WASHINGTON — Mayor Bloomberg scored a political knockout yesterday when he helped chase a pro-gun Democrat out of a special congressional election in Illinois.
Illinois state Sen. Toi Hutchinson abandoned her campaign yesterday, two days after Bloomberg’s political committee unleashed attack ads over her past opposition to tough gun restrictions.
She cited the gun issue in her concession and threw her support behind Bloomberg’s candidate, former Democratic state Rep. Robin Kelly.
“In the wake of horrendous gun-related crimes all across the country, I agree with Robin that we need to stand together to fight gun violence,” she said.
Bloomberg’s Independence USA political action committee has spent $1.4 million in the election to succeed former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. It is poised to spend up to $2 million for the Feb. 26 Democratic primary, more than any of the 17 candidates have raised.
The winner of the primary is almost guaranteed to take the seat in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.
Bloomberg also set his sights on another candidate in the race, Debbie Halvorson, a one-time congresswoman with an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. She had been in the lead until Bloomberg began bombarding the air waves weeks ago.