Today’s number: $3.5 million
Friday, Oct 31, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers about this earlier in the week…
A race for a seat in the Illinois Senate representing the Quad-Cities has become the most expensive legislative election in state history.
According to state campaign finance reports, the 36th Senate District battle between Democratic state Sen. Mike Jacobs of East Moline and Republican challenger Neil Anderson of Rock Island has topped the $3.5 million mark as the two hurtle toward the Nov. 4 election.
That figure, according to political scientist Kent Redfield, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Springfield, beats a record-breaking 2010 Senate race in which $2.7 million was raised in the contest in which Republican challenger Sam McCann of Carlinville beat then-state Sen. Deanna Demuzio.
The Jacobs-Anderson tilt comes just two years after Jacobs was involved in another expensive race, when more than $2 million was raised in his contest against Republican Bill Albrecht.
…Adding… But that’s a relative pittance compared to the governor’s race…
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 9:49 am:
High cost of mediocrity
- Empty Chair - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 9:55 am:
What’s Rauner’s total at now?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 9:58 am:
You ‘nember the movie where this baseball guy had to spend $10 million without gaining assets after, to get $100 million…
How about we have a guy who has over $300 million without creating a single job, and eh have him spend around $30 million to tarnish his reputation and image, and drag out every skeleton out of his closet?
No, no, there will be props. There will be commercials, signs…no questions…but plenty of poll tested dialog, maybe a fake laugh and laugh track…you have like the “Phonymobile” and a sidekick that says nothing, ever…instead if a cave, you have a ranch, and a Gotham lair, with moat…
No one…would believe it.
That I know.
- anon - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:00 am:
Gotta pay to run those ads today thru Tuesday about Quinn doling out all that taxpayer money!!!
- Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:02 am:
Kind of early on Friday for Rauner and Griff, isn’t it? Must be going trick or treating later.
- Soccermom - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:03 am:
I am completely in favor of really rich people running for office. It’s the most effective means of income redistribution that we have.
I just wish Rauner were spending more of it in-state. Create some Illinois jobs, why dontcha?
- Jeepster - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:04 am:
OW - “phonymobile” - funny!
- Politidork - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:05 am:
Don’t forget about the $10,000 from Portillo’s to Rauner for all of the publicity!
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:07 am:
==and drag out every skeleton out of his closet==
Not even close. We just opened the door, but the closet is a walk-in.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:11 am:
==Create some Illinois jobs, why dontcha?==
Maybe if Illinois had right to work zones, he’d hire some phone callers from here and not Michigan lol.
- John A Logan - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:15 am:
Rauner should have spent his millions creating a business that could have been used in a positive spot about creating jobs.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:18 am:
I wonder how the conversation goes when Rauner puts the arm on Griff?
Granted, Griff is worth at least four times as much as Rauner.
But Rauner has plenty. He put in $3 million last week, and $1.5 million a pop every week for at least a month before then.
If I were Griff, I think at some point I’d say, “Dude, it’s your party. How’s about you pay for your ego trip and I’ll pay for my divorce?”
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:22 am:
Sun Times reporting Rauner has made big media buy diwn state. So either trying to improve on good numbers. Or on the other hand maybe that poll yesterday has them concerned
- DuPage Dave - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:25 am:
“Money, it’s a hit. Don’t give me that do-goody-good b.s.”
- A guy... - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:26 am:
Hard to believe anyone would spend that much money to keep Jacobs in a public body. He’s everything that’s bad about government and then some. Ick.
- Downstate Libertarian - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:32 am:
Coming out this weekend: Billboards everywhere south of I-80 pointing out that Grimm is a Democratic Agent. Skywriters will be out all day on Tuesday fear monger….ummmm sharing the message.
Seriously, it will be good when this is over. The mud is high this season.
- Jocko - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 10:49 am:
OW and DuPage made my morning! Instead of a Bat, BR should have a vulture on his chest.
“Holy Floyd reference Vulture-man!”
- Team Sleep - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 11:05 am:
Guy - I think Anderson will pull this one off (albeit barely).
- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 11:06 am:
The smaller the towns, the higher the costs?
- circularfiringsquad - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 11:20 am:
Good to see Mr. ReBoot got his allowance for November early and coughs it up to Mitt rather than blowing it at the boat show in Palm Beach.
- Arizona Bob - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 11:58 am:
Makes you wonder what Jacobs is givng away to special interests to make it worth a few million for him to keep his seat.
Overall, devoting that much money for one race makes no sense. A fraction of that a dozen state senate and rep races competitive.
Cross was just as bad about this when he was in charge.
- lil enchilada - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 12:28 pm:
Rauner keeps putting money into the GOP party and they trickle it down. If they give Anderson a million to use against Jacobs, shouldn’t the Dems do the same? Jacobs does more for the community than you know. You may not like him but he is getting things done.
- A guy... - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 12:59 pm:
Team Zzzzz,
Good Heavens I hope you’re right. Suddenly the money would be worth it! Thanks man.
- Just a citizen - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
Spending 3.5 million dollars to win a job that pays about 70,000 dollars a year is obscene. Tell me there is no graft or special favors for the man who wins and I will sell you the Centennial Bridge for a dollar.
- Jeanne Dough - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 7:05 pm:
Anderson has cashed in on the frustration felt over Jacobs’s pension vote. He is courting state employees, teachers, and retirees in a big way through TV ads and direct mail in the 36th District. And his position as a union firefighter lends credibility.
- patsy cline gurl - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 8:25 pm:
As the wife of a fire fighter I call hog wash. Never gonna happen. Anderson couldn’t even get the endorsement of his own union.
- patsy cline gurl - Friday, Oct 31, 14 @ 8:26 pm:
The teachers also endorsed Jacobs. Where are you getting your info? Anderson?