Nancy Beasely responded to the commercial and decided to “phone first” when it came to campaigning against her opponent, said representatives for Patrick Welch, D-Peru at a Tuesday press conference.

Representatives for Beasely claimed Welch is not sticking with the issues, while representatives for Welch accuse Beasely of negative campaigning.

“We’ve had people call us and tell us that they have received a phone call which begins with polling questions concerning the Welch race for state senate,” said Jon Balestri, LaSalle County Democratic Chairman. “When the voter answers that he/she is a Welch supporter, the caller launches into a misleading negative message about Pat Welch.”

Beasely representatives waiting outside the door denied the accusation.

“Calls were made to lay out a couple of things. We’re not talking negative. We’re talking issues,” said Art Hanlon, campaign consultant for Beasely.

anlon and George Beasely, DeKalb County Board Chairman, said the issues discussed include the school bill, abortion rights, economic development in LaSalle County, agricultural taxes and election reform.

Balestri and Gene Sparrow, DeKalb County Democratic Chairman said the phone calls were made to “produce a lower turnout of voters which would work in favor of the minority group or the Republicans.”

Hanlon and Beasely said the phone calls were made through a phone bank for the Beasely campaign by “volunteers for Beasely and a paid telemarketing firm, based in Hinsdale, which is no different than Welch’s phone bank based in Springfield.”

“These calls are designed to make the voters believe that the negative message comes from an impartial source, when in fact the phone message is sponsored by the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate,” said Balestri.

Hanlon said Beasely will be available at NIU on Thursday to “teach a journalism class on campus.” He also said she will discuss the issues of the campaign and her position on these issues.