'Shadow' group is funding Karmeier attack, campaign says

More than a half million dollars has been spent to undermine the retention of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier.

According to a release from Karmeier's campaign committee, a "shadow" organization - "Campaign for 2016" - has spent $507,000 in an "11th hour" attack on Karmeier in the St. Louis and Paducah, Cape Girardeau and southern Illinois media markets.

The group is not registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections or the Federal Elections Commission, as of Monday morning.

"We do not know anything about Campaign for 2016," said Karmeier campaign manager Ron Deedrick. "This is a complete shadow organization, because their leadership and funding sources are unknown. These factors should trouble the voting public of the southern 37 counties in Illinois."

Deedrick said the group should show who is behind the effort "and make their true motives known to the voting public and media."

Karmeier has so far raised $121,100 in individual campaign contributions.

Deedrick said that plans are under way to step up fund-raising in order to buy TV time. He said that print and radio advertising have already been scheduled. Other voter outreach efforts, such as robo-calls and endorsements, are planned.