In his quest to get on the ballot as an independent candidate for assessor, Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool is leaving no stone unturned.
His campaign was at yesterday's Tea Party protest at Daley Plaza, asking the 1,000 or so people there to support his bid.
It makes sense for Claypool - disenfranchised with Machine politics - to seek support from Tea Partiers, who are disenfranchised with high taxes and the government, in general.
But Democrats, who are backing Board of Review Commissioner and party chairman Joseph Berrios, were quick to condemn the move this morning.
Scott Cisek, political director for the county's Democratic party, called Claypool a "Mad Hatter" on Facebook, and others questioned if aligning himself with the controversial Tea Party is the best move.
If it helps get him on the ballot, it could be a smart move for Claypool, who says a Berrios win would be bad for taxpayers. On the other hand, it could sway some independent voters who don't like seeing Claypool cozying up to the Tea Party.
UPDATE:
Claypool campaign manager Tom Bowen said the message on petitioners' clipboard ("Are your taxes too high? Vote for Forrest Claypool.") was not tailored for the Tea Party rally.
“That message is on the back of their clipboard at every event they go to. The message of tax fairness works everywhere. It has nothing to do with that rally,” he says.