by Travis DeNeal, Kirk Mottram, Sara Bean and Harold G. Downs

Daily Egyptian Politics Staff

The two Republican candidates vying for a shot at the 12th District Congressional seat are rallying the troops for two final weeks of battle in the primary, stalking undecided voters while prolonging an intra-party feud.

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Conservatives Bill Price and Gail Kohlmeier seek the Republican nomination in the March 17 election for the chance to upset Democratic incumbent Jerry Costello, D-Belleville.

A lifelong Democrat who switched parties last year to run for Congress, Price contends his former party deserted him and since then he has found a home with the GOP. With two weeks until voters cast their ballots, the Belleville orthopedic surgeon is selling himself as the compassionate conservative, using his Democratic ties to appeal to swing voters who in the past have backed Costello.

He really carries the voice of the party, says Price’s campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Tebow. He wants to grow the Republican party and stir up passion on both sides.

Tebow is confident this strategy will enable Price to secure the Republican nomination March 17 and ultimately defeat Costello. To this point, Price has used his name to attract voters. His father, the immensely popular former U.S. Rep. Mel Price, D-Ill., served in Congress for more than 20 years. Consequently, Price has led Kohlmeier by about 25 points in recent polls and is seen by some to be gaining.

Tebow said what separates Price from past Republican candidates is his defiance of Costello. This is surprising since in the past Price has worked for and contributed to Costello’s re-election campaigns.

Bill is just not intimidated by Jerry, Tebow said.

Besides billing himself as compassionate and inclusive, Price is stressing his traditional conservative values, values that frequently have been called into question by Kohlmeier. Kohlmeier argues her opponent is really a Democrat.

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However, Price’s positions on hot-button conservative issues are almost exactly the same as Kohlmeier’s and seem to contradict her charge that Price leans Democratic.

We have a formidable candidate here, Tebow said. Bill is a Republican. Bill is a conservative and anybody who says otherwise is wrong.

Citing honesty and integrity as key ingredients to her campaign, Gail Kohlmeier is riding a wave of conservatism into the Republican primary for the 12th Congressional District.

Kohlmeier, founder of the Christian Community School in St. Clair county, has the backing of the Christian Coalition.

Kohlmeier fired three-quarters of her campaign staff last week after workers failed to return questionnaires for sent by the Chicago Tribune in its endorsement process. That left two people, Mark Urbin and Brian Newton, in charge of Kohlmeier’s campaign.

Kohlmeier has politicked on such right-wing themes as pro-life and pro-guns. Urbin said the key to Kohlmeier’s campaign will be her conservative base.

She is going to be pulling the conservative vote, pro-life and pro-gun vote, Urbin said. That is how the get-out-the-vote drive will work.

Kohlmeier said her campaign efforts in the next two weeks will focus on radio advertisements and such grassroots campaigning as going out and meeting the people.

She also said Price’s views are unclear.

I don’t know what his views are on anything, she said. I am not certain his views have changed from Democrat to Republican. He says as a Democrat he voted for a Republican president.

If he is a Republican, is he going to represent me as a Democrat?

Costello, 12th District incumbent, faces opposition from Ken Wiezer in the Democratic primary, though Wiezer virtually has disappeared from the campaign, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Costello said he has developed a very strong base of supporters over the years and has a strategy to contact them prior to the election day.

I am very proud of my recent accomplishments such, as staying in touch with those I represent through public forums, town meetings and offices throughout the state, Costello said. I go to the people I represent.

Costello said he thinks there is still a need to address several issues, including child care and education reforms.

He said the fact that Glenn Poshard is on the ticket will result in a higher voter turnout in southwestern and Southern Illinois.

The voters in these areas will make a big difference in the election, even more so than four years ago, Costello said.