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* This was pitched to me yesterday, but I decided to wait until today to talk to him. Looks like I’ll have to now…
He’s been touted as a possible future mayor of Chicago — but city Treasurer Kurt Summers’ eyes may be on the governor’s mansion.
Sources close to the up-and-coming Democrat say he’s exploring a 2018 run against Bruce Rauner.
A final decision to run would likely depend on U.S. Sen Dick Durbin, the big dog in Illinois Democratic politics who would likely clear the field of primary challengers, should he decide to run. […]
In Springfield on Thursday morning for a Democratic Party breakfast event before the State Fair, Summers was asked about a potential gubernatorial run and said: “We’re all here working to defeat Bruce Rauner and elect Democratic candidates.”
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:18 pm
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Oddly missing from that bio:
Chicago 2016 Olympics!
Comment by Ok Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:22 pm
Summers has been building an interesting following in the Chicago area. But I don’t think he would have the wide enough appeal to defeat Rauner.
But if he were to run after Rauner and not win, his politicial career would not be over. Can’t say the same for Durbin.
Comment by Bleh Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:23 pm
and to whom is Kurt deferring?
Toni or Rahm?
Comment by Ok Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:23 pm
…to run against Rauner *** (sorry, not after)
Comment by Bleh Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:23 pm
A decent rule of thumb is that if you’ve never won an election where you had an opponent you should probably be prepared to spend $50 million of your own money if you want to run for Governor and win. It’s not a hard and fast rule, you may only need $30 or $40 million of your own money, but $28 million wasn’t enough for Blair Hull to win a Senate seat so that’s probably a pretty good starting point.
Floating his name for Governor probably won’t hurt his fundraising though, which was probably the whole point of all this.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:24 pm
Other than “who?”, my first thought was he should consider paying his dues a bit more than less than 2 years in office and actually winning an election first. Then I remembered thinking the same thing a couple years ago and how that turned out.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Unless you’ve got gadzillion dollars, GO AWAY!
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Welp, good luck with that.
Can’t see it for governor, but…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Kurt who?
Comment by Morgan County Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:27 pm
Soothing the ego by floating his name out there. Nothing to see
Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:29 pm
===Unless you’ve got gadzillion dollars, GO AWAY!===
“But I’m popular and I think I can do it…”
Ugh.
Rauner is begging and pleading for a contested primary. This helps Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:29 pm
Way too close to Rahm. No traction here
Comment by Wow Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:30 pm
Maze will start attacking Kurt in 3, 2, 1…
Comment by ExCMS Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:31 pm
The man is definitely an up-and-comer within the Dem Party. He should be more patient and run for something further down the ballot for his first statewide effort.
Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Yeah, but if he runs for Governor mid-term, how will we keep up the tradition of essentially appointing the Chicago City Treasurer?
Tradition is all we have in the end.
Comment by New Guy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Well, we know Durbin won’t do it. He’ll tease, he’ll attack, but then he’ll back out. Family and all that.
We know Lisa Madigan won’t do it. She’ll tease, raise money, fill rooms, and then back out. Her dad and all that.
Kwame Raoul? Tease, fill rooms, raise money — and then back out. Still has important work to do and all that.
Kennedy? Yikes. He’ll just tell the press to leave him the heck alone — and then wonder why he ever floated the idea in the first place. Animals. That’s what the press is, he’ll say.
Then: Summers — possibly. But only because — much like the GOP primary last cycle — the last one’s standing will be the ones in the back of the room. Timid. But, sure, what the heck. Why not. Like Jason Gonzalez. Give it a go.
Rauner has, I’m sorry to say — very sorry — nothing to worry about.
Comment by Bobby Catalpa Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:46 pm
Too close to Rahm. The commercials by Rauner would be glorious.
And IMO there would be an enthusiasm gap by downstate Democrats for a Chicago pol. Unless Dick Mell is going to stump for him like he did for Blago to get the downstate Democrats to vote for him in a contested primary.
Comment by Voices Carry Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:47 pm
Give credit where credit is due, though. He has a great superhero secret identity name.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:50 pm
With the proven name recognition here. how can he possibly go wrong?
Comment by Touré's Latte Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:06 pm
The other day some one told me that women got the vote and now the Captain and Oswego Willy are saying I am living in an Oligarchy.
Comment by Matt Vernau Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:17 pm
=== With the proven name recognition here. how can he possibly go wrong? ===
You got me there! Almost everybody in the world knows about summers.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:18 pm
- Matt Vernau -
With a personal injury award winner and former 1/2 term city trustee a heartbeat away from taking over for a “bidness” man governor, I’m in no mood for a Chicago City Treasurer that lacks.
I have no time for egos and no resumes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:20 pm
You don’t mean “the” Kurt Summers, do you? The guy who’s a household name…at home. Oy.
Nevermind.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:24 pm
===I have no time for egos and no resumes.===
… and no way to clear the field, and no monies to tout to keep up.
If the Democrats want to defeat Rauner they need no primary fight, a deep-pocketed candidate that has a name and cache and understands governing.
Summers? Meh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:25 pm
===I have no time for egos and no resumes.===
And yet you have so much time for so much else.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:26 pm
…..since CTU may still be on strike then, Chicago may not be such a fun place to be….
Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:30 pm
===And yet you have so much time for so much else.===
Golf and cannoli tasting… someone has to do it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:42 pm
I wish there was a wealthy democrat in Chicago who would consider running. Especially if they had great national and local connections with prominent democrats and decision makers.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:58 pm
–”I wish there was a wealthy democrat in Chicago who would consider running. Especially if they had great national and local connections with prominent democrats and decision makers.– ”
Welcome, Chris Kennedy, who would nip Kurt Summers in an underwhelming Dem primary … only to lose big-time to Rauner.
Next.
Comment by Deft Wing Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:36 pm
I wouldn’t waste your time on this story. People will eventually catch on that this guy is all self-promotion and no substance.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:39 pm
“whom is Kurt deferring?
Toni or Rahm?”
I do not understand those who think that a 72-year-old Preckwinkle would want anything to do with running the Chicago disaster. Richard J is the only mayor of Chicago *ever* to serve a day at 72 or older.
It doesn’t make sense to doubt her statments that she won’t run.
Comment by Chris Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:45 pm
–I wish there was a wealthy democrat in Chicago who would consider running. Especially if they had great national and local connections with prominent democrats and decision makers.–
That guy was last seen in Cleveland running for his life from a pack of reporters.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:53 pm
Philly not Cleveland. That’s what I get for not paying much attention this year.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:54 pm
hmmm I suppose you could go with a slogan about Winter is coming so you need Summers……
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:00 pm
There is always Bill Daley as the “gag factor” goes off the charts.
Comment by Roscoe Tom Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:40 pm
kurt has a solid resume. Who cares if anybody knows him now. How many people knew Barack Obama before his speech at the 2004 dem convention. Kurt has a hell of a resume and the ability to straighten this mess out.
Comment by There Their They're Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 4:04 pm
===How many people knew Barack Obama before his speech at the 2004 dem convention.===
Comparing Summers to Obama speaks to how far Sunmers needs to go to BE a governor.
Sunmers isn’t ready. Sorry.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 4:07 pm
Kurt will run for SoS if it looks like Rahm will run again in 2019.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 4:20 pm
OW, Summers has more executive experience than the President did (public and private sector), and about as much time at the highest levels of government as well - city, county, state. They are very different people, but you can’t say Summers isn’t prepared for a bigger role.
Comment by Vibes Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 7:24 pm
===you can’t say Summers isn’t prepared for a bigger role.===
Not governor. Nope. Not prepared.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 7:38 pm
Summer realizes that in Chicago we too will tie him to Prince Rham Chuy GARCIA has the right mix..Live and learn..
Comment by Leapfrog Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:51 pm
Summers is smart but as governor he would be out muscled like a small boy by madgian.
Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 8:50 am