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By Barton Lorimor Email | @bartonlorimor
* This is not too big of a surprise given Walker is coming to Chicago this week to fundraise on Durkin’s behalf…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, is poised to back 2016 GOP White House hopeful Scott Walker, the Sun-Times has learned.
Durkin is the first major Illinois elected official to back Walker, the Wisconsin governor. All signs point to Durkin becoming the Illinois chair of the Walker presidential campaign. Durkin’s statewide political organization and network would give Walker a massive advantage in organizing delegate slates for the March 2016 Illinois primary.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:34 pm
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No question it helps. Leader Durkin has a pretty solid and recent list to work. Good snag by Walker. Especially this early.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:41 pm
What a sad choice
Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:48 pm
Doesn’t hurt, but I don’t see how it’s a “massive advantage” for Walker in organizing delegates. Walker is in the top tier of GOP candidates, he wasn’t going to have a problem on that front.
Besides, you vote for the candidate, not the delegate.
Lynn has a tendency to elevate her exclusives-only-in-her-own-mind to the silly level.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:51 pm
I doubt Walker would carry Illinois. Walker is seen as a Wisconsin version of Rauner, Rauner’s agenda is similar to Walker’s.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:53 pm
DuP, neighbor states candidates usually do pretty well. Walker has been doing well in Iowa. Much will depend on how many horses are still in the race by the time the race really comes to Illinois. With or without Leader Durkin, Walker was bound to do pretty well here. With Durkin, there’s probably an even better chance. If you had to pick today (we don’t), I’d put Walker at the top or very near it.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Well, I doubt any of these GOP candidates are carrying Illinois in the 2016 general. Assuming Hillary is the nominee and something dramatic doesn’t happen between now and then. If IL is competitive come next year, that’s a really bad sign for the Dems.
It is interesting to speculate about which candidate Kirk would most like to run alongside. Probably not Walker, agreed.
Comment by ZC Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:02 pm
I want to know who the ILGOP Congressional Delegation will coalesce behind. If they are fragmented, it does not matter who Leader Durkin or Leader Radogno backs. The ILGOP Congressional Delegation represents roughly 45% of the population in Illinois and its members and staff (campaign and government) are very interconnected to party chairman and volunteers. They drive a lot of what happens with presidential petitions and efforts. If they fragment, then you will see a scrum. Unless, of course, Governor Rauner makes up his mind sometime soon. Which would not surprise me.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:07 pm
Sounds more like Durkin jumping on the likeliest bandwagon. last cycle the effective and powerful HRO super-minority leader managed, in a red tide election year, to pick up ZERO House seats.
Comment by Touré's Latte Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:12 pm
Phil Gramm.
Just has that kinda feel right now, given with Trump sucking all the oxygen.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:20 pm
= Well, I doubt any of these GOP candidates are carrying Illinois in the 2016 general. =
True, but Illinois can still play a role in deciding the GOP’s nominee. With so many candidates in the field, it’s very possible that the nomination will still be in doubt in mid-March.
Having a candidate work to win delegates in the other side’s states has a track record. On the Dem side, early in the 2008 campaign, Obama won wide margins in a number of heavily red western state primaries/caucuses - those delegates helped him withstand Hillary’s late momentum and seal the nomination.
Comment by cover Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:29 pm
If trump goes as an independent in the general all of this wont matter
Comment by foster brooks Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:33 pm
That also depends on if Rauner concurs since he is now pretty much funding the state party through financial backing.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:34 pm
Scott Walker-Presidential Candidate-not bad for a guy w/o a college degree and a resume full of inconsistencies.
Comment by MJB Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:43 pm
Walker is about as popular in Illinois, as Madigan is popular in Wisconsin.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:43 pm
C’mon Jimmy, say it isn’t so…I thought you were more clever than this…
Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:45 pm
Griff made nice noises about Walker in the WSJ article the other day. Uihlein is already all in for him.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:46 pm
Well Rauner and Kirk can’t openly stand with someone so radically anti-union and anti-reproductive rights and hope to hang on to any sort of statewide moderate credentials so it makes sense for Durkin, a man at no risk of ever seriously vying for being in charge of anything statewide, to be the one to step up here.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Walker is not popular with the people in Wisconsin. He has a 58% disapproval rating in his own state.
Comment by Enviro Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:48 pm
@anonymous - of course rauner is for walker. griffin, uihlein, and ricketts are too. he got elected by walkers people didnt he?
rauner just cant say he’s for walker for the same reason he cant say what the turnaround agenda actually is.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:51 pm
-ZC- “If IL is competitive come next year, that’s a really bad sign for the Dems.”
Thank you Captain Obvious. With Bernie drawing crowds in the tens of thousands, that nomination on the D side is anything but a done deal…….there is a real good chance the Republican ticket might resemble a Carson/Kasich or Fiorina/Cruz fusion, in which case Illinois might not be out of reach for the first time in 28 years!
Comment by DuPage Don Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:53 pm
>> there is a real good chance the Republican ticket might resemble a Carson/Kasich or Fiorina/Cruz fusion
Well, we heard it here first. You can dine out in DuPage a long time on either of those predictions, I say, if those tickets come to pass.
Comment by ZC Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 1:59 pm
He just lost my vote. Walker’s anti-Union crusade has harmed good working class people and damaged the economy of Wisconsin.
Comment by Tired Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:03 pm
I don’t think the ability to win the Iowa caucuses is a good thing for the GOP’s chances to win in November, and hasn’t been since Pat Robertson finished second — ahead of GHW Bush — in 1988.
Robertson brought religious zealots into the process that aren’t even reflective of Iowa Republicans, much less the country.
We’re talking about less than 150,000 people — total — willing to go out on a cold, dreary, February night and hang around in a school cafeteria or church basement for a couple of hours.
Former Pres. Santorum and former Pres. Huckabee might disagree, but the national GOP should have shut down the Iowa caucuses a long time ago. Candidates spend months running to the crazy right to appeal to tnose folks, and it’s a long way back to the middle where general elections are won.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:07 pm
I keep seeing how this was rolled out;
Durkin picks up Walker, fine, covers the base of Uihlein and Griffin.
Rauner and Munger might go for someone like a Bush(?) candidate, considering the financials someone like a “Jeb!” has… dunno, but I can see that.
I can see Radogno pick up, very early on, like a Kaisch, a newcomer, trying to build(?)
With 16/17 running, it’s best to split the field in August…
Like Phil Gramm and Bob Dole…
Hedging bets
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:12 pm
Durkin’s statewide political organization and network? It’s been real effective in maintaining a super minority.
Comment by ToughGuy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:14 pm
Very disappointed with Durkin. How sad, he has decided to back/endorse a union busting Governor like Walker.
Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:17 pm
But Willy, where will Joe Walsh (R-Uihlein) land???? That’s the question the movement conservatives are wondering about.
Comment by DuPage Don Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:17 pm
- DuPage Don -,
It might come down to one real policy issue;
Who can write him a check that’ll clear before the candidate realizes what the just did.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:20 pm
== ToughGuy - Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
Durkin’s statewide political organization and network? It’s been real effective in maintaining a super minority.===
TG, it’s a primary, not a general. BTW, he’s been leader for one term. Rome wasn’t built in a century. /s
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:24 pm
Ouch, Willy! Ouch!
Comment by DuPage Don Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:26 pm
Oh, I like Walsh.
I like Walsh, like I like the crazy uncle that you keep running into “on accident” and that uncle can’t understand why you won’t join his Ponzi scheme network…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:29 pm
You’re talking about Uncle Leo that Jerry and George and Elaine would always try not to run into.
Comment by DuPage Don Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:33 pm
- DuPage Don -,
Yeah. Walsh is selling the Ponzi scheme of his alleged relevance. Buy into his charm, importance, relevance, then you find out you’re just paying for his comforts. Ugh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 2:38 pm
I guess if you like “republics” who hand out $250,000,000.00 in Socialist Government Entitlements to for-profit, privately owned businesses….than Scott is your guy!
Comment by Jack Stephens Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 3:13 pm
=Walker is not popular with the people in Wisconsin. He has a 58% disapproval rating in his own state.=
Unless you’re a Milwaukee Bucks fan. Agreed to partially fund a new arena in Milwaukee replacing a less than 30-year facility.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 3:15 pm
Rauner would be wise to stay out of it.
His personal money means nothing on the national scene, he has no ground troops, and he didn’t spend all that dough to become governor to get some h-a cabinet position.
And he ain’t going to get the v.p. nod, either. Unless everyone in the GOP has lost their minds, that will be Nikki Haley, if she will take it.
That governor stepped up, spoke some common sense and dumped a lot of baggage that will do the GOP a lot of good in the years to come. She’s a star.
My guess is Bush/Haley or Rubio/Haley, with Rubio being the most formidable as a sharp, generational-change candidate with the best chance for 270. But 270 is a heavy lift for Republicans as long as they’re the angry white guy party.
Walker ain’t got the noodle to stand up to the attacks that are coming his way from the other GOP candidates. He’s already outkicked his coverage as governor.
He’s just a guy who can get 53 percent in Wisconsin by playing fhe Milwaukee/race card.
Can you imagine an Illinois candidate for governor saying “we don’t want Illinois to become another Chicago” like Walker did about Milwaukee/Wisconsin?
Does that sound like a president to you?
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 3:16 pm
Walker is going to get pounded on taxes and his budgets.
Highest taxes in the Midwest, cuts education, $250 million for billionaire Dem Kohl’s basketball team.
Think a GOP operative can do something with that?
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 3:44 pm
A guy, thanks. You made my point exactly in questioning his organization. “BTW, he’s been leader for one term. Rome wasn’t built in a century. /s” Not exactly “machine” caliber. He’ll have as much influence in the primary as the general election. Governor Rauner will be making the calls for who he and the rest of the Republican party wants. Don’t believe me? Ask Representative Durkin who will be making that call.
Comment by ToughGuy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 3:48 pm
Munger at the donalds table durkin backing walker 14 more to pick from what fun
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 4:03 pm
Walker just hasn’t got it upstairs, and his in-state results are shaky at best. Durkin is way smarter.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 4:09 pm
Walker will be toast by the time Illinois rolls around.
Comment by Mouthy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 4:56 pm
Kasich vs Biden. Don’t think Clinton is going to make it and Sanders it too much a socialist. Trump will flame out. Bush and Walker too boring. Cruz is too slick and the rest all are lightweights..
Comment by Mouthy Wednesday, Aug 12, 15 @ 5:01 pm