* From the Southern Illinoisan…

As for Trump’s impact on state legislative races, lawmakers and observers say it could vary widely by region.

While his presence on the ballot might help Republicans in Southern Illinois, it could hurt them in the Chicago suburbs, said Chris Mooney, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.

The key will likely be which candidate and party inspires more voters to come to the polls – or to stay home, Mooney said.

“It’s not about changing people’s minds,” he said. “It’s about motivating your people to come out to vote and demobilizing the opponent’s voters.”

Yep. And Democrats will attempt to “nationalize” this race by putting Trump up front in certain areas. Republicans will want to make it more state-focused (meaning: Madigan).

* For example…

Today, the House Republican Organization released two TV ads in Southern Illinois to further highlight Gary Forby and John Bradley’s history of backing Mike Madigan’s Chicago agenda.

Gary Forby has been Mike Madigan’s lieutenant in the Senate for over a decade. He voted for Madigan’s phony budgets 14 times and rubber stamped $13 billion in deficit spending. Instead of working to cut waste, Forby voted to double the income tax and expand the sales tax.

John Bradley claims to fight for Southern Illinois, but does Madigan’s bidding in Springfield, voting for billions in debt and tax breaks for a company that closed shop in Southern Illinois and shipped jobs to Chicago.

Gary Forby and John Bradley serve Mike Madigan, and Southern Illinois pays the price.

Watch “Madigan’s Senator” here
Watch “The Madigan Thing” here

Script (Madigan’s Senator):
For decades, Mike Madigan’s had an iron grip on Springfield.
And…our own state Senator, Gary Forby.
Forby’s helped Madigan drive Illinois into the ditch.
Raising our taxes while shortchanging our schools.
14 times Forby backed Madigan’s phony budgets.
Thirteen billion in deficit spending.
He voted to double income tax and expand the sales taxes.
And Forby rubber- stamped Madigan’s bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
Gary Forby: Mike Madigan’s senator — not ours.

Script (The Madigan Thing):
ANNC: John Bradley says one thing here…
BRADLEY AD: “I’m John Bradley, I’ll never stop fighting for Southern Illinois.”
ANNC: But does another thing there — the Madigan thing.
And when Bradley does the Madigan thing, we pay the price.
Massive debt, higher taxes, a bailout for Chicago Schools.
Bradley even supported tax breaks for a company that closed shop here and shipped our jobs to Chicago.
John Bradley doing the Madigan thing — the wrong thing for Southern Illinois.

* Related…

* Rauner still needs Trump, despite differences

* Illinois delegation at GOP convention gets security warning: “We need to work together. All of us together. The Illinois Republican Party, we’re not your enemy. We’re your friend,” Schneider said.

* Trump delegates and GOP regulars: An arranged marriage

* Some Trump RNC Delegates Surprised About Paying Their Own Way To Cleveland

* Unorthodox Illinois Republican delegation heads to Trump convention without Rauner, Kirk