It was another milestone in Sen. Mark Kirk's recovery as he made a silent campaign appearance in an online video for fellow Republican Dold.
In the video the Dold reelection campaign bus is seen arriving at Kirk's North Shore home. The video cuts to shots of the senator, who is still recovering from a major stroke nine months ago, wearing a bomber jacket and smiling during a conversation with Dold. Dold succeeded Kirk in congress in 2010.
"The interaction was very strong. It was good. He's thinking clearly, speaking well. I'm confident he'll be back in the United States Senate fighting for the people of Illinois very shortly," Dold said.
As Dold's campaign tour continued in the re-drawn10th district, his Democratic challenger Brad Schneider appeared with supporters who complained that the incumbent had used taxpayer money to mail self-promoting postcards.
"I didn't think that much of it until I started looking at it and found that it was paid by taxpayer expense," Deerfield resident Len Solof said.
"To be using taxpayer dollars at this time in this way is unfortunate. I think it's reprehensible," Schneider said.
However, Dold insisted the mailer followed congressional election season rules because it went to fewer than 500 addresses.
"We're trying to communicate with constituents and we still represent the 10th District," Dold said. "Our job doesn't stop simply because its campaign season."
The 10th District is mostly comprised of Chicago's northern suburbs.
