Congressional District.

The new Schneider TV ad shows black-and-white footage of President Lyndon Johnson, who signed Medicare into law in 1965, discussing the program’s promise to give seniors “dignity in their later years.” The ad goes on to display an unflattering photo of a wide-eyed Dold and accuse him of voting to “end the Medicare guarantee,” costing seniors $6,400 per year and funding tax breaks for the wealthy.

The reference is to House Republican budgets proposed by GOP vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, who first proposed to overhaul Medicare to give payments to private insurers, then modified that to leave a more traditional Medicare option while also including payments to private insurers. The $6,400 figure references the additional cost future Medicare users would have incurred by having to use a federal subsidy to buy coverage under Ryan’s original proposal, but the figure does not apply to the second proposal. Neither became law.

A Dold spokesman said Schneider “has no plan of his own to protect or preserve Medicare.” His campaign has tried to parry Schneider’s claims on Medicare with a commercial starring his mother, Judy, denying that he favors cutting the program. Dold, a first-term congressman from Kenilworth, has said he supports the idea of implementing a mix of private insurance and more traditional Medicare coverage, similar to Ryan’s second proposal.

Schneider also brought Durbin, the state’s senior senator, back out to the district. At Max and Benny’s Restaurant in Northbrook, Durbin and a handful of sympathetic onlookers organized by Schneider’s campaign drank coffee and ate cookies, including treats frosted with the Democratic Party’s symbol, a donkey.

Though Schneider attacked Dold’s votes on Medicare, the Democrat offered only broad ideas on how he might keep the program solvent. Schneider said the best way to ensure the program’s sustainability is to reduce the cost of health care by moving to an “outcome-based” system. “There’s not going to be a silver bullet,” said Schneider, a Deerfield management consultant.