Grassroots Victory Center ??to Open in East Moline

Rock Island County has once again earned a grassroots Victory Center.

Local grassroots volunteers sent a powerful message in 2010 by working around the clock to elect Bobby Schilling to the U.S. House of Representatives. This time around, they're hoping to keep him in Washington and send several strong new leaders to Springfield as well.

Susie Carpentier, Chairman of the Rock Island County Republican Party, lobbied hard to secure a grassroots Victory Center for Rock Island County in 2010, and her efforts paid off. Volunteers made a total of 188,245 calls to voters in the Illinois 17th District, stuffed and sent out 14,036 envelopes, and helped Bobby Schilling win Rock Island County by 996 votes, a historic feat for a Republican. Carpentier said she anticipates even better results this November.

"This is the most important election cycle in decades," Carpentier said. "The grassroots Victory Center is a very important tool to help Republicans change the political landscape of our country, state, and county. Thousands of volunteers will assist at the center to ensure that victory is realized through these phones in November. This operation will provide information to voters while generating enthusiasm and camaraderie as we march towards victory."

Terry Schilling, campaign manager at Bobby Schilling for Congress, pointed out that the Victory Center also played a key role in the success of Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate campaign in 2010. He believes the Victory Center will once again be instrumental to Republican victories throughout Illinois.

"This is an unprecedented cooperation bringing every Republican campaign in Rock Island County together with one clear goal: to get out the vote in November," Schilling said. "Our grassroots operation was incredible in 2010, and now we're looking to set new benchmarks in 2012. That means more volunteers, more outreach, and even stronger results at the ballot box."