Reuters: U.S.: Chicago votes in House race dominated by guns issue

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Chicago votes in House race dominated by guns issue Feb 26th 2013, 20:09 A customer inspects a 9mm handgun at Rink's Gun and Sport in the Chicago, suburb of Lockport, Illinois in this June 26, 2008 file photograph. Credit: Reuters/Frank Polich/Files By Renita Young CHICAGO | Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:09pm EST CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago area voters went to the polls on Tuesday to choose a Democrat who will likely succeed indicted former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr, in the first election clash on gun control since the Connecticut school massacre. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a champion of tighter U.S. gun controls, has poured more than $2 million from his political war chest into the contest in an effort to elect a candidate who favors tighter restrictions. The Illinois lobbying group aligned with gun rights group the National Rifle Association, has endorsed a candidate opposed to an assault weapons ban. Gun control vaulted to the top of the U.S. political agenda after a man last December 14, shot and killed 26 people at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, including 20 children. The outcome of the election will be an indication of whether Bloomberg and other advocates of gun control can effectively challenge the money and political influence of the NRA, which has long been a powerful force in U.S. elections. The special election is to fill the seat of Jackson Jr, who resigned last November citing health problems, and pleaded guilty in federal court last week to using campaign funds for personal enrichment. Jackson Jr was a reliable vote in Congress for gun control. But early polls in the race to succeed him showed that the Democratic primary could be won by Debbie Halvorson, a candidate who has an "A" rating from the NRA and is opposed to a ban on assault weapons. Bloomberg elbowed his way into the race, blanketing Chicago television with ads attacking Halvorson and endorsing former state representative Robin Kelly, who supports tighter gun restrictions. Turnout was expected to be light in the special election and could be hurt by a snowstorm that hit the Chicago area about midday on Tuesday, making travel treacherous. With 14 candidates in the race, the outcome is difficult to predict. One public poll published last Friday showed Halvorson holding a slim lead, but some private polls have showed Kelly pulling ahead. The large field of candidates drew some complaints from voters accustomed to Jackson Jr, who represented the district for nearly two decades. "We've got to start getting together. We've got too many people running," said Donald Massingale, 73, a longtime Jackson Jr supporter. Some voters also said they were glad the special election was being held to fill the seat. Jackson Jr disappeared from public view last June to be treated for mental health issues, and the district has effectively been without a representative in Washington since then. "I don't think the people really understand the importance of this race to have the representation that our district needs," Delores Evans, 58, a poll worker said as she voted before starting work. Some 42 people had voted by midmorning in her precinct, which has more than 700 residents. The race could also be affected by Chicago's racially charged politics. The district is majority African-American although parts of it stretch south to the predominantly white outer suburbs of Chicago. Halvorson, who is the only white candidate for the seat, has appealed to suburban voters who might be sympathetic to gun ownership. Kelly, who is black, has highlighted a plague of gun violence in Chicago's inner city. The winner of the Democratic primary is likely to be elected to the seat because the district is overwhelmingly Democratic. (Reporting by Renita Young, writing by Greg McCune, editing by Jackie Frank, desking by G Crosse) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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