After ECU’s $600,000 ad campaign, Bost falls out of favor with voters, Kelly gains ground, 45-46 percent
Washington, DC — A new poll of likely voters, commissioned by End Citizens United (ECU) and conducted by Global Strategy Group, shows the IL-12 race in a statistical tie with Brendan Kelly trailing Rep. Mike Bost by one point, 45-46 percent. Click here to see the polling memo.
In ECU’s July poll, Kelly was behind by nine points, 50-41 percent. In this latest poll, which followed ECU’s ad campaign highlighting Kelly’s work fighting for people instead of special interests and Bost’s campaign contributions from Big Pharma, Kelly erases Bost’s lead to one point. About 33 percent of voters have heard positive information, especially about Kelly’s work as a prosecutor. Additionally, 31 percent of voters are familiar with negative messaging, particularly around Bost’s support for Big Pharma and its role in the opioid epidemic.
The polling, conducted from October 3-7, follows ECU’s $600,000 ad campaign that included two television ads, digital ads, and direct mail. The first ad, titled “Crisis,” exposed Mike Bost for taking campaign contributions from drug companies that are profiting from the opioid crisis and the tax break he gave big pharma in Congress. While “Leadership” focused on Brendan Kelly’s record as a State Attorney in Illinois, where he fought corruption and was the first attorney in the state to sue Big Pharma for its role in opioid epidemic.
“When voters learn that Congressman Bost has taken money from pharmaceutical companies involved with the opioid crisis and that Brendan Kelly has spent his career serving people and taking on special interests, their decision to back Kelly becomes easy,”said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “These numbers continue to prove what we’ve seen throughout the midterm election cycle: putting an end to Washington’s pay-to-play politics and corruption is a top issue for voters, especially independents who will ultimately decide several races in November. Illinois 12 is a prime example of that.”
Global Strategies Group surveyed 404 likely voters in IL-12 from October 3-7. The margin of error is +/- 4.9%.
ECU has been active and engaged in the IL-12 Congressional race. In addition to the ad campaign, ECU President Tiffany Muller traveled to the district to help unveil Kelly’s plan to “Restore Faith in Southern Illinois.” The plan outlines 12 ways Brenden can act in Congress to restore trust in our broken political system. Kelly was also part of the coalition of 107 House challengers who sent a letter to the House of Representatives calling for a reform bill as the first item on the agenda in 2019. In December, Bost earned a spot on ECU’s “Big Money 20” — a list of incumbent Republicans the group is targeting who represent the worst of Washington’s rigged system.
# # #