* Press release…
Eleven days into Senator Daniel Biss’ gubernatorial campaign, Illinoisans are sending a strong message that they are ready to take their state back from money and the machine.
In this primary, Democrats will have to decide if we keep doing things the same way or demand different results. With $313,861 in contributions to the Biss for Illinois campaign in the first quarter, they are making their voice heard. Biss, who ends the quarter with $1.5 million cash on hand, issued the following statement:
“Ours will never be the billionaires’ campaign - in either who we are or who we fight for. If that’s what you’re looking for, you have plenty of options in this race but I’m not your guy. But, what is certain now is we’ll have the resources we need to build a campaign that wins because of the clear desire and energy for change in our state.
“This primary will be a test of Democrats across Illinois. Do we want to keep doing things the same way, or do we want change? Do we want to emulate Bruce Rauner or provide a Democratic answer that empowers ordinary Illinoisans? Do we want a party and government that is only accessible to the forces of money and the machine, or one that is owned by, and works in the service of, the people? Do we want to flood politics with unlimited contributions or with thousands of people ready to take their state back?
“Based on the early results, we know the answer. I’m energized by the overwhelming grassroots response to our campaign, which sends a clear message that the people of Illinois are ready to take their state back from the forces of money and the machine.”
Biss launched his gubernatorial campaign on March 20th, 2017. After that date, he raised $259,467 for the remainder of the quarter. Last week, Chris Kennedy contributed just over $250,000 to his own campaign, allowing unlimited contributions by anyone in the race. In contrast, nearly 90% of Biss’s donations in that period were for less than $150. The donations came from over 1000 contributors from 116 cities and towns across Illinois.
* Meanwhile, columnist Jim Dey refers to Biss today as Speaker Madigan’s “behind the scenes friend”…
There’s a money trail that leads from Madigan’s campaign treasury to a Biss-operated political action committee.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Biss led a superPAC — “Leading Illinois for Tomorrow.” […]
The Hill, a Washington, D.C., publication, said Biss “has benefitted from a lot of money from Madigan and those in his orbit.”
The Friends of Michael J. Madigan gave Biss’ PAC $500,000, his daughter’s campaign committee gave Biss $150,000 and a Madigan backer and prominent Democratic donor Fred Eychaner contributed $1.2 million.
Labor unions friendly to Madigan also contributed huge sums — $750,000 from AFSCME alone. Madigan was instrumental in passing legislation aimed at stripping Rauner from his authority to negotiate AFSCME’s current contract, but Rauner vetoes were sustained over Madigan’s vehement objections.
The Federal Election Commission itemized $10.4 million in contributions to Biss’ PAC, much of it raised with Madigan’s direct and indirect assistance.
- Piatt County Whig - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:08 am:
Nice job by Biss, but it seems that he and Pawar are gonna fight for the same batch of progressive dollars and votes and cannibalize each other in the primary.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:13 am:
With $1.5 million “on hand”, that’s incredibly impressive, given the small donor contributions are adding to that number.
The goal for a candidate like Biss isn’t to get to $2 million, $20 million, the goal is to have enough money to accurately articulate their message exactly the way they want, and build a field organization to handle the building of a grassroots, effective, organization for GOTV… to win.
Biss should be “pleased”, but far from comfortable or complacent.
I’m sure he’s neither.
- ash - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:13 am:
Please don’t, Senator Biss. Not everyone can forget SB1 and we need candidates with as few negatives as possible from the start.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:18 am:
Biss’s ducking on gerrymandering reform told me he was just another Madigan toady - this just confirms it. In general, when 80% of voters want something and a politician can’t be bothered or works on the lower frequencies against it, you can be pretty sure he ain’t a reformer.
(That said, Pat Quinn was a true reformer until he was seduced by power - it could be that you have to have buckets of money like Peter Fitzgerald in order to be a real reformer).
Anyway, it bears repeating: nothing could please Rauner more than having Biss, Pawar, or pretty much any non-billionaire candidate whose name isn’t Madigan, as his opponent.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:21 am:
>Biss today as Speaker Madigan’s “behind the scenes friend”…
Whoa, didn’t see that Madigan thing coming. /s
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:21 am:
===Not everyone can forget SB1===
I see you’ve learned your lesson from the Quinn campaign. /s
- Archiesmom - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:21 am:
In addition to the money, over the last two weeks a number of really seasoned field operatives have signed onto the Biss campaign, including a whole lot of establishment Democrats who worked for Hillary in the last election. They do not seem excited by the large money candidates, and really seem to connect with Biss.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:25 am:
The one way Rauner beats any Democrat that gets the nomination is when factions of Democrats continue to harp on what the Democratic Nominee “isn’t” instead of focusing on defeating the common foe all Democrats should be seeing… Gov. Bruce Rauner.
That is what pleases Rauner’s Crew, fracturing normal Democratic allies.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:40 am:
“Illinoisans are sending a strong message that they are ready to take their state back from money and the machine.”
The grass roots fundraising this early is indeed impressive. The second piece makes you wonder exactly which machine he means to take back the state from, though.
- Downstate - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:41 am:
You have to give credit where credit is due. Biss has persuaded his supporters that he’s somehow outside of the system, while Jim Dey’s column outlines facts to the contrary. Yeah, that old populist appeal works until you see the Madigan money connection.
- Seats - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:44 am:
Doesn’t Biss want to reform tier 1? If so I can’t get behind him in the primary.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:46 am:
== Not everyone can forget SB1 ==
Every candidate comes with some baggage. While Biss’s SB1 vote may be a negative for some union voters, it could well be seen as a positive by other voters.
My hope is that whoever survives the D primary to become the candidate will be a moderate that can also appeal to disenchanted / disfranchised GOP voters. If they can regain some of the 2/5 union members that voted for Rauner and pick up some moderate GOP voters, they will win. We need a pragmatist, not another ideologue, as our next Governor.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:49 am:
Imagine for a moment that you’re an independent-minded democratic politician in Illinois. You probably vote alongside the democratic majority on most things, but not everything. Then imagine you want to give a larger voice to your progressive and pragmatic policies, so you organize a PAC to get the message out. Then imagine the chairman of the state party wants to give your PAC $500K, because he likes your anti-GOP message. Do you return the money, or do you put it to good use?
Asking for a friend
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:55 am:
That’s some scandalicious scoopage that Dey and The Hill came up with on that Biss/Madigan money connection to LIFT PAC.
But it goes much deeper than that. An informed source (let’s call it “FEC Throat”) revealed that JB Pritzker and Chris Kennedy also contributed to the PAC, tying them directly to Biss.
Political observers were shocked. “It’s almost as if long-time Democratic funders conspired in plain sight to fund TV spots whacking Rauner and Trump before the election.”
Coincidence? We report, you decide.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:57 am:
Having talked to and followed Biss for quite some time, the Madigan puppet angle is an amusing bit of fiction. Yes, they are on the same side of the aisle. No, they don’t always see eye to eye. Madigan spent quite a bit to keep him out of the house the second time he ran. Who do y’all think Biss is talking about when he says the Machine? Why is he talking about Madigan having been there too long if he’s so buddy buddy?
just silly
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 9:58 am:
==so you organize a PAC to get the message out. Then imagine the chairman of the state party wants to give your PAC $500K, because he likes your anti-GOP message. Do you return the money, or do you put it to good use?==
Exactly. BREAKING NEWS: Democrat contributes to Democratic cause.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:07 am:
As to the headline: If $313,861 is a “ton of money” I’m at a loss to find the word to describe $50,000,000!!
- ZC - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:08 am:
It’s a tiny sample size but talking to one AFSCME organizer, I was told that Biss burned some bridges with SB1, but then he started to rebuild them with his Road Back campaign in 2016.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:11 am:
== Not everyone can forget SB1 and we need candidates with as few negatives as possible from the start.==
I sincerely mean this: let me know when you’ve found the candidate with the least negatives. Because I see what you’re saying, but if SB1 is Biss’ big problem, he probably *is* the guy with the least negatives.
==Who do y’all think Biss is talking about when he says the Machine?==
The thing here is, if you’re explaining, you’re losing. So Biss comes out and says, “I’m against the money and the machine!” and Jim Dey counters, “Well, actually, if you look through these disclosure documents…” and any persuadable voter is asleep.
It’s a different story when Rauner comes out and whacks Biss with a 30 second spot, but Biss has done himself a big favor by casting himself against both Rauner and Madigan early.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:13 am:
Madigan loves Biss so much he forced Biss out of the comptroller’s race.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:19 am:
On this side, this is the guy to watch. With all the money being spent by the entire field, it will be a clutter race. Articulation is his strength against the rest of this field.
In a crowded primary, with a lot of money, his ability to communicate and point to some legislative success with be strong assets. He’ll have enough to compete. If Pawar yields to him at some point, he’ll have the inside track. Watch this guy.
- Downstate - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:20 am:
Politics is appearance. Biss and his supporters talk a good game about all of their grassroots supporters and small checks, comparing that to the big, bad Pritzker and Kennedy money, but Biss has been accepting massive checks from Madigan for his PAC. So which is it? You’re a true grassroots anti-establishment state senator who accepts two dollar donations, or you’re an insider cashing Madigan’s checks. Just figure that out before you ride that white horse claiming to be so pure.
- walker - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:25 am:
== it will be a clutter race==
“cluster?”
- Ward Heeler - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:36 am:
Is Biss an operative of “the Jan and Bob Machine?”
There are factions on the Democratic side of the fence too.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:36 am:
==The thing here is, if you’re explaining, you’re losing. So Biss comes out and says, “I’m against the money and the machine!” and Jim Dey counters, “Well, actually, if you look through these disclosure documents…” and any persuadable voter is asleep.==
So who’s doing the explaining? Biss has been out there with the “anti-Machine” message for a couple weeks now. And it seems to have plenty of relevance.
- indep - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:42 am:
I anticipate every GOP will be linked to Rauner & every Dem will be linked to Madigan. Even if it’s not true. It’s a new ballgame. It’s up to voters to decide what is correct and who they want to ally with. After this GOP mess, I’ll gladly choose Madigan.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:52 am:
===Biss raised a ton of money in small contributions===
Was it all in change? Lol.
In college, I led a charity drive and part of the fundraising was collecting change from cars stopped at intersections near campus. It’s remarkable how heavy $1,500-$2,000 in loose change is. I figure a ton of quarters would be about $40,000, give or take.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:53 am:
+++- walker - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 10:25 am:
== it will be a clutter race==
“cluster?”+++
Walk, Yes and Yes.
- ash - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:05 am:
Rich - Yes, Quinn lost a lot of his base support because of pensions. Would I have preferred him? Yes! Did that issue matter? Yes! Can everyone ignore it? No — just my opinion though. Your blog, so your opinion is really all that matters.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:20 am:
== or you’re an insider cashing Madigan’s checks. ==
If you can’t take the money and still vote against them when you should, you don’t belong in politics.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 11:47 am:
Don the Legend 10:07 am-
159.306 tons, to be precise.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
I sense that the electorate is attracted to a boring egghead for governor. This definately helps Biss.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
==Yes, Quinn lost a lot of his base support because of pensions. ==
Two things to keep in mind: One, Quinn had already primed the pump for AFSCME to turn on him, long before pensions. Two, that “2 out of 5 union households” thing includes trade unions. In fact, I’d love to see a break down on that.
That being said, Biss definitely needs to have a good answer on SB1. But I don’t think it’s a death blow.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
Well said Arsenal. Biss needs to have a good answer for SB1. I’d love to hear his comment on I t. I’ll keep an open mind. But there needs to be an honest answer. It’s going to be the Locals making the call in the primary. Biss may have ideas, but ideas don’t vote.
- ash - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
Arsenal - all true!
- Johnnie F. - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
2018…The year of bland competency. I’m in!
- Ron - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
“Doesn’t Biss want to reform tier 1?”
Well that’s a huge positive.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
==So who’s doing the explaining?==
In this situation, the Jim Deys of the world. Like I said, it might flip when/if Rauer starts spraying Biss with the money hose. But if Biss gets known as the “Fight the money and the machine” guy and Rauner has to “Well, Actually…” that, Biss has the better position.
- Real Math Prof - Tuesday, Apr 4, 17 @ 8:06 pm:
Daniel Biss is a con man. He was an ASSISTANT professor at the U of C based on results that were wrong. He left after being there ALMOST six years. This means he knew he had no chance to get tenure because the fact that his claimed results were false was coming to light. None the less he continued to give talks on results he had been told were false by people much more talented than he. This is about the worst thing you can do in academia. Very unethical. His behavior since then is consistent with someone on the make with no senses of ethics. Beware.