GOP playing favorites in 10th District primary?

Illinois Republican officials brought state Rep. Beth Coulson along to a strategy meeting with national party leader Michael Steele today, but they are working hard to dispel any notion they favor her in the seven-way GOP primary for congress.
“It is just a sit-down to get the lay of the land in Illinois,” says Curt Conrad, spokesman for the Illinois Republican Party.
Coulson was one of about two dozen Republicans set to meet with Steele at 2 p.m. today while he is in the area for private fundraisers. The meeting was organized by Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady, who invited GOP leaders from the state House and Senate. Coulson was invited by House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego, who has endorsed her 10th District primary bid.
Brady said the point of the meeting is to talk with Steele about how the GOP can make a comeback in Illinois after at least a decade on the ropes. Brady said he is not endorsing in the 10th District race.
The race to replace Kirk will likely draw millions of dollars in spending as the GOP hopes to retain the seat even though voters in the district have continually elected Democrats at all levels of government but the U.S. House.
“We want to inform the chairman of what is going on in this state and what we believe is a great opportunity,” Brady said.
However, Coulson apparently planned to bring up her race. In a news release from Thursday, Coulson said, “I welcome the opportunity to meet with Chairman Steele to discuss how the Illinois Republican Party can compete in many of the state elections and how we can keep this seat in Republican control.”
Coulson’s presence at the meeting today sparked a round of reassuring phone calls from Illinois and national party officials to other GOP candidates in the 10th district race. The candidates were told Coulson is not being endorsed.
But the reality remains that Coulson was still invited to a meeting with the Republican National Committee chairman and state party leaders to talk about potential GOP gains in races across the state while none of the other 10th district candidates were offered such a venue.
So far, candidates have chosen to blame Coulson for portraying the meeting as relevant to the 10th District race.
“Beth Coulson appears to want to create impressions that don’t exist,” said Winnetka attorney Bill Cadigan. “The voters in the 10th District are going to decide who the nominee is.”
Coulson campaign spokesman Joe Woodward said the meeting is “not an implied endorsement.” He said the 13-year lawmaker was invited because of “her views on party building and the races she has endorsed.”
Others running in the 10th District GOP primary include: Kenilworth businessman Robert Dold, Winnetka businessman Dick Green, Lake Forest electrical engineer Paul Hamann, Mount Prospect resident Patricia Bird and Highland Park pediatrician Arie Friedman.