* We already talked about this a little bit, but we now have McCann’s response. Let’s start with the Tribune…
Asked if he viewed [Sen. Sam McCann] as a re-election threat, Rauner said: “McCann is being used as a pawn by Pritzker and Madigan. We’re going to win in November.”
When a reporter noted that McCann was seeking support from the conservative GOP base like Ives, the governor repeated, “(McCann) is being used by Pritzker and Madigan, and we’re going to win in November.”
Linking McCann to Madigan is part of Rauner’s political playbook of trying to tie opponents to the veteran House speaker, his chief political nemesis. Most recently, Rauner used that strategy during the primary campaign, attempting to tie Ives to Madigan despite vast ideological and partisan differences between the two.
McCann faces a difficult challenge of obtaining at least 25,000 signatures from registered voters by June 25 if he’s to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. Asked Thursday if his campaign would challenge McCann’s petition signatures, Rauner replied: “I’ve talked about that individual. Any other questions?”
* Press release…
This morning, Governor Rauner twice called Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann a “pawn” to Speaker Michael Madigan and Democratic nominee J.B. Pritzker. Sam issued the following statement:
In an effort to divert attention from another failed overseas economic development tour, Governor Rauner resorted to petty attacks and name calling against me and my campaign.
Without a successful record of his own, Rauner has spent the last three-and-a-half years spreading lies and myths, including lying to Cardinal Cupich over the signing of House Bill 40, which provided publicly funded on-demand abortions.
I am nobody’s pawn, but rather a proud servant to Illinois’ hardworking middle class men and women. Governor Rauner has spent his term in office doing the bidding of wealthy elitists who bought a party and tried to buy a state. The bad news for Rauner is that the citizens of Illinois are smart enough to see through his liberal record of supporting publicly funded on-demand abortions, allowing transgender people to change their birth certificates and making Illinois a sanctuary state.
Voters can’t tell the difference between the policies of Rauner and Madigan because there is no difference. Voters are demanding a candidate who takes a different path from this liberal agenda that is why I am running.
Thoughts?
- JoanP - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
=Most recently, Rauner used that strategy during the primary campaign, attempting to tie Ives to Madigan despite vast ideological and partisan differences between the two.=
And that worked out really well for him, moving Ives from a “fringe” candidate to 48%. So maybe not the best line of attack on McCann, either.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:48 pm:
McCann is running the Ives playbook, which is what scares Rauner to death. He can’t advance with purpose to the center with a right-wing candidate in his rear.
Rauner will move heaven-and-earth to keep McCann off the ballot.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
===Without a successful record of his own, Rauner has spent the last three-and-a-half years spreading lies and myths, including lying to Cardinal Cupich over the signing of House Bill 40, which provided publicly funded on-demand abortions.===
If McCann gets 3-4% just on the lying, and HB40… then McCann will do what needs to be done to end Raunerism
Diana Rauner wanted HB40 signed. It was her word and standing in Winnetka’s cocktail party circuit that overrode what the reality is… to lie to Chicagoland’s Catholic Cardinal.
Diana Rauner is more important than pro-life Rauner voters… to Bruce.
Good thing Bruce has no social agenda.
Pro-life voters who wouldn’t mislead a Catholic Cardinal, they are McCann’s constituency
- Henry Fancis - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
I think McCann’s line of attack here is effective in that it shows how absurd it is to tie anyone and everyone to Madigan.
- Robert the 1st - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
=Pro-life voters who wouldn’t mislead a Catholic Cardinal, they are McCann’s constituency=
More like Trump voters who forgive anything outside of abortion it seems. But you’re right.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
This is good. McCann also called Rauner “Madigan on steroids.” This is about Rauner being worse than Madigan when it comes to demanding loyalty from his caucus. McCann won’t be bullied.
Good for the senator, to try to turn the tables on Rauner and his North Shore lyin’ liberal Madigan agenda.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
Whose army is leading the signature effort?
I think that tells you everything you need to know
This is what democracy looks like in Illinois and it isn’t pretty
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
McCann’s proven to be quite the thorn hasn’t he? If he can get 25K signatures Rauner is in deep trouble. Rauner had to hope that conservatives would return seeing no other ballot alternative. Little chance of that happening if McCann can hang in there. And he doesn’t need anywhere near the kind of money or support (which admittedly wasn’t much) that Ives had. His message will absolutely resonate in Central and Southern Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
===Whose army is leading the signature effort?
I think that tells you everything you need to know===
Well… who is it. Sounds like you don’t know?
Local 150 gave $50k… that’s cash, not bodies out there.
- So_Ill - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:14 pm:
I would not want to be Bruce Rauner from now until November. He is going to get hammered from both sides of the spectrum.
I just don’t see a plausible way he survives this.
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:16 pm:
=This is what democracy looks like in Illinois and it isn’t pretty=
No other governor in the history of this state has faced a primary and general election challenge from two different conservative candidates.
Blame Madigan and the Democrats all you want but this wound is entirely self-inflicted.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:16 pm:
The governor who claims that he’s not in charge, doesn’t believe that anyone else can be in charge.
Even more amazing is the fact that the governor who falsely represented himself and made promises he immediately broke, claims that his political opponents are just like him.
- moreprudent - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:25 pm:
== McCann is running the Ives playbook==
Ives was reactionary. Nothing happened from anyone on the right until conservative voters got mad. Rauner did this to himself.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:26 pm:
===Thoughts?===
Bruce Rauner should stop giving Sam McCann free press by bashing him in the manner that he is. But whatever. He obviously knows what he is doing….
- Morty - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
-This is what democracy looks like in Illinois and it isn’t pretty
Whahhh
- Southern Illinoisan - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
This is going to be fun. What’s the going rate for a valid signature collected by a valid petitioner? $10/signature?
- Mike Cirrincione - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
Like Richard Daley said about another former Illinois Governer:
“cuckoo”
- Sue - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
Anyone who doesn’t see Madigan behind this with Local 150 is just either blind or dumb. Madigan has Rauner ties in Knots exactly as he intended with this BA tactic. Rauner should spend 5 million and get a lefty to run against Pritzker
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
==More like Trump voters who forgive anything outside of abortion it seems.==
Yeah, you’re such a man of principle.
- Retired Educator - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:22 pm:
This all day every day. Call him out on his lies, signatures on bills, and his hatred of working people. Sam should hammer this every chance he gets.
- A Jack - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:24 pm:
Yes Sue, let Rauner get caught giving five million to a liberal candidate. That would be all the proof the conservatives need that Rauner isn’t one of them.
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:28 pm:
=Anyone who doesn’t see Madigan behind this with Local 150 is just either blind or dumb.=
So is McCann Madigan’s second favorite Republican? He sure has a thing for Republicans.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:31 pm:
==Madigan has Rauner ties in Knots exactly as he intended with this BA tactic.==
And yet you and whomever writes the code for the Luckbot 6000 still thinks he should be re-elected, instead of supporting an actual conservative like McCann - a guy who might, possibly, be more effective at fighting Madigan. I think this says all we need to know.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:36 pm:
–This is what democracy looks like in Illinois..–
Multiple candidates representing views across the spectrum in free and fair elections?
–and it isn’t pretty…–
Prefer the Putin model, like at home?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:38 pm:
===This is what democracy looks like in Illinois and it isn’t pretty===
You do realize… McCann needs to get the signatures, make sure they’re valid, most likely (he will) face a challenge, and then be able, if it all works out, run.
That’s a lot if hurdles… just to GET to the democracy part.
- People Over Parties - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:41 pm:
===a guy who might, possibly, be more effective at fighting Madigan===
To fight, you have to win first.
- SSL - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:46 pm:
It sure seems like Rauner is toast. I just can’t understand why anyone would support McCann from a financial perspective. JB doesn’t need McCann in the race.
What JB does need is a real plan for fixing the state. He doesn’t appear to have one. I’m hoping we don’t get another governor who gets the job because the last one couldn’t do it.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 5:23 pm:
Every day Rauner spends attacking McCann is a good day for JB.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 6:22 pm:
Poor Sam. Since that meanie Brady took away his staff support, he couldn’t even get his picture taken with some Girl Scouts today.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 7:26 pm:
=====a guy who might, possibly, be more effective at fighting Madigan===
To fight, you have to win first.==
Of course, and I certainly wouldn’t claim that Sam could win - even if the Dem nominee wasn’t an affable billionaire. Still, it’s just plain weird to me. Ives voters, those who might or might not support MCann, I can understand those people. They’re conservatives. But that 26% of Illinoisans who actively root for GovJunk, I just don’t get it.
Bruce is, among other things: a liberal; a character who plays dress up and activity alters his speech patterns depending on who he’s talking to; a man who repeatedly makes plainly false claims that are easily refutable; a party leader who rules with an iron bank account, quick to punish (well, pay others to punish) republicans who even slightly disagree with him; lastly and most importantly, he’s just plain awful at his job. From crony contracts to goofy staff hires to his failed “strategy” for implementing his master plan, the turn around agenda. Every single bit of it has been one failure after another.
Yet lots of folks are willing, even eager, to get four more years of this. I don’t get it
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 9:04 pm:
===Anyone who doesn’t see Madigan behind this with Local 150 is just either blind or dumb.===
There are plenty of Jeanne Ives voters who saw how Rauner called her Madigan’s favorite. Now he’s doing the same to McCann. Something like 48% of Republican primary voters still voted for her despite Rauner’s million dollar avalanche of lies.
McCann should have the support of Ives’ most loyal troops and he’s well positioned to get many of her votes in November. Rauner’s dismissive quotes show he is scared to death of McCann and as Wordslinger points out, he will do everything possible to try to keep McCann off the ballot.
If McCann survives that petition challenge, ballgame. Rauner knows it, LP knows it, and Sue, even you aren’t blind and dumb enough not to see this.
And the more Rauner tries to tie McCann to Madigan, the harder those Jeanne Ives supporters will work. I love it.
- PublicServant - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 6:26 am:
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
- PublicServant - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 6:35 am:
Where do I sign the petition?
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 27, 18 @ 8:16 am:
===Anyone who doesn’t see Madigan behind this with Local 150 is just either blind or dumb.===
Who was tha, that was behind Ken Dunkin’s campaign not so long ago?
Goose and Gander.
Can’t take the moral high ground when you broke the seal on shennanigans.