* Comptroller Leslie Munger’s new TV ad has footage of Susana Mendoza seconding the nomination of Michael Madigan for House Speaker…
* Script…
VO: Susana Mendoza spent her political career following Mike Madigan’s orders.
SM: “I second the nomination of Michael J. Madigan for Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.”
VO: Mendoza called him her mentor- but the Chicago Tribune called Madigan “the architect of Illinois’ financial downfall.”
VO: Together they voted for the largest tax hike in Illinois history and even raised their pay by a whopping 13 percent.
SM: I for one am thankful to the Speaker…for what he’s done for each and every one of us.
VO: Susana Mendoza. Just a career politician and Illinois just can’t afford her.
* Video of her full nominating speech is here. The transcript of that speech is here.
* The Question: Rate Munger’s new TV ad on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the most effective and 1 being the least effective. Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
I give it a 5. Agree that dem pols don’t want to be seen publicly as tied to Madigan.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
I give it a 5 because Madigan has never been so publicly toxic as he has been in this election cycle. Using him against candidates has never been so….effective?
I’d give it a 2 because it’s just the same ad I’ve heard over and over again for every opponent of Rauner’s. There is no other message they have. It’d be great if they had any sort of positive message to offer in this election but they don’t. I’ll so enjoy when they lose after blowing tens of millions of dollars on negative ads. They essentially have nothing to say.
Anytime you can get a candidate’s words to work against them, it’s devastating.
Right about… … … “now”…
Right now Mendoza’s Crew is starting to feel that… overwhelming… feeling. That feeling that they are at the mercy of the Swamping, and at the peril of how the Democrats and Labor can save her.
The production is solid, the image of different devices gives the idea that this is “everywhere” - psy-ops…
It’s really, really good. What is Mendoza going to say… “I didn’t say this?”.
Did the no sound test. Gave it a 3 because it made clear her vote for the tax hike.
I am just not buying the effectiveness of the Madigan scares until Rauner & co. proves it at the ballot box.
Also think 2 of the 3 Proft ads spotlighted yesterday were better than this slick one. Why not just show the clip of Mendoza instead of shrinking it to fit on an ipad or phone?
BTW was this footage another blueroomstream theft like the Bradley stuff?
5, ouch, that has to hurt. Madigan’s rating in the state is LOW. Tied the 2 together in the best possible way for Leslie and the worst way for Susanna.
I rated it a ‘4′. Nobody in my neck of the woods really like Madigan. Anti-Madigan is very motivational for the uncaring partisan who may be turned off by the like of Trump. But if Mendoza would ever have the Munger can’t do math ad, she would have a ton of fire power. This just seems like a very, very important race for Mike Madigan that he is thumbing his nose at. Hopefully not to the peril of the people of Illinois.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
I gave it a 3 - at this point in the campaign I think people start getting numb to negative ads - takes a lot to stand out.
We can spend all this time acting like the production values on the one millionth negative ad of this cycle are going to make any difference. (BTW, like many, I mute or if possible I fast forward through the commercials and, frankly, people under 30 don’t watch broadcast TV at all so I don’t know that it makes that much of a difference but I digress.) I think the coming wave is going to sweep Munger and the Raunerites out. It’ll be great watching the people here eat their words.
1. While watching these MLB playoffs with friends who don’t care to be informed about State politics, the question I keep hearing is “Why do these attack ads focus on Madigan when it’s some other lady/guy who is running?” We know the answer, but a lot of people don’t. And when every single add is “[insert candidate] and Mike Madigan do [insert supposedly bad thing],” it becomes less effective and even tired.
- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
I’m so tired of being told to vote for this one or that one in order to get back at somebody not on the ballot.
I gave it a three because at this point it’s all a wash. Next Mendoza ad we’ll hear Munger pledging fealty to Rauner in some other context.
Election by proxy.
gave it a 1. In 2016 the year of the woman, we are smart enough to see beyond the “proxy war” hype and typical hits about powerful men they are supposedly beholden to. Susana is a powerful woman in her own right with her own accomplishments. this is boring.
Gave it a 5. The ad showing the image of Mendoza on an I-Pad and then an I-phone was a nice touch and somehow called more attention to her seconding the nomination.
4 would have been higher if the background didn’t sound so weirdly creepy.
this tie to Madigan may work better than any other since it does not involve small borders. How unpopular is Madigan? A Dem I know who is super smart with a deep military background ponders moving into the district to run because he finds him so objectionable. I told him moving into a district is not the way to beat Mike, although he appears to use that technique for other candidates (see this year), but that is how loathed he can be to some.
I gave it a 5. In the same vein as the Bradley ads, this is not some shot in the dark. This is not a “Candidate X wants to cut Social Security” or a “Candidate Y supported Keith Farnham” stretch of logic. She said and it is forever a part of a political/legislative record. There is no walk back. Why she said I may never know. And for those arguing about Madigan’s involvement, my recollection is that Madigan cleared decks for her. So this is a legit proxy war.
The thing to keep in mind is that for a down-ballot race in a presidential year having a ground game is pretty tough. This race and the Kirk-Duckworth race will both rely heavily on ads and messaging.
It’s a 4. Good, but Rauner Inc.’s millions won’t be enough to save her from her own performance. I feel like I’m in an echo chamber with yet another election cycle of “Because Madigan”. It worked so well the last time he had bad favorables. /s
Ad is OK but it makes the same selective fact, logic leaps many other ads are doing: Madigan’s a political mentor, but he is also the architect of financial disaster. Voted for a tax increase (67% or 2% depending on your view). This is right up there with ‘he was paid $1 million in tax money’, (with the 30 year period conveniently left off). Throw in the universal “I will fight for a budget/rights/education/term limits/what ever as if they can do alone by shear force of will. Yeah, it’s part of the process, but tell me how you will accomplish the statements. Stating the obvious cliche’s are just too easy. ‘…but Madigan’ immediately screams ‘I really got nothing else’.
This is a blow, but not a knockout. Good effort. Why a nice person like Susana would front for the fetid dung-heap of self-dealing and betrayal that Madiganistan represents is beyond me. Regardless, Leslie should destroy Susana, with charming metaphors such as a red-haired kid with his new black-haired wind-up doll, redhaired male septugenarian puppeteer / black-haired female puppet, red-haired aging Edgar Bergen-type holding black-haired female Susana McCarthy Mendoza dummy… all on the master / servant line. Same applies to Tammy “I am not finished screaming at you” Duckworth and her very own Grigori Yefimovich, David “the professor” Axelrod. Funny how Dems only recruit order-fillers. I think it must be Soros’ instruction… Hey, Soros as master, Dems as servants… I think we are on to something. Cheers, c
I voted ‘5′ - brutal and effective. At some point it may occur to the democratic party of IL is that it is impossible to run away from Mike Madigan (except for a small few) and they’re going to have to start selling his accomplishments. I definitely had my doubts about “Fire Madigan 2.0″ but it has been effective. The dems better get ready for the coming “Fire Madigan 3.0″ that will be coming for 2018.
- dr. reason a, goodwin - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
While I don’t think the Madigan connection works well in the legislative races, I think it scores here. Most voters have little knowledge about either candidate, so the Madigan connection might stick. 4
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
Gave it a 2. Starting to wonder if the whole Madigan thing can really work with the daily political news cycle overrun by the Trump effect.
Gave it a 2… The Donald is going to be a HUGE drag on GOP turnout I think. If the Dems end up having a +18-20 advantage AND have some AFSCME Trump supporters splitting the ticket in central and southern Illinois, that does not equal a very good night for the GOP. I think Mendoza will end up winning.
If this strategy worked, it would be evident already in the polls, the primary, and in Turnaround Agenda items passed.
Instead the Speaker is slightly more unpopular, but the Governor is much more unpopular over the same period (55% at election say to low 30%s now).
No US President runs against the Speaker of the US House in this way - because it’s a waste of time. They try to lobby the electorate past each other, but no serious politician would tie their whole campaign to this.
- West Side The Best Side - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
Gave it a 3, but strongly considered a 2. There are just too many ads out there with: Candidate X is a friend of Madigan. Madigan bad. Candidate X bad. It just loses its impact, especially in the Chicagoland market trying to cover numerous Candidate Xs. Also thought maybe Trump took over Chris Robling’s identity, but it went beyond the limited twitter characters and Donald couldn’t keep that long an attention span.
Somehow, I cannot envision the election of an Illinois Comptroller being a priority for George Soros. Presidential politics, yes. US Senate races, yes. Selected Congressional and Gubernatorial races, probably. But Comptroller, nyet.
Gave it a 5. My wife saw the add, did a quick Google and found out her current office in Chicago and said, “No way am I going to vote for her”. And my wife is voting Democrat on the national ticket. Madigan and Chicago are poison in our area.
I rate it a zero. At this point knowing that any candidate sides with Madigan in opposing Rauner will get my vote. I hope Rauner spends a mint in this election and loses every penny.
Rauner money won’t save you Munger. I already voted for Mendoza. With this being a Presidential election year and the Democrat will win Illinois it will be very hard for Munger to beat Mendoza. Munger is bought and paid for anyway. Vote for Susanna Mendoza!
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:38 pm:
Rauner supporting Trump not nearly as bad as Mendoza supporting Madigan. I voted 5.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
Gave it a 4. If you don’t understand the context of where and why she was making those comments it works.
- Chucktownian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Is that the only thing they can say? Over and over and over again. At some point people just turn off the same message over and over.
- retired guy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
I give it a 5. Agree that dem pols don’t want to be seen publicly as tied to Madigan.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
I give it a 5 because Madigan has never been so publicly toxic as he has been in this election cycle. Using him against candidates has never been so….effective?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
Chucktownian, rate the ad.
- retired guy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
Remember to tape the debate between the two at 7 tonite on WTTW so you can watch it sometime after the Cubs game.
- Big Muddy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
5 Madigan is toxic.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
I gave it a 1. All those newly registered voters in Chicago aren’t registering “Because Madigan”. Munger is going to get crushed, money or not.
- Chucktownian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
I’d give it a 2 because it’s just the same ad I’ve heard over and over again for every opponent of Rauner’s. There is no other message they have. It’d be great if they had any sort of positive message to offer in this election but they don’t. I’ll so enjoy when they lose after blowing tens of millions of dollars on negative ads. They essentially have nothing to say.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
It’s a 4.
“Why?”
Anytime you can get a candidate’s words to work against them, it’s devastating.
Right about… … … “now”…
Right now Mendoza’s Crew is starting to feel that… overwhelming… feeling. That feeling that they are at the mercy of the Swamping, and at the peril of how the Democrats and Labor can save her.
The production is solid, the image of different devices gives the idea that this is “everywhere” - psy-ops…
It’s really, really good. What is Mendoza going to say… “I didn’t say this?”.
It’s a 4
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
Did the no sound test. Gave it a 3 because it made clear her vote for the tax hike.
I am just not buying the effectiveness of the Madigan scares until Rauner & co. proves it at the ballot box.
Also think 2 of the 3 Proft ads spotlighted yesterday were better than this slick one. Why not just show the clip of Mendoza instead of shrinking it to fit on an ipad or phone?
BTW was this footage another blueroomstream theft like the Bradley stuff?
- anon - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
New rule: Only Barbara Flynn Currie will give nominating speeches from this point forward.
- Piece of Work - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
5, ouch, that has to hurt. Madigan’s rating in the state is LOW. Tied the 2 together in the best possible way for Leslie and the worst way for Susanna.
- Grandpa - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
I give it a 2, blah, blah, blah…Madigan bad…Munger good…same old stuff.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
I rated it a ‘4′. Nobody in my neck of the woods really like Madigan. Anti-Madigan is very motivational for the uncaring partisan who may be turned off by the like of Trump. But if Mendoza would ever have the Munger can’t do math ad, she would have a ton of fire power. This just seems like a very, very important race for Mike Madigan that he is thumbing his nose at. Hopefully not to the peril of the people of Illinois.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
I gave it a 3 - at this point in the campaign I think people start getting numb to negative ads - takes a lot to stand out.
- Chucktownian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
We can spend all this time acting like the production values on the one millionth negative ad of this cycle are going to make any difference. (BTW, like many, I mute or if possible I fast forward through the commercials and, frankly, people under 30 don’t watch broadcast TV at all so I don’t know that it makes that much of a difference but I digress.) I think the coming wave is going to sweep Munger and the Raunerites out. It’ll be great watching the people here eat their words.
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
1. While watching these MLB playoffs with friends who don’t care to be informed about State politics, the question I keep hearing is “Why do these attack ads focus on Madigan when it’s some other lady/guy who is running?” We know the answer, but a lot of people don’t. And when every single add is “[insert candidate] and Mike Madigan do [insert supposedly bad thing],” it becomes less effective and even tired.
- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
I’m so tired of being told to vote for this one or that one in order to get back at somebody not on the ballot.
I gave it a three because at this point it’s all a wash. Next Mendoza ad we’ll hear Munger pledging fealty to Rauner in some other context.
Election by proxy.
- anonymouse - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
gave it a 1. In 2016 the year of the woman, we are smart enough to see beyond the “proxy war” hype and typical hits about powerful men they are supposedly beholden to. Susana is a powerful woman in her own right with her own accomplishments. this is boring.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
Gave it a 5. The ad showing the image of Mendoza on an I-Pad and then an I-phone was a nice touch and somehow called more attention to her seconding the nomination.
- Oneman - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
Gave it a 4, since it seems to be the office people are willing to punt on party for it ties her to the least popular democrat in Illinois…
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
4 would have been higher if the background didn’t sound so weirdly creepy.
this tie to Madigan may work better than any other since it does not involve small borders. How unpopular is Madigan? A Dem I know who is super smart with a deep military background ponders moving into the district to run because he finds him so objectionable. I told him moving into a district is not the way to beat Mike, although he appears to use that technique for other candidates (see this year), but that is how loathed he can be to some.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
I gave it a 5. In the same vein as the Bradley ads, this is not some shot in the dark. This is not a “Candidate X wants to cut Social Security” or a “Candidate Y supported Keith Farnham” stretch of logic. She said and it is forever a part of a political/legislative record. There is no walk back. Why she said I may never know. And for those arguing about Madigan’s involvement, my recollection is that Madigan cleared decks for her. So this is a legit proxy war.
The thing to keep in mind is that for a down-ballot race in a presidential year having a ground game is pretty tough. This race and the Kirk-Duckworth race will both rely heavily on ads and messaging.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
I think Munger is going to carry this election.
- Stark - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
It’s a 4. Good, but Rauner Inc.’s millions won’t be enough to save her from her own performance. I feel like I’m in an echo chamber with yet another election cycle of “Because Madigan”. It worked so well the last time he had bad favorables. /s
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
Ad is OK but it makes the same selective fact, logic leaps many other ads are doing: Madigan’s a political mentor, but he is also the architect of financial disaster. Voted for a tax increase (67% or 2% depending on your view). This is right up there with ‘he was paid $1 million in tax money’, (with the 30 year period conveniently left off). Throw in the universal “I will fight for a budget/rights/education/term limits/what ever as if they can do alone by shear force of will. Yeah, it’s part of the process, but tell me how you will accomplish the statements. Stating the obvious cliche’s are just too easy. ‘…but Madigan’ immediately screams ‘I really got nothing else’.
- Trolling Troll1- - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
1- it was void af any creativity. I’m tired of negative ads.
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
1
Same old, same old.
Try something new.
- WTF - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Using a minimized image makes it harder to notice the glaring edit in the last Mendoza footage. Makes he mistrust the video, so I give it a 3
- Chris Robling - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
This is a blow, but not a knockout. Good effort. Why a nice person like Susana would front for the fetid dung-heap of self-dealing and betrayal that Madiganistan represents is beyond me. Regardless, Leslie should destroy Susana, with charming metaphors such as a red-haired kid with his new black-haired wind-up doll, redhaired male septugenarian puppeteer / black-haired female puppet, red-haired aging Edgar Bergen-type holding black-haired female Susana McCarthy Mendoza dummy… all on the master / servant line. Same applies to Tammy “I am not finished screaming at you” Duckworth and her very own Grigori Yefimovich, David “the professor” Axelrod. Funny how Dems only recruit order-fillers. I think it must be Soros’ instruction… Hey, Soros as master, Dems as servants… I think we are on to something. Cheers, c
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
===…Madiganistan…===
lol.
Chris. Robling.
Yikes, man.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Mr. Robling - um, what?! Usually your posts are good and I appreciate your commentary but that was a bit, ahem, odd.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
3 plastering the Chicago Tribune as a source ruins your credibility. What are you doing reminding voters to vote up and down the ticket?
- Stark - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
Madiganistan may be the only country we haven’t conducted a drone strike in.
- Liberty - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
1 - Madigan yada yada yada
(note the Seinfeld reference)
- Earnest - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
I voted ‘5′ - brutal and effective. At some point it may occur to the democratic party of IL is that it is impossible to run away from Mike Madigan (except for a small few) and they’re going to have to start selling his accomplishments. I definitely had my doubts about “Fire Madigan 2.0″ but it has been effective. The dems better get ready for the coming “Fire Madigan 3.0″ that will be coming for 2018.
- dr. reason a, goodwin - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
While I don’t think the Madigan connection works well in the legislative races, I think it scores here. Most voters have little knowledge about either candidate, so the Madigan connection might stick. 4
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
Gave it a 2. Starting to wonder if the whole Madigan thing can really work with the daily political news cycle overrun by the Trump effect.
- The Muse - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Gave it a 2… The Donald is going to be a HUGE drag on GOP turnout I think. If the Dems end up having a +18-20 advantage AND have some AFSCME Trump supporters splitting the ticket in central and southern Illinois, that does not equal a very good night for the GOP. I think Mendoza will end up winning.
- Red Alert - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
Uh, Chris, could it be that Susana Mendoza is simply being loyal to her chief political patron and sponsor?
I rate Munger’s ad a 4.5, but come on.
Sheesh. Your post is way over the top.
- peon - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
I rate this a 2.
If this strategy worked, it would be evident already in the polls, the primary, and in Turnaround Agenda items passed.
Instead the Speaker is slightly more unpopular, but the Governor is much more unpopular over the same period (55% at election say to low 30%s now).
No US President runs against the Speaker of the US House in this way - because it’s a waste of time. They try to lobby the electorate past each other, but no serious politician would tie their whole campaign to this.
- West Side The Best Side - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
Gave it a 3, but strongly considered a 2. There are just too many ads out there with: Candidate X is a friend of Madigan. Madigan bad. Candidate X bad. It just loses its impact, especially in the Chicagoland market trying to cover numerous Candidate Xs. Also thought maybe Trump took over Chris Robling’s identity, but it went beyond the limited twitter characters and Donald couldn’t keep that long an attention span.
- Puzzled - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
Somehow, I cannot envision the election of an Illinois Comptroller being a priority for George Soros. Presidential politics, yes. US Senate races, yes. Selected Congressional and Gubernatorial races, probably. But Comptroller, nyet.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 5:03 pm:
This Madiganistan is catchy.
- skirmisher - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 5:27 pm:
Gave it a 5. My wife saw the add, did a quick Google and found out her current office in Chicago and said, “No way am I going to vote for her”. And my wife is voting Democrat on the national ticket. Madigan and Chicago are poison in our area.
- Shake - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 5:42 pm:
Munger? Rauner Lapdog…Is What It Is??
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 5:59 pm:
I plan to vote for Mendoza.
Rauner has made Madigan a hero of the middle class.
- Chucktownian - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 6:19 pm:
Munger loses and this ad does nothing to stop that.
- Eugene Debs - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 6:31 pm:
I rate it a zero. At this point knowing that any candidate sides with Madigan in opposing Rauner will get my vote. I hope Rauner spends a mint in this election and loses every penny.
- shytown - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 7:35 pm:
If this is the best they can do with all that billionaire $, Mendoza will coast into a win on election day.
- Mal - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 8:14 pm:
Rauner money won’t save you Munger. I already voted for Mendoza. With this being a Presidential election year and the Democrat will win Illinois it will be very hard for Munger to beat Mendoza. Munger is bought and paid for anyway. Vote for Susanna Mendoza!
- cannon648 - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 8:45 pm:
5 She is tied to Madigan
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 25, 16 @ 8:54 pm:
We can’t afford her,why will she make more money than you do now? Mostly false
- Rabid - Wednesday, Oct 26, 16 @ 5:11 am:
She should get on the bandwagon with the GOP Judy Topinka law. She like to pass and make laws
- Rabid - Wednesday, Oct 26, 16 @ 5:21 am:
Trump handed you your lunch last year now you don’t recognize him?
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Oct 26, 16 @ 7:11 am:
I tune out the anti Madigan ads. I’d like to hear what the candidate has planned for office not hear about who they dislike.