77 Comments - Whatever - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:47 pm: Sounds like Gidwitz disagrees with Dillard about that loan — Dillard DOES need to pay it back LOL - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:49 pm: Maybe Dillard shouldn’t have said that he didn’t have to pay Gidwitz back the $200K. That’s quite a crew Emanuel’s buddy Rauner is lining up. It’s counter-intuitive to see Gidwitz join up with the likes of Roeser and Uihlein. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:52 pm: Welp, When you borrow 200 Large from a rich guy, and don’t py them back, and THEN say you don’t HAVE TO pa that back … are ya suprised when they take a “walk” on ya? This is good for Rauner, Rauner could use the money …Yikes! - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:53 pm: Rauner: “I see your Jim Edgar and raise you… with the entire business community.” - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:54 pm: First, Lisa buries his announcement, then this. Not a great campaign kickoff. - shore - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:54 pm: Really happy to see Dillard/Edgar skunked. Sorry but the shot was 2010, the blew and we’re really really really sick of hearing about “the gold days” which of course have been followed by a decade of wilderness wandering. FWIW gidwitz can raise $ yes, but we’ve seen so many rich guys blow millions of buckarooos on these races. On tv, Rauner looks an awful lot like Andy Mckenna only less polished and less articulate and McKenna was barely a notch above jason plummer. I think this also hurts Rutherford who has worked the chicagoland circuit incredibly hard in particular the gay, jewish, minority groups. He could have used gidwitz. - Illinoisan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:55 pm: Rauner’s ambiguity and self-funding are reminiscent of Meg Whitman in 2010. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:55 pm: “Kirk, Ron on ‘Line 2′, something about ‘calling in a loner’ thing or something…” - Whatever - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:55 pm: Yeah, tough roll-out. - Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:55 pm: Money attracts money! - Empty Suit - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:56 pm: ..but hey he’s not a politician he’s a citizen. Every citizen gives millions to politicians. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 2:59 pm: –Rauner’s ambiguity and self-funding are reminiscent of Meg Whitman in 2010.– He’s not self-funding yet. He’s raising a lot of money from the hedgie crowds here, NYC and LA. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:00 pm: The rich run with their own kind. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:03 pm: Now the “LARD sign fiasco” looks pretty trivial … To the Post, Big “Get” for Rauner, just to take any oxygen out of Dillard’s sails financially, but let’s not give too much credit to Rauner; The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Dillard never should have went down the “no payback” road, even if it was true in his mind, because it now looks like Dillard’s word on his own campaign is in question. The appearance of owing a rich man money, that backed you last time, flipping on you, and under the guise of Dillard not fulfilling an obligation… Bad Day for Dillard, Good Day for Rauner, but of the two, Dillard’s negative is great than the add for Rauner. - Just Saying - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:05 pm: This isn’t just a rich guy helping another rich guy. Gidwitz is widely respected by the DC types and others that Rauner has had trouble trying to pull into the boat. And if Gidwitz is on board, can Greg Baise be far behind? - Illinoisan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:09 pm: Right, but he will eventually. The ILGOP blew their chances in 2010 and I don’t see much different being done this time around. - Nieva - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:09 pm: So in one day and out the next?? - Good - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:13 pm: Ron is all about Ron. Take his ego over to the big out of touch rich guy ego suite. Dillard needs to win this! - bobby dylan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:15 pm: This just makes it even better for PQ. Daley vs. Rauner? That’s like a mirror fight. “I have more money!” “I have more friends with more money!” I really would have loved to see a Dillard/Quinn fight. PQ now has one long battle against the monied interests. Count’em 474 days to go. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:20 pm: Keep in mind, Dillard’s seat is “up”, right? Who is to say Dillard keeps running throught the State Fair, and wen the date comes to circulate, he just circulates for State Senate…Use this time, especially after this awful rollout in so many ways … to “run”, assess, and give it to the final moments, like when Dillard needs to choose a running-mate, and then press forward. Gotta re-group after these few days, with Lisa and Gidwitz, its early but… - Snucka - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:20 pm: If you thought Governor Quinn was happy with yesterday’s news, that’s nothing compared to how pleased he would be to face Rauner in the GE. Illinois in 2014 is absolutely not going to elect Bruce Rauner governor. To think otherwise is to seriously misread the electorate. - anon - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:23 pm: Maybe Dillard is just playing for the LG spot. HA! - cover - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:28 pm: IMHO, this has improved Gov. Quinn’s re-election chances by at least 10% points, maybe more. Why would the GOP back a candidate who simply can’t win the general election? - Darienite - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:29 pm: OW, your thought on a 180 is plausible. Other idea, he sucks up his ego and plays wingman to Rutherford. - Elo Kiddies - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:32 pm: Willy- Dillard drew a 2-4-4, so every time the statewides are on the ballot between now and 2022, his senate seat is, too. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:38 pm: I thought Dillard got the “Bad Draw”, thanks, - Elo Kiddies -. - hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:42 pm: Well I guess this endorsement ensures that even if Dillard did want to some day pay Gidwitz back, Dillard will never come close to raising the money where he could even do so. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:42 pm: I do like a Rutherford/Dillard team, lots of “good” there, Rutherford runs his strategy, Dillard covers Rutherford’s flank with the Conservatives Dillard has been courting … It looks like a nice fit, so that will make it impossible to happen. Plus, Dillard could suck it up, go back to the Illinois Senate, anything can happen after that, but if he stays in the race and loses, this might be “it” for him. but unlike yesterday, the deck he is playing seems to only have 5s or 7s, and not many “Face Cards” left … - Darienite - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:50 pm: Was first elected state senator in ‘94. Don’t see another term. - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:53 pm: Still early guys. The GOP has to fight this perception of Country Club fogies. It’s possible that Dillard and Rutherford start to play ping pong with “the outsider in the Carhartt” in debates and otherwise. Gidwitz has more gold than a golden touch. Need to give this a little time to shake out. None of this stuff is accidental or coincidental. They’re trying to scuttle Dillard’s roll out. Why would they do that? Hmmmmm - LincolnLounger - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:54 pm: Wait until Rauner and his expert national hired guns get a load of Gidwitz marching in and telling them how to run the show. I’d pay to see it. Well put at 3:42 p.m., Willy. - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 3:59 pm: True, LL. Funny thing about rich guys; they all act rich i.e. smartest and most accomplished guys in the universe. Lots of cooks in the kitchen there. Just have to let it play out for a while. My prediction is that Dillard would not go back to the Senate. It’s not like he doesn’t have other options private or public. He’s in. - GA Watcher - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:05 pm: I feel for Senator Dillard. He’s had terrible timing with this Governor thing. I wish I had a nickle for every time I heard someone say that they wished they had voted for him in the primary four years ago after they had seen him in action in a Senate committee or on the floor. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:07 pm: What Gidwitz might also bring in is some loval “talent” that is lacking in the Rauner Camp. While I, too, would get a kick out of being in a room with all these money guys trying to figure out how to win, Gidwitz has access to local talent that might be useful … many tools in the Gidwitz tool box, besides cash, that Rauner likes, but does not not “need” like others in the race. - Norseman - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:09 pm: Following up on Willy’s point, Kirk can use the time to raise money to pay off his debt and then bail. This is not his cycle. - J. Nolan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:10 pm: This is a serious miscalculation by Gidwitz. I dont understand why these people cant realize that it doesnt matter how much money Rauner throws at it because all it takes is one ad outlining Rauners thousands of dollars spent on liberal democrat campaigns, and its over. Brady, Rutherford, and Dillard will all have their own version of that ad. This will be like Rick Perry in his first and second debate after getting and EVERYONE will go after him because the target is so big. Which one of the three will emerge from that? Who has the least amount of baggage and most money of those three remaining? I think its clear. - anon - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:12 pm: hilarious that if dillard pays gidwitz back, gidwitz will turn around and give it to rauner to use against dillard. here’s the knife, sir. please insert it here. - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:21 pm: I was stunned when the least capitalized guy in the race won the primary last time. These money guys aren’t as good at winning as they are at taking someone else out of the race. If the theme of this election season turns out to be “Populist” in both parties, funny things can happen. This process of having a “high net worth only” leadership committee could easily drive the Sergeants, Corporals and Privates who do the vote slaying in another direction. So far Rauner is succeeding at making people like Dillard who may not have before. It looks like the Rauner/Gidwitz crowd isn’t showing much love or respect to Rutherford at all. My estimation is that’s a tactical error by the paid team. Dillard has a base. Rutherford has a base. Brady even has a base. Rauner has a lot of money. So do Daley and Quinn. The airwaves will be crowded. Maybe I’m too skeptical, but I’ve seen this play before. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:22 pm: Ok, Gidwitz negatives for Rauner; Brings no voting constituency, as an elected official, or a base from his run statewide. You get Ron, and …Ron….and Ron’s money and “ones and twos” of operatives, which is nice and all … but that is it. Rauner needs Politicos with a “base” that will give Rauner a starting point to build. They are disorganized. If they were remotely organized, they would have attempted a fly-around, which they did not. Gidwitz brings none of the “base” organization constituency that Rauner needs. I am just listing negatives, look at above posts for positives. Gidwitz doen not bring a diverse idea of how to run statewide. gidwitz knows how to be the rich guy who loses, but Rauner needs a path to victory, becuase at some point, Ruaner needs to face voters, debate, be more than passable in ads, and be able to explain away all his baggage …. and Gidwitz is no help in those departments either. Dillard can take solace that Rauner cut a major money “artery”, and took some “ones and twos” in talent, maybe … but Gidwitz takes no votes, no “base” of votes, no region, no significant path for Rauner to follow, and no infastructure ready to roil out. This was to help - Cincinnatus - come off from the ledge, if he is there today. - more of the same - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:25 pm: Actually I really don’t think this hurts Dillard too much and LincolnLounger is right on with that comment. Ron is spectacular at losing races he’s involved with. Plus it’s makes complete sense he’s with Rauner they are the socially liberal Chicago multi-millions that both love Rahm and vice-versa. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:28 pm: - J Nolan -, Good points, agree 100% and said the same before. The path for the other three is to hammer Rauner, and his hypocricy, and leave the other two alone, using the glaring inconsistencies in Rauner to define themselves and not to weaken each other, if Dillard, Brady or Rutherford get the Nomination. Rauner is the fulcrum to make the case to define who you are in the Primary. If any of the tree realize that, and hammer on what makes them Republican in the spectrum of Bruce Rauner, and build a field organization, etc., then they will be cooking with some gas … Well said, - J Nolan -, agree wih ya. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:30 pm: ===I was stunned when the least capitalized guy in the race won the primary last time.=== Brady had a Field Organization and GOTV geared up for Election Day in the Primary … Just sayin’ … - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:32 pm: Willie, The fact we’re not hearing from Cincinnatus might mean Dillard is listening to Rosetta Stone campaign tapes. lol. That message is the same in every language. I think your analysis on Rauner is spot on a couple comments up. The worst it’s done is keep Dillard from a money source. If he can replace some of that, he’s still ahead. I’m not so sure Baise joins this club. It has members he hasn’t enjoyed playing with in the past. - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:38 pm: I agree Willie. Brady had what it took to eke out 187 extra votes. I was still surprised. If our party has any hope of getting the mansion back, we need a guy to win on purpose. Just hoping. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:39 pm: - A guy …-, I think we are singing from the same songbook too. I agree with your thoughts as you can read above, and you understand the big picture. The question is, with Rutherford and Brady … and specifically Dillard … understand it too. Well said, - A guy …-. - Jaded - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:41 pm: When was the last time Gidwitz backed a winner? Not having him in your camp might be a good thing. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:42 pm: - LincolnLounger - You bring the popcorn, I will bring the beverages if they let us see how these meetings go down from now on. - J. Nolan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:44 pm: Thanks OW, and to my question, who do YOU think is the best positioned to capitalize on Rauners inevitable crash and burn? - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:50 pm: We’ll see Willie. I’m hoping. I’ve been more partial to Rutherford over time, but as stated above, the attempts to quash Dillard’s coming out party are telling me who they fear most. If I were Dan R. I wouldn’t take comfort, I’d be a little ticked. Dan’s got some dough. Dillard has raised some, but not enough. Brady appears to be floundering terribly with finance (I could be wrong, but it looks that way to me)The Royal Palace with no subjects seems to consider Dillard their big obstacle. If these guys all debate on a stage, J Nolan is right about Rauner looking like Rick Perry. If I were advising any of the 3 others I’d encourage them to get this guy into their venue, you know, actual government discussions, and have at him. McKenna hid. So will Rauner. If the 3 of them work it right, it will cost Bruce $20K per vote and they’ll have a race among the 3 of them. I hope they get it too. Good comments as always Willie. - Oh no! - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:50 pm: When is the Illinois Manufactures Assoc. Board going to tell Baise it’s time to back someone other than his friends! - $$$ - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 4:54 pm: How much money has Dillard already accepted from the Teachers Union? - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 5:03 pm: $$$, I just looked. Dillard’s on the record for voting for Pension Reform in the Senate. At least the guys who’ve actually had to take positions are telling you what they are and not saying “more on that later”. This stuff doesn’t raise the level of the debate. With the amount of money it takes and the scarcity of it for all but one of them, there will be plenty of odd bedfellows. Focus on the actual positions codified by actual votes. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 5:09 pm: - A guy…-, Agreed, time will tell, we can hope that when this race hits its stride, that all four have a clue, because these have not been the most ideal rollouts I could remember. Thanks for the kind words as well. To - J Nolan -, The answer is very easy, but the dynamic is still insuch flux; The winner of the GOP Primary is the campaign that best understands that 2014 is about undertanding WHERE there votes are coming from in 2014, and not a replay of support from 2010 variables, and in a crowded Primary, the first to take the knowledge of where the voters are, and can build a field organization to physically get them to the polls, and that infastructure works … wins. Rauner has no base, and no infstructure to do those things, so even adding Gidwitz’s money and “talent”, Rauner is no closer, as we all have discussed. Rutherford and Brady are “fishing off the same pier” geographically, but not ideologically, so in their shared home region, whoever can find their voters there and outmanuver the other will be in the best position to take on the other. If Brady thinks and reacts and builds off 2010 as THE point, and thinks a replay of his win in the Primary is a lock, he will lose. Brady needs to to look at 2014 as a stand alone, especially with Rutherford in the region. Rutherford needs to cut deep in the region, pick off dissatified Brady voters who are more Moderate, but liked “native son” Brady. Rutherford’s network today is a good start, but not “game ready”. If the Rutherford Camp thinks they are “ground ready”, they … will lose. Winning the region, but finding their sweet spot, and picking off Brady folk is a key. All that being said, Dillard is in the drivers seat, ground game wise, if he is smart enough to understand that. Dillard needs to bulid off DuPage with the region having a rich target of voters to harvest, but you need a very good ground game to pull this off. Dillard shares the region with no one, but lazy ground troops are worse than NO ground troops. Dillard needs to secure actual infastructure, coordinate and dominate the region with a very strong GOTV and he is in the best shape to win. Dillard, Rutherford and Brady all have a path to victory, that is the bottom line. Whoever can see, and put into play the gameplan is going to win, Rauner’s millions or not. None of them can outspend Rauner, but they all can outwork him, out organize him, and out execute him. Can they? Will they? I have my popcorn… - Rod - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 5:15 pm: As depressed as I have been about Lisa not running this story really did cheer me up. Governor Quinn really does have the luck of the Irish, who would have thought the big money Republicans would throw their chips behind Rauner. Rich was correct Quinn can unleash a full scale class war against Rauner and his millionaire buddies like Gidwitz and Ty Fahner. Quinn is at his best when he thinks he is fighting for the little guy. By the way who the heck is that little guy? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 5:24 pm: And just to be even more clear … When I mean Infastructure and I highlight the base, I am skipping over the a given; Infastructure means statewide; Rockford, Quad Cities, Quincy, Metro East, Sangamon, Champaign, etc.,… You can’t be Dillard and focus on DuPage and forget Sangamon, just as Brady can’t focus on McLean and forget my beloved Kendall. Infatructure means finding ALL votes, everywhere, and have the ability to get them voting, be it in your “base” or in the city of Chicago. Wanted to clarify that, and that media is important and money is critical, and spending it wisely is even more critical, but for a thumbnail, that is what I gave in the post … Hope that helps, - J Nolan -. - Chad - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 5:55 pm: Good comments OW. One angle not yet discussed is raw political fire in the belly. If Rauner implodes, Rutherford brings the higher level of energy to the campaign. My observation is that Dillard is replaying his low key past approach, and would rely on a diminished DuPage GOP to work for him. Brady just seems to be flopping with his previous downstate supporters. Rutherford has been relentless for the past 4 years. I mean, I even got a personal call from his mother thanking me for a contribution. Sheesh. This guy has set the snares for support in some overlooked corners. Dillard and Brady are coasting on middling pasts in comparison. I have liked Dillard in the past from a policy perspective, but his recent comments on fund raising show he is the same old lazy candidate. “I’m not going to pay my political debts, and if elected I will blow-off my fundraising activities.” - more of the same - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 5:59 pm: OW “Dillard needs to secure actual infastructure, coordinate and dominate the region with a very strong GOTV and he is in the best shape to win.” DING DING that is what he needs to focus on - 2010 ground game/grassroots & northern field staff was an embarrassment. - Perry Noya - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:05 pm: I offer no comment on Rauner, Dillard, or Gidwitz. I just say, to those holding that Rauner can’t possibly win, that it is folly to predict elections 15 months out, heck, even 30 days out. - $$$ - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:32 pm: Rauner is no Romney - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:36 pm: - Chad - and - more of the same -, Thanks. To - Chad -, The “Fire in the Belly” arguement is a good one, but right now, in the snapshot of July 16th, that question is like in baseball asking about a Ball Club in May, if they have what it takes in the “Dog Days of August”. We haven’t even gotten to the State Fair, meaning, while any or all may look fresh, tired, bored, whatever, and I know I have dinged them on it too, the proof of the fire, is in the “Dog Days” of the campaign, and in the Primary, that is around the first week in January; the finish line is visable, but January and Feburary are just bears to a campaign schedule. Great point, I agree, just imagine you are Harry Carey, Jack Buck, Hawk Harrelson, or any baseball announcer, and wait and watch for the “Dog Days” to see if that fire is lit. - J. Nolan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:37 pm: Chad - Great point. In fact, Brady is actually known as Senator Lazy so its not just Dillard. No one, i mean no one will outwork the Treasurer. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:39 pm: ===Rauner is no Romney=== You are 100% right. Romney was a Governor, understood what it means to run a state within a constitution, ran for elected office …and won, debated on TV, had policies rolled out and criticized, answered questions about family… You are 100% right. Rauner is no Romney. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 6:44 pm: ===How much money has Dillard already accepted from the Teachers Union?=== When Payton Prep Clouter Bruce Rauner found out his Daughter was denied entry into a Chicago Public School and then Clouted his Daughter IN the Chicago Public School over some child who passed the test and was on a “Wait List” That Clouted Rauner Child … was she taught by a Chicago Public School teacher that Rauner rails about? Just asking … - Now - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 7:01 pm: Dan needs to come out now! - more of the same - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 8:06 pm: I really don’t think Dillard will take DuPage for granted even though reports say he over 400 at his state swing return and seems to have good turn-out at his other locations including Rockford where he is strongly supported and in the metro east area where he beat Brady, granted this is a small sampling but he is more than just DuPage. Besides I just don’t see Republican primary voters voting for the guy who made Rahm rich, pro abortion and who had Blago’s bag boy Stu Levine on the monthly payroll. - UnderInfluence - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 8:27 pm: “…and take on a broken system in Springfield currently dominated by special interests.” Then goes on to list the following: “a campaign that already includes supporters like Anne and Ken Griffin, Mike Keiser, Jack Roeser, John Rowe, Dick Uihlein” Remind me again what defines “special interest”…. - Samurai - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:32 pm: Still say Dillard v. Rutherford. Dillard has been traveling the State meeting with precinct committee people and party leaders. It was no coincident that there is not another DuPage County Candidate; though this factor is not as significant if it had been 2010. Dillard will have a surprising number of supporters willing to hit the ground. Ron’s airplane will be missed though. - Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 11:00 pm: Oswego Willy, I’m here. I’m always here. And there ain’t no ledges on the ground where I’m workin’… Your emails are being read very carefully by me, keep ‘em coming. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 12:15 am: - Cincinnatus -, If emails you mean my posts, then good. If you are getting real emails, they ain’t from me, honest. If I were to email ya, you will know. Don’t be fooled! I am only posting that, so you know. If you were being funny/snarky, that is cool. Make sure you get your secret decoder ring, my next post will be encrypted. Good Luck. - DanL60 - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 8:30 am: ==Brady had a Field Organization and GOTV geared up for Election Day in the Primary …== Someone forgot to tell NE Illinois about that, specially DuPage County. - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 8:34 am: I did indeed mean posts. And I read your posts carefully because you craft them thoughtfully. Each one contains some nugget I hadn’t considered and it would be foolish of me to not learn from them. But, I will not pay you or AA for the advice, I’ll leave that up to Rauner! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 8:38 am: - Cincinnatus -, If - AA - gets our billing figured out … Fight the good fight, when asked, I will answer, but I think I will sit out picking one side over the other. Thanks for the kind words as well. - William j Kelly - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 9:59 am: Gidwitz endorses rauner? Great! Now all rauner needs is his other money buddy Rahm to endorse him and I am sure alllll the republicans primary voters will looooove him!;) - BuzzKill - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 10:16 am: Rauner bragging about Jimmy John’s guy defecting to him. Apparently it is the father of Jimmy John. Somebody better watch out about filing false campaign information. - downstate hack - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 10:27 am: Dillard will still have ground support and a significant following. The Suburbs are his key and with pockets of support downstate he may still surprise. - votecounter - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 11:10 am: Money is the Mothers Milk of politics. If Dillard has to go through the Teachers Union and other unions for cash he is done! If he doesn’t, he is done! So put a fork in Dillard and look for more candidates to get in the race; it’s wide open and begging for someone who can rally the base. - Samurai - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 11:40 am: Votecounter, do tell who these other candidates are who will “rally the base” (i.e. espouse far right ideology). That has worked so well in Illinois. I know, Senator Oberweis should declare. He has money, he likes to run for office and he has money. Do not under estimate Dillard’s support and his appreciate for the fact that politics is a game of addition, not subtraction. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.