121 Comments - 6184life - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:20 pm: Gotta cheer for the underdogs - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:22 pm: Voted “Win a majority” “Why?” I don’t think any of the 4, individually, can beat Rahm, given that Rahm really wasn’t “bloodied” enough through this first hurdle in February. So, to go through to another election, it will give Rahm more time to “correct” what needs to be corrected to win, as opposed to the challenger having a wave of momentum to actually pull off an upset. Always say, “run them all”, still do. I’m just not feeling any of the other 4 have set the table properly to succeed in taking out Rahm in that one-on-one race, starting tomorrow. More sink hole and quicksand instead of groundwork for the challengers starting tomorrow. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:25 pm: I’d like Rahm to win today, in part because I don’t want to have to watch his ads until April. Enough already. He’s also been a good mayor in my opinion, so that helps. - Observation - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:25 pm: Voted “runoff” only because it would be sporting. - anon - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:27 pm: The choice I really wanted but not available was for Rahm to lose. - chi - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:28 pm: If no one would beat him in a runoff (and I believe that to be true), then it’s a waste of time, money, and effort for a whole lot of people. I get the “he needs to have his ego checked” argument, but that is one costly ego check for the city. Better that his administration, and the entire city, focus on the issues ahead, because there are many. Plus, Kass wants a runoff, so it must be a bad idea. - William j Kelly - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:29 pm: Is that a trick question? - IrishPirate - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:31 pm: chi, Like a broken clock twice a day even Kass can be correct. It’s a hard concept to accept I know. I want a runoff. Just to make Rahm sweat. - MC McGee - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Rahm needs a runoff not a coranation. - Anonin' - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:37 pm: Just as soon as Rahm wins he can start kicking BVR into shape so why waste time with the run off? Plus the opponents proved to be real mopes. Kass should have forced his pet rock, Vdrolyak, to run. Let’s move on. Spend more time on important stuff like Wrigley face lift. - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:38 pm: He’s been even worse than I feared. If we can’t ditch him (yet) or promote him back to DC (yet) I’d like for him to at least be required spend 6 weeks wooing the constituents he’s ignored (or worse) for 4 years. - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:40 pm: ==Just as soon as Rahm wins he can start ki[ss]ing BVR [again] so why waste time with the run off?== There, fixed that for you, Anonin’. - Enviro - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:43 pm: Voted for runoff. A little more humility for the mayor of Chicago would be a very good thing. - D.P.Gumby - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:43 pm: Enough all ready. None of the other candidates are competent to take on the job regardless of how disappointing Rahm has been. If Rahm couldn’t be defeated the first time w/ quality candidates, let’s not waste the time now. - Beans and Franks - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:52 pm: I voted for a win today. A runoff may start panic selling in Chicago… - Carhartt Representative - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:55 pm: I voted run off. I really want him to lose, but at least with a run off, he’d actually have to care about the voters for six more weeks. Also, if there is a run off and Emanuel gets 48% of the vote today, I think he’s going to have a hard time bringing that number much over 50%. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:55 pm: With all of his money and advertising, if Emanuel can’t come up with the 50% + 1, yes, a runoff is preferred. He should have to work for this. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:55 pm: I voted for no runoff. Rahm has more mayoral skills and connections than any of the contenders. Give him some more time. - Carhartt Representative - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:56 pm: I also am willing to put 30 years of experiences in county and city government up against insider trading and working on a legislative process, when there is no opposition to worry about in Chicago anyway so legislative experience is overrated for the mayor. 4 more years of Putin on the Lakefront wouldn’t be a good thing for this city. - truthteller - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:59 pm: Run-off. Everything has come too easy for him up to now. Give the communities that need something from him another six weeks to press their demands. Also, I expect the elected school board to win big, would like to see him carry that in a run-off and finally have to answer the pay to play which gets worse with every new week of contributions. - OneMan - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:59 pm: Voted runoff, for the entertainment value primarily… The ads going into overdrive, a specific CapFax comentator going into overdrive… - the Other Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 1:59 pm: Runoff. Partly the humility argument, partly because he would actually end up addressing some issues during those six weeks. I mean, does anyone here think that the Chicago minimum wage increase would have happened if it weren’t for an election coming up? - VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:04 pm: This is Chicago. Elections are costly annoyances! - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:05 pm: Note that those incumbents that lose when going to the runoff tier of these elections are usually the one at a greatest disadvantage in momentum and at times organization. Rahm, one on one, against any of those 4 will have none of those disadvantages. The case to defeat Rahm has only been, up till now, good enough to be below 50% in a 5-way race. Not one of the 4 can claim the groundswell is there for them to get the chance to defeat Rahm in the runoff. In other words; none of the four can say “You take out my other three opponents, and cleary the race between Rahm and I would lead to Rahm’s defeat.” The other three aren’t hold back the fourth, rather, the 5 are enough to keep Rahm from a possible “50% +1″ That’s it. Today. That’s why I voted as I did here. None of the 4 can claim that statement or the momentum to make it so. - Snucka - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:06 pm: I want to see a runoff. Reasons: There has never been one in Chicago, so that alone would be something to watch. I don’t like the way big money has infected yet another major campaign (thanks William J. Kelly). I also think that maybe we should have learned after Daley that an all-powerful, unchecked mayor is not the best idea. In a city of neighborhoods, the city council should not be so powerless. That said, I don’t look forward to six weeks of Putin comparisons and other such nonsense. - LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:07 pm: Runoff. I want Rahm spending Rahm’s money on Rahm not on aldermanic runoff candidates that are going to be beholden to him going forward. - Bluefish - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:13 pm: If he doesn’t win today, he’ll still pull 45-49.9%. Can Chuy or anyone else win just about every other voter on April 7, especially if the bottom 3 decide to be sore losers? - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:15 pm: Runoff. Junkie’s need our fix. - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:15 pm: Runoff. Junkie’s need our fix. Aldermania is simply not enough! - William j Kelly - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:17 pm: Snucka, Chuy wouldn’t have two cents right now if it wasn’t for what I did and Rahm would still have all the money he needed, so stop listing to the Rahm media and learn to think for yourself. - ROLLO TOMASI - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:19 pm: Runoff. Maybe there will be a freak snowstorm or something. I have a problem with power hungry millionaires. - AlabamaShake - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:20 pm: **Chuy wouldn’t have two cents right now if it wasn’t for what I did** Ever hear of Willie Wilson? And who cares if Chuy had the money in his PAC or not? If teachers/SEIU don’t give Chuy the money directly, it probably just goes to an IE and been used for the exact same thing - TV. Except the TV commercial would have probably been better. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:24 pm: ===…Chuy wouldn’t have two cents right now if it wasn’t for what I did…=== LOL! Two words; Willie. Wilson. Wilson never would’ve broke the cap. - william j kelly -, telling people you’re important is like actually BEING important. Whatever happened to the money? Is it still parked in the account? - William j Kelly - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:25 pm: If facts don’t matter to you, then it’s time for me to move on, see ya later snuckas! - Lincolns tears. - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:31 pm: End it today. No fan of Rahm’s but my god the others are terrible. With a long presidential race already gearing up let’s end this floor a few months of peace. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:32 pm: Let’s blame Kelly if there’s a runoff. - Beans and Franks - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:34 pm: Yo William J. - why the hell do you just yap? File your petitions or shut up already… - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:35 pm: ===if the facts don’t matter to you…=== Oh they do. Where’s that money parked - william j kelly -? - Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:46 pm: Runoff, it’s good for the economy. - I B Strapped - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 2:58 pm: Runoff. I don’t like the guy and would love to see him with a bloody nose, politically speaking… - The Unknown Poster - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:06 pm: Runoff. Just because. - Not liking my old nickname - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:08 pm: Can’t see anyone of the other candidates being better able to deal better with all the diverse communities - business/governmental and otherwise - in the city. - orzo - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:12 pm: The “teach him a lesson” position is immature and a waste of scarce resources unless you truly believe any of these challengers would be a more capable steward of the city I love. I doubt he will change much, but I do believe he has learned some in four years and will be a better mayor in the next four. - anon - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:18 pm: Elections are such a waste of resoources and an unnecessary expenditure. We should abolish them all together. - bored now - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:41 pm: since i’m supporting chuy, i voted runoff… - dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:50 pm: I heard Doc Walls do a radio interview yesterday. What a buffoon. Too bad he wouldn’t be the one to run against Emanuel if there was a runoff. But, Chuy will do just as well. HIRE MORE COPS!!! Please, tell us, Chuy, with WHAT MONEY? - Carhart Representative - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:51 pm: DuPage Dan, Rahm made the exact same promise - Em - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:52 pm: Win a Majority today, because the other candidates are really awful. - doofusguy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 3:57 pm: voted for runoff but comments (especially concerning Kass) changed my mind - - RV_Matt - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 4:00 pm: As a Garcia supporter and 32nd ward resident, I vote runoff. I can’t stand Emanuel. - Emily Booth - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 4:02 pm: Run off. It’s always good for the status quo to be shaken up by democracy. - Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 4:15 pm: Hoping for a clean win. Two reasons. 1. Judiciously save taxpayer dollars that a runoff election would cost. 2. Mercifully save eyes and ears by ending the TV commercials now. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 4:18 pm: I voted for runoff. Rahm hates the CPD. - Levois - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 4:40 pm: I hope the Mayor is forced into a runoff. Not sure against who exactly because this isn’t entirely a stellar field running against him. But I hope there are enough angry voters to force him to run again. Although he’ll still sweat it out he has the 5th floor office for the next four years. - Left Leaner - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 4:45 pm: He needs more of a test. - Gooner - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:15 pm: I could use the April election off, although given that the 2nd Ward may be headed to a run off that may not happen anyway. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:21 pm: Gooner: If signs could vote, Bita wins outright. - Anon - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:25 pm: Whatever WJK’s deal was you have to admit he got away with it;) - gaga - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:27 pm: I voted for a runoff. Rahm deserves to be taken down several notches to say the least. Incidentally, the voters, Rahm’s donors, and all the double-dealing politicians who caved in and backed Rahm are ultimately responsible for this election. Given how little Chuy has raised - 1 million? - its a darn good thing Kelly busted the caps. Chuy had zero chance of overtaking Rahm on fundraising. That much is clear. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:32 pm: - william j kelly - is a Dope. 1) Where is that money that broke the cap? 2) Willie Wilson would’ve broken the caps. The next time - wjk - surfaces, he should be able to explain where ALL that money went. - DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:39 pm: I’d prefer to see a runoff, although odds are I won’t. Emanuel is the Rauner of Chicago, serving the needs of the upper upper class and tossing a few crumbs at the masses. Emanuel comes across as completely non-genuine, totally artificial and lacking in any concern for the people of the city. Prove me wrong, please, but it seems unlikely that he will. - Gooner - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:39 pm: Aldermanic Panic, ‘ Bita had signs telling people to clean up after their dogs. I don’t see the logic there. Good pet owners clean up anyway. Basically, the signs are going to insult dog owners. I just don’t get those signs. - Sunshine - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:44 pm: A runoff would be good for more questions and answers. Always good to get as much out on the table as possible. I too am not particularly keen on the ads. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:45 pm: Gooner: I did not notice those signs. You are correct in that they are pointless. Most of her signs are 3-4 color with her picture, though. Those are ubiquitous in most Old Town businesses and residences. We will see what happens tonight. Very weird Ward now. - walker - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:54 pm: No runoff. Waste of everybody’s time. - Century Club - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:57 pm: I don’t think this campaign has gotten past the talking points for any of the candidates. A one on one contest would force deeper discussions on the issues. Oh, and I want Rahm to lose, so a runoff is pretty much a necessity there. - Mokenavince - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 5:58 pm: Win who needs a runoff , we know he’s a lock to win. Chicago also has to get it’s act together. Very fast! - Percival - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 7:43 pm: Runoff. Not so much for the result, but for the fact that most Chicagoans did not even focus on this election, thanks in part to the multiple candidates and Rahm’s money blitz. Put Emanuel against one candidate, and the scrutiny will focus sharply. And Emanuel needs a lot of scrutiny. The truth is out there, as they say. - William j Kelly - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 7:57 pm: Oswego, get help!;) - William j Kelly - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:00 pm: Oswego, seriously, I know an obsessed stalker when I see one. It’s ok, you are OK! You will be ok! Just get the help you need! No shame! Be well my friend, I am praying for you! - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:05 pm: - wjk - Where’s the campaign funds? What is the committee name? - E town - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:08 pm: Looks like a run off - William j Kelly - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:44 pm: Oswego , haahhahaahaha hahahahahhahahahh I’ll have to Hahahahahhahahahh haahhahaahaha get back to you! Hahahahahhahahahh hahahaaahaha - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:46 pm: Will Fioretti hang up the gloves finally? - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:47 pm: Chuy could pull this off. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:48 pm: Kelly: I think you would have beat some of these mopes. - Gooner - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:48 pm: So it looks like none of those Bita signs voted. We are where we thought we would be six months ago. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:51 pm: Yes. Signs don’t vote. I know. That’s why I prefaced my comment with “If…” Great song by Bread. Not a good ground game for an Aldermanic race. She wasn’t even close. Yikes. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 8:58 pm: I saw energy with Bita’s campaign heretofore unseen in aldermanic races. However, it did not translate into grabbing the most coveted prize of all: Victory. - Snucka - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:00 pm: Rahm is the favorite. Obviously. That said, Chuy could catch fire. Would hate to be a Raym staffer tomorrow. Yikes - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:02 pm: I’ll help you - wjk - Donated $100K - 10/13/14 Paid yourself back 11/25/14 At least a court jester’s snark is witty and winning. The Fool…all he can do is laugh at himself… ===…haahhahaahaha hahahahahhahahahh I’ll have to Hahahahahhahahahh haahhahaahaha get back to you! Hahahahahhahahahh hahahaaahaha=== - wjk -, “The Fool” - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:03 pm: ==So it looks like none of those Bita signs voted.== Or mailers! Oy, the mailers. I was dreading her being in a runoff fueled by more of Rahm’s cash. Looks like that’s not going to be a problem! - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:05 pm: What makes you so certain Rahm was not supporting Hopkins? - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:11 pm: Rahm will win. One call to Hollywood and it’s over. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:14 pm: Patrick Daley Thompson: Runoff. Good Luck. - Illinois Manufacturer - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:24 pm: Well piles of money didn’t get the voters to the polls. Rauners threats seem more empty in light of tonights results - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:25 pm: Right now Rahm is in for the fight of his life. It is possible certain Hollywood types will back Chuy to advance the cause of progressive liberalism, similar to the way certain liberals are backing Warren over Hillary. This is Chuy’s day. - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:30 pm: holy wow booing Chuy? Classy, Rahm supporter! - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:31 pm: AP: I guess I don’t know that. I assumed Hopkins wasn’t a factor. wrong-o - David's Blanket - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:36 pm: Rahm sounds like he’s in trouble. It will be interesting to see the Ward numbers. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:37 pm: Hopkins was the Machine’s candidate from the start. You know it. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:39 pm: Rahm is sweating. Chuy will give him a run for his money. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:41 pm: What will Fioretti’s and Bita’s next political moves be? We all know Dock Walls will run for Mayor next time. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:42 pm: Rahm’s supporters will always boo Chuy. - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:43 pm: Fioretti: county appointment Bita: city appointment …or they could fade away. But I honestly doubt Fioretti will. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:46 pm: Who will appoint Bita and to what? Chuy may win it all. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:50 pm: I don’t see a county appointment for Fioretti. Who did he really help? By the way, Chuy is on TV right now and is inarticulate as heck. Rahm cannot be sweating as much as I thought. - David's Blanket - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:52 pm: Very strong speech by Chuy. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:53 pm: Snucka: Listen to Chuy’s speech and see whose staff you want to be on. I overestimated this guy from his ads. He cannot talk, and when he talks, it’s nonsense. - DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 9:56 pm: In my opinion the use of “Rahm” to refer to the mayor rather than “Emanuel” humanizes the guy more than he deserves. How that came to be such a common media habit I’ll never understand. But now he will need to face “Chuy”, which is a terrific political nickname. I don’t know much about Garcia, but I do know that he’s not a Wall Street functionary or member of the hundred grand wine bottle club. Emanuel has the advantage, of course, but wow wouldn’t it be great to have someone other than him for mayor?? - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:03 pm: Yes, Dave. But not Chuy. He might be even more to the left than Rahm if possible and talks like a third grader. Unbelievable where this country is going. - David's Blanket - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:06 pm: The Ivy League dopes on Rahm’s staff need a little humbling as well. Chuy was talking to the base of the Chicago Democratic Party. Rahm doesn’t have a base. - David's Blanket - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:07 pm: Rahm v. Chuy Hedge Funds v. Hot Dogs - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:09 pm: ===Rahm’s supporters will always boo Chuy.== because they’re 20 - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:10 pm: Rahm’s base is out of state like Rauner’s base is. They don’t care. They can get on TV. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:23 pm: Would have rather had Rahm win. Rauner needs someone who knows how politics works. This really means nothing gets accomplished until April 7 when Rahm can bail his boy out. - 60611 - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:39 pm: If Rahm was at 48-49, he would be the runaway favorite for the runoff. 45 is approaching the danger zone, though. It’s going to be all about turnout and trying to find some people to vote in 6 weeks who didn’t vote today. A quick look at the 19 wards likely to have aldermanic runoffs at this point — and thus higher turnout in 6 weeks. 6 look like they’re white-majority, 5 Hispanic, and 8 African-American. Will be interesting to watch the African-American vote in 6 weeks. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:43 pm: Sigh. The Mayor saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:54 pm: It’s Rahm’s to lose now. Still not 100% sold Rahm is beatable one on one. Anyone and everyone is beatable, just don’t know if Chuy can beat Rahm in the “finals” Will be watching… - crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 10:59 pm: ==In my opinion the use of “Rahm” to refer to the mayor rather than “Emanuel” humanizes the guy more than he deserves. How that came to be such a common media habit I’ll never understand.== Agreed. He lifted it from the “Barack” nonsense. Some of us are grownups and we know you’re not our pal running for student council. Let’s refer to him with the distance he craves from the unwashed masses. - Aldermanic Panic - Tuesday, Feb 24, 15 @ 11:34 pm: I agree with Oswego. No way does Chuy beat Rahm after listening to Chuy’s speech tonight. No way. Rahm may only get 50 plus one but he will win. The stache alone is creepy and unsettling. - Snucka - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 12:27 am: Emanuel was over 50% in 9 wards. Garcia was over 50% in 8 wards. The battle is joined. - Snucka - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 12:31 am: Emanuel was not over 50% in any majority black ward. - Percival - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 1:58 am: The dynamics of this runoff do get interesting, given 10 percent for a Black candidate and seven percent for the Other Liberal. One also has to wonder if Garcia’s runoff race might finally bring that huge potential of Hispanic votes to the polls. I watched Garcia’s speech tonight and can’t see why the pundits on here have dissed him. He came across to me as plenty smart enough. Plus, he’s been elected Cook County Commissioner and just made the Mayoral runoff against Emanuel, so he obviously is smarter than some here will credit. - bankster - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 5:51 am: Rahm, the relationship banker, and Gov. Onepercent Bruce are close friends. These two aristocrats represent everything that is wrong in government today. Don’t think for a second that these two banksters understand the plight of the common man or women in Illinois. To them we are just numbers on a spreadsheet. - bankster - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 5:56 am: http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/September-2014/Bruce-Rauners-Wine-Club-Is-More-Like-a-Wine-Dude-Ranch/ Meanwhile everyone else needs to tighten their belts!!!!!! - Gooner - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 6:16 am: Deb Mell heading to a run off by about 30 votes. Nice to see. People talk about how Rahm needed a run-off for a wake up. The Mell family needs it far worse. In other results, too bad that Joe Moreno took 50%. Shaw was a good candidate and would have made that one interesting. In 2, Bita spent a ton of her own money, and unfortunately for her, after two races, still hasn’t figured out how to appeal to voters. It ended up just where people thought it would. - Gooner - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 6:52 am: Hopkins as “the machine candidate”? Who is this “machine”? It is not 1968 anymore. There is no machine. There are various groups None of them have any sort of city-wide pull. Hopkins had support from a few people connected to the Cook County Board and he had support from Alderman Brendan Reilly. Alyx had support from Sen. Durbin and Cong. Schakowsky. The idea that one of the two was a machine” candidate is ridiculous. - Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 8:10 am: Gooner, there is still a machine. I know a teacher who was set to run for alderman for years ago. The night before petitions were due, they showed up at her door and offered her a dream job at the school of her choosing. She turned them down. 12 years ago, a fireman I know was planning on running for alderman and “changed his mind”. Two months after the election, he got a huge promotion. The aldermen still have power and 80% are still going to be in Rahm’s camp. - Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 8:19 am: Garcia’s candidacy hasn’t even really kicked into gear. Keep in mind that he didn’t have a single expenditure for campaign staff as as of New Years Eve 2014. He didn’t have a single large contribution from out of state, which is great in a white hat sort of way, but disconcerting politically. If you are a fan of The Wire and remember that scene where Carcetti’s staff locked him in a room with nothing but his call sheets, pencils, and a phone and told him they wouldn’t let him out until he raised x dollars. That’s what Chuy needs. Garcia can really mobilize and greatly increase his numbers. I don’t think Rahm can do much at this point, but throw every accusation he can think of at Garcia and hope some stick. - Wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 25, 15 @ 8:52 am: Not much of a “Machine.” The Grand Poohbah just got 208,000 votes from a registered voter base of 1.4 million. In other words, the “Machine” could only turn out one out of seven registered voters for its guy. Emanuel is a national money-raising machine. But the infrastructure for a citywide ground game vote turnout machine? Not so much. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.