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  • May 22, 2008 6:09 pm US/Central
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Seals, Kirk Tangle Over $1.85 Gas Stunt

GOP Congressman Charges Challenger With Vote Buying; Dems Call Claim Baseless

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (CBS) ― North Shore Congressional candidate Dan Seals was offering gas for $1.85 at a station in Lincolnshire and making up the difference himself, but opponent Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) says the stunt amounts to vote buying.

Seals, a Democrat, is challenging Kirk in the general election this fall. He ran against Kirk and lost in 2006.

Between noon and 1 p.m. Thursday, Seals offered drivers up to 10 gallons of gas for $1.85 per gallon, and footing the bill for the difference, at a Marathon station at 435 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Lincolnshire.

At around 12:20 p.m., the gas station began to turn drivers away. The line at that point was about 1.5 miles long.

The long line that formed forced police to ramp up traffic control.

"We got an hour and a half advance notice," said Lincolnshire Police Dept. Chief Randy Meldin. "I am not happy about that."

Seals said he was offering the $1.85 gas because that was the price before Kirk took office in

"We've seen the cost of gas more than double in the last seven years," Seals said.

"Enough is enough. This is ridiculous," Seals said. "This is a small way for us to show how ridiculous this is."

Kirk's office released the following statement: "While Congressman Kirk leads by example, his opponent plans to hold a staged political event in a possible illegal effort to trade money for votes."
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"The Dan Seals campaign may risk violating federal law by reimbursing voters' gasoline expenses in an effort to influence their votes," Kirk's office said in the news release. "On its face, his action violates Title 18, Section 597 of U.S. Code."

Seals countered, "There are no votes being bought here today. We're buying gas."

"I think it would be great if [Kirk] would spend his efforts on trying to help people have cheaper gas at the pump. I don't think he's doing a good job there," Seals said.

Seals' campaign spokeswoman Elisabeth Smith said Kirk's charges were baseless. A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reacted strongly to Kirk's charges, calling them "pathetic.''

"Congressman Kirk's pathetic attempt to purposely distract and mislead voters is nothing more than a Hail Mary from a desperate congressman worried about losing his seat and being held accountable for being in the tank for big oil special interests,'' said Ryan Rudominer, Midwest Regional Press Secretary.

The law in question calls for a fine of $10,000 and/or a year in prison for offering to "make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate," according to a Kirk campaign news release.

Seals told CBS 2 that Kirk should be investigated for taking money from big oil company lobbyists.

Kirk said he has voted for some 30 measures to reduce gas prices.

There's something to be said, though, for one-on-one marketing. Potential voters learned about Seals and maybe found a potential candidate.

"He wants to help the common people, you know. We're all feeling the pinch when it comes to filling up our cars with gas," said Jennifer Perlgut.

It all cost about $1,100, according to the gas station, for Seals to pick up some of the cost of gas for 49 drivers who were able to make it to the pump in that hour-long promotion. Some people were turned away.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman contributed to this report.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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