* Some out of town reporters seemed surprised that Gov. Pat Quinn received such an enthusiastic ovation at yesterday’s annual Democratic County Chairmen’s Association brunch. After all, every poll shows he’s unpopular with voters, even Democratic voters, and he’s not known to be the insiders’ favorite guy.
But Bill Daley made a not so subtle attempt at an answer yesterday…
“It’s Springfield,” he said. “I think there may be a lot of people who obviously have known or worked for Pat, or work for Pat now, over the years and they’re appreciative of those jobs.”
Lots and lots of those county chairmen either have state jobs or contracts for themselves and/or their family members or close friends. Of course they’re with their meal ticket.
* But that didn’t stop Daley and Sen. Kwame Raoul from taking jabs at Quinn…
Daley attempted to seize on the dysfunction and contended Democrats will lose the governor’s office in 2014 unless he is the nominee. “I believe — and I believe strongly — that there’s got to be change,” Daley said of more than five years of Quinn at the helm.
Quinn brushed aside Daley’s comments and vowed to defeat all challengers.
“There’s nobody in Illinois who can run a grass-roots campaign like I can,” said Quinn, who narrowly won the primary and general elections in 2010 despite low approval ratings. “I’m not afraid of big money, big-time lobby groups. I think I can win the day with the kind of campaign people in Illinois will admire.”
And…
Raoul, a Hyde Park/Kenwood Democrat, didn’t have a formal speaking role at the county chairmen’s brunch but presided over a gaggle of reporters later to verify his interest in the race but stress he hasn’t made up his mind about it.
Raoul said he personally likes Quinn but poked at Quinn’s leadership skills.
“The job of governor entails more than just using a pen to sign bills. It involves leadership, and rolling up your sleeves and engaging the Legislature, not just throwing arrows and rocks at the Legislature,” Raoul said.
“It’s a different style of leadership than I’m accustomed to,” he said.
* There was a major no-show yesterday…
[Effingham County Chair Audrey Griffith] was bothered that one politician never showed up — to either the morning meeting, or to the fair: the head of the Democratic Party of Illinois, House Speaker Michael Madigan, didn’t come at all.
“Be nice if he thought enough to be with us, supporting the party and egging people on to support what they believe in. Would have been really nice,” she said.
He’s suing the governor, he probably didn’t want to answer more questions about his daughter and the governor declared yesterday to be exclusively “Governor’s Day.” It’s no wonder he didn’t show. But still probably bad form.
* Quote of the day…
Democrats couldn’t deny the tensions in the room.
“It’s there,” said Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a top pensions negotiator. “But we can all come together and enjoy a nice breakfast.”
* And tomorrow could be a big day for the governor…
Democrats in Cook County, the largest county party organization in the state, will gather Friday to formally endorse a candidate for governor. County party officials said only Quinn was on the schedule to attend and ask the group for its endorsement, though Daley has reportedly been making phone calls to committee members over recent days.
“It would be very difficult to imagine the party endorsing someone who is not there,” said state Representative Lou Lang of Skokie, the group’s vice chair.
* Related…
* VIDEO: Illinois Senate President John Cullerton talks to reporters
* VIDEO: Pat Quinn speech 8-14-13
* VIDEO: Durbin on Illinois Democratic Party
- Empty Chair - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 10:03 am:
Daley’s pursuing another ill-advised strategy: the “electability” argument. It goes: I’m more electable than this guy, so vote for me in the primary so that our party can win in the general.
Flawed because:
1) Quinn won in 2010, and while the GOP candidate was flawed, Republican turnout was higher than it was in any year in the past decade. Quinn was one of the only Governors nationwide who survived the biggest GOP wave since 1994.
2) Quinn has also been elected statewide as Treasurer and Lt. Governor before. Daley has never won an election in his life. He hasn’t proven he is electable at all. A key element of the electability argument is proving that you can win, not just that the other guy cannot win.
3) Daley’s argument depends on, as he admits, “a basic understanding of politics.” Many primary voters (especially those at the margins) don’t know or care too much about political strategy.
Strategies based on the electability argument almost always fail, because primary voters are dramatically different than general voters. Primary voters care about core tenants of their party, not about whether or not you can weasel your way across the finish line in November.
I’d challenge anyone to find an example of a Democratic gubernatorial candidate successfully employing the electability argument in a contested primary in any state in the past 10 years.
- Hank - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 10:06 am:
A little early to endorse candidates isn’t it especially when another big name candidate may yet jump in?
- NW Illinois Dem - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 11:07 am:
I think Daley’s onto something with the “electability” argument - with Governor Quinn’s polling numbers consistently among the nation’s lowest and dismal throughout downstate.
But Daley has better arguments — the Quinn/Blagojevich alliance, the ongoing ethical problems with Quinn’s agencies, the weak legislative successes, the pension nightmare that makes this state sort of a national … joke.
A challenger has to convince voters to fire the incumbent and hire him/her … Daley has a lot better arguments than electability.
- MrJM - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 11:30 am:
“I think there may be a lot of people who obviously have known or worked for Pat, or work for Pat now, over the years and they’re appreciative of those jobs.”
In other words, if you don’t see the appeal of Bill Daley’s candidacy, the fault is in you not in Bill Daley.
(And who were the “volunteers” trying to hand out stickers for Bill Daley? Never mind — I’m sure those teenagers were there solely due to their deep and abiding belief in the Bill Daley agenda.)
– MrJM
- NW Illinois Dem - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 11:51 am:
MrJM
Give me a break! I’ve been to about a dozen of the county chairs breakfasts and you know as well I do that the place was packed with county chairs & others with job reasons to support Governor Pat Quinn. That’s fine - that’s the way it is - that’s reality. Don’t try to turn it around as a referendum on Bill Daley, though, because that would be entirely disingenuous. It’s Springfield/state gov’t politics. That’s what Daley was saying.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 11:59 am:
How can you make an “electability” argument when you’ve never been elected and the other guy has?
- MrJM - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 1:15 pm:
“Don’t try to turn it around as a referendum on Bill Daley, though, because that would be entirely disingenuous.”
I’ve tried my best to parse this sentence, but must now humbly admit my defeat.
– MrJM
- Just Me - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 1:57 pm:
If the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois doesn’t want to attend a major party function, then maybe someone else should be the Chairman.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 2:04 pm:
All’s not rosy at the Politburo (snark).
- low level - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 4:59 pm:
William Daley just can’t let go of the patronage angle with Quinn, even though hearing him make the argument is a bit like Kass lecturing someone on being a good journalism.
Now I really know why Gore lost in 2000. I cannot believe that I actually may walk into the voting booth in March and vote for Quinn. I wouldn’t have thought it possible 3-6 months ago. Please run Kwame.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 7:22 pm:
Just me: Well said…Havent heard from his mouthpiece lately either…the Madigan brand
aint what it used to be…
D