Shenanigans?
Wednesday, Apr 1, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m not sure what to make of this…
Sneed has learned that Urban League President and CEO Andrea Zopp, whose resume reads like a corporate bible, is being urged to run for the U.S. Senate and is mulling it over.
Sneed also hears former White House chief of staff William Daley, the brother and son of former Chicago mayors — and others — have talked to the uber-credentialed Zopp about being a potential candidate against GOP U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk.
“Yes, I have talked to her about it and have enormous respect for her, consider her my friend, and think she would be great in government and politics — but I can’t push anybody — anyone to run,” Daley tells Sneed.
Sneed hears that a cadre of top Dem leaders are very concerned about an absence of persons of color on the Illinois Dem ticket, besides perennial Dem candidate Jesse White, whose latest incarnation is secretary of state.
A Daley-backed African-American with no political experience leaked the day after Tammy Duckworth’s campaign kickoff?
Also, Duckworth is an Asian-American, which makes her “of color.”
And what about African-American Congressman Robin Kelly, who is also interested in the seat?
If I was a tinfoil hatter, I’d almost think this was designed to split the vote somehow. But I’m not, so I won’t claim it.
Or maybe it was an April Fool’s prank.
* Also…
Sneed hears rumbles a plan may be afoot to shove freshman State Sen. Tom Cullerton, (D-Villa Park) — a member of Chicago’s legendary Cullerton political clan, which includes State Senate President John Cullerton, — into Duckworth’s congressional seat. “They are trying to work out a deal,” a Sneed source said.
A deal with whom? Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has already announced his candidacy, has the ability to raise serious cash. And, yes, there are some concerns that his name could pose a problem in the general election with middle aged white ethnics, but he’s been waiting for this congressional chance for years and passed up a run for a specially created state Senate seat in 2012.
- Jay Cutler's mustache - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 10:49 am:
Also Jesse’s not on the ticket in 2016. He just won re-election.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 10:50 am:
April Fools?
- Anonin' - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 10:50 am:
Hey were we the only ones who got the Mike Noland kick-off email?….bet that will scare DeadbeatJoe out of the race….and Bill Daley kingmaker?…comeon man!
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 10:51 am:
Anonin’, I posted it yesterday.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 10:59 am:
Sounds like a desperation play from the Daley faction of the party- “Hey, don’t forget about us!”
Really hard to imagine who’s in the “cadre of top Dem leaders” since Durbin and Rahm certainly aren’t shopping for an alternative to Duckworth.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 10:59 am:
**A deal with whom?**
Seems to me that the deal would be with the HDEMs about Deb Conroy running for Cullerton’s Senate seat.
I have a hard time seeing Raja make a deal to get out of the race. But I do know that the SDEMs are very worried about keeping the Cullerton seat even if he runs for re-election, but it is that much harder if they need to try to keep that seat with a new candidate.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:00 am:
I also find it hard to believe that Top Dems are really itching to leave Tom Cullerton’s Senate seat vacant.
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:00 am:
That’s basically over-the-hill dinosaur Sneed MadLibs. Who is Sugar Rautbord supporting? Get it? Forget it.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:04 am:
Bill Daley pushing Andrea Zopp? Must be an April Fool’s prank. Because no one can read that and keep a straight face while knowing it would ==accidentally== split any minority vote.
re Cullerton, does talking to yourself count as working out a ==deal==?
- Upon Further Review - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:10 am:
The Daley wing of the Democratic Party is facing its first aldermanic run-off election since 1947 in the 11th Ward. The current generation has no familiarity with being down. The Sun-Times even profiled the opposing aldermanic candidate today.
Maybe it is a good time for the Daleys to make some noise about Zopp to reassert their relevance. The clan is down, but not out. Nevertheless, the family fortunes have not been at such a low ebb since a Republican beat Dick Daley for Cook County Sheriff in 1946.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:12 am:
Liz, that’s hilarious.
- Gantt Chart - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:13 am:
“Middle aged white ethnics”???
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:13 am:
==since Durbin and Rahm certainly aren’t shopping for an alternative to Duckworth==
And unless Schumer is playing an April Fool’s joke on Durbin, Durbin is currently plenty busy shopping for his own Minority Whip spot.
- sss - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:18 am:
Can’t imagine it would be to boost bill foster, who the DC dems love as a “self-funder.”
I bored myself just writing his name.
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:19 am:
Thanks Soccermom. I posted too soon. I missed the Sneedling about current House Tech Review Attorney John Thomas Donovan’s run for school board.
Will check back in after I find out who is ageless and who is priceless.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:24 am:
I too think this has something to do with intra party politics related to Durbin. His alleged anointing of Tammy at almost the same moment that national political media are saying that there was no upfront deal and that Schumer may want Patty Murray as his whip. Did Durbin really tick off somebody in D.C.?
- The Captain - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:34 am:
There is so much stupidity here it’s almost not worth taking serious enough to rebut, but what the [heck] let’s do it anyway:
1) What is “the ticket”? Do you mean just statewide elections? There will be Cook County elections on this ticket and there will be persons of color, for example Brown, Yarbrough and Alvarez are all up for re-election. If you only mean statewide races then no, which also includes “perennial Dem candidate Jesse White” who is not up in 2016.
2) It’s a Presidential year election, there aren’t many statewide races in those years. In some, like 2008, there was was no Senate race so there was only 1 statewide (President). When there are Senate races there are usually at most 2 statewide races (Senate, President). This cycle because of the special election for Comptroller there are actually 3, it’s a bounty.
3) “Barack Obama will not be on the next ticket, which will be the first time since 2004.” Only true if you don’t include 2006, 2010 and 2014, the years when “perennial Dem candidate Jesse White” actually was on the ticket.
If you’re going to try to make the case why someone who has never earned a vote and never raised any money on her own behalf should be a candidate for the top ballot position exclusive to our state be better at it, or at least less laughably bad at it. She seems like a decent, accomplished (if unknown) person worthy of much better advocates.
- truthteller - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:36 am:
The Daleys represent the business wing of the party.Corporate Dems would be most comfortable with her.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:37 am:
LizPhairTax — Natch…
Not sure if Bill Foster has the coin left to self-fund a senate race.
- Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:39 am:
Wow, Zopp is terrible.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:41 am:
“A deal with whom?”
Good question.
Especially when Tom Cullerton and many DuPage Democrats are a don’t invite ‘em item, e.g. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140416/news/140418609/
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:50 am:
Really Rich? Sneed? If it was a tip on Patti Blagovich or the royal family maybe i’d take it seriously. Sneed has not be relevant for 30 years
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:56 am:
I love Sneed and think she’s quite valuable.
- A guy - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:59 am:
Andrea Zopp could be a greater threat to Kirk in the general than Tammy. All of Cook County Dems could get around Andrea. She’s a serious candidate.
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:59 am:
Valuable>Priceless?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
shove Cullerton into the seat, um, how about he’s pretty great. and all this nonsense about him as a Cullerton family member is designed to diminish his stellar qualifications. he’s worked locally as a village leader, he’s an outgoing and smart state senator, he’s not some pawn of a city based clan.
- A guy - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
I agree with one thing Amalia, he does appear to be an “out- going State Senator”. And he is a nice guy. A fun guy. Stellar Qualifications??? That’s over shooting the runway by a lot.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:29 pm:
@ A Guy, I’m sure your politics don’t meet all of his, so your assessment does not surprise me. he’s a union guy, local government understanding, active on airport issues.
- orzo - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
Some of Sneed’s “sources” use her as a trial balloon floater, or to serve some agenda. I don’t know who wanted Andrea Zopp’s name out there, but I doubt it was Bill Daley.
- Fred - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:02 pm:
Not sure I buy the Sneed piece…political name floating in that column when Bill Daley is the source should be taken with a grain of salt. But anyone who underestimates Andrea Zopp is making a huge mistake.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
No one’s ever voted for Andrea Zopp for anything.
- A guy - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:26 pm:
=== Wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
No one’s ever voted for Andrea Zopp for anything.===
Plenty of US Senate members have that in common. Same with a particular sitting Governor and a former Cook County President. It’s not far-fetched.
- Nick Naylor - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
I like Sneed, too. But, really, let’s be fair. She is willing to print verbatim whatever information certain people want in her column, including Bill Daley, Ed Burke, or a slew of others. She doesn’t mind getting “played” as long as these certain people keep her from having to type her column on a semi-regular, check that, once in a while basis.
Can’t the Sun-Times print something like: “Mike Sneed appears in this space occasionally, check back soon for her next column”? The idea that she is “taking the day off” or “on vacation” or “on assignment” is a slap in the face to those of us that work on a regular basis.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
“Plenty of US Senate members have that in common.”
So do a whole lot more failed candidates. It’s far-fetched.
- LincolnLounger - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 2:00 pm:
LizPhairTax made me laugh out loud. Hilarious.
- Upon Further Review - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 2:13 pm:
If the Cullertons have been doing such a bang up job, why are there no Cullertons left in the old Chicago neighborhood near Cullerton Park?
@Nick Naylor: I think Anne Burke is the one lunching with Sneed.
- A guy - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
=== Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:29 pm:
@ A Guy, I’m sure your politics don’t meet all of his, so your assessment does not surprise me. he’s a union guy, local government understanding, active on airport issues.===
Being serious here Amalia; I bet his politics are closer to mine than yours.
- NewWestSuburbanGOP'er - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:25 pm:
Why should Democrats really care what or who Bill Daley supports? He backed out of the Governor’s race. Was on Rauner transition team. Wall Street big shot….. should I go on?
Hey Daley family, go quietly into the night and enjoy retirement, will ya already?
- Conservative Veteran - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
All people are people of color. My color is white.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:41 pm:
On the way
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
Dear LizPhairTax, thank you so much for introducing me, via google, to this 1987 column.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-02-25/entertainment/8701150845_1_sugar-s-rise-chicago-society-answer
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 4:23 pm:
Can Tom Cullerton survive a congressional Democratic primary? This is a guy who just a few years ago was a blood red Republican.
- DuPage Grandma - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 6:04 pm:
Raja ran in the primary for the 8th Congressional against Duckworth in 2012. (He may have sat out the Senate race but was very active in the Congressional race)
Here are the results:
Raja Krishnamoor 3,248 33.52 %
Tammy Duckworth 6,441 66.48 %
He was strongly supported by the DuPage Democratic Party leadership. Their support didn’t make a lot of difference then and I don’t think their support or lack of it will make much difference now in a Tom Cullerton run for either seat, Senate 23 or Congressional 8th.
The DuPage County Dems have been divided by infighting and weakened by it. They lost 2 county incumbents in the last election. The only Democrats in a DuPage District who won was Deb Conroy for her house seat. The Chairman of DuPage Democrats ran for Chairman of DuPage County Board and received the least votes of any candidate in DuPage…. for what it is worth.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 6:11 pm:
a Guy: “I bet [Tom Cullerton’s] politics are closer to mine than yours.”
Precinct Captain: “This is a guy who just a few years ago was a blood red Republican.”
Plus and: https://capitolfax.com/2008/05/14/strange-ruling-from-dupage/
– MrJM
- DuPage Grandma - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 6:13 pm:
“Can Tom Cullerton survive a congressional Democratic primary? This is a guy who just a few years ago was a blood red Republican.”
He survived the primary in 2012. He is an incumbent with an excellent Democratic record. He will survive now more easily than his first run.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 6:53 pm:
@ A Guy, so see you on the campaign trail for Tom Cullerton?
- Black Ivy - Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 8:20 pm:
Is it just me? None of these candidates excite me in the least. Yawn…
- Old IVIer - Thursday, Apr 2, 15 @ 12:13 am:
Isn’t the Zopp candidacy being pushed by Daley just a little too transparent?
Yes the ticket would be best served by having an African American woman at the top; but that woman should be Congresswoman Robin Kelly who has (1) won a statewide Democratic primary; (2) has an identifiable base (unless the Daley-Durbin folks concoct a way to split it;(3) has experience at the local; state and federal level; and (4) stands for something.
This is just a way to either keep Robin Kelly out of the race or to split her base.
Again at the risk of sounding like a broken record, can somebody, anybody, tell me what Duckworth stands for except not being Joe Walsh?
Yes she is pro-veteran but so is everybody else.
I don’t know any politician who is anti-veteran; just like I don’t know any who are are anti-apple pie. Yes, Duckworth has a compelling personal story; but don’t we need senator who wants to be a senator to do something, not just to be somebody?
The Democratic Party needs a candidate like Robin Kelly who has signature issue and a progressive agenda; not an Alan Dixon clone.