Rauner not backing prez candidate
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Erickson…
During a swing through the Statehouse newsroom Tuesday, the first-term Republican chief executive said he is not getting involved in picking one of the 17 candidates seeking the GOP nomination.
“I am very clearly, specifically staying out of that,” Rauner told reporters before heading out to the Illinois State Fair.
Rauner did say he’s familiar with a big chunk of the field, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
“I have six pretty good personal friends running in the Republican primary,” Rauner said. “I’m pretty close to virtually all of the governors.”
Thoughts?
- No Raise - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:12 pm:
Smart. Just concentrate on Illinois. No sense picking one of seventeen candidates.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
===“I have six pretty good personal friends running in the Republican primary,” Rauner said. “I’m pretty close to virtually all of the governors.”===
Maybe he could ask them for advice since his Hawaii’ Governor seems useless except for organizing parades.
To the Post,
I still think, if a Cabinet spot opened, Rauner would look at it. The VP spot after these 8 months seems out of the question, along with his green-ness and bringing nothing in ideology helpful in a General Election.
When a nominee is chosen, Rauner will magically be in the “right” side… Unless it Christie, lol
- From the 'Dale to HP - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:16 pm:
I guess it makes sense. Wait till the field shakes out a bit.
But the cynic inside thinks that he’s saying nothing because he doesn’t want to hurt his chances of being Veep…
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
And across the country, 17 campaign managers sighed, “Oh, thank God…”
– MrJM
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
Not sure how Rauner helps anyone with his close ties to Dems being an issue. These are downplayed here but would be a negative elsewhere.
Not sure how endorsing a candidate who is only going to get move more right in the coming weeks, helps Rauner who has maintain his moderate tag (well at least when he is in front of camera in Chicago and the burbs).
Come March, if this thing is still dragging along it could be very interesting to see if who is calling, if anyone is calling.
- Tournaround Agenda - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:54 pm:
Didn’t the Lt. Gov say Rauner was “just like Scott Walker?”
- Abe the Babe - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 3:57 pm:
I’ll bet Chris Christie wants a few days of his 2014 summer back.
- anon - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 4:06 pm:
Good decision by Rauner. Next year’s primary will likely see 6 or 7 Republican candidates in the race, it would be bad for furthering his career, as well as possibly ticking off the eventual nominee.
- Missing G - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
I have at least 6 friends too, but you don’t see me bragging about it
- Anon - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 4:24 pm:
===Maybe he could ask them for advice since his Hawaii’ Governor seems useless except for organizing parades.===
Willy made me LOL.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 4:42 pm:
===I have six pretty good personal friends running in the Republican primary===
And two of them are Chris Christie (rim shot).
But seriously folks, who is Ken Griffin backing? That’s who Rauner’s candidate will be.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 5:04 pm:
== “I’m pretty close to virtually all of the governors.” ==
a) Because most of them are rich dudes, like me.
b) Because we all are connected to the same richer folks for contributions.
c) Because they all like $100K wine.
c) Because as I am, being a successful Governor, they all ask for my advice.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 5:16 pm:
47, Griff and the Bubble Wrap King of Lake Forest are already pretty large into Walker.
Walker is running away with it in Iowa, nearly approaching 10 percent in polls of self-identified Republicans.
Not those likely to show up on a February night for a couple of hours at the union hall (the horror, the horror), but just Republicans.
We’re going to hear more from that kid, and I don’t just mean a postcard!
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 5:31 pm:
Thanks Word.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 5:32 pm:
The only candidate Rauner would endorse is Rauner.
- Dale Cooper - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 6:03 pm:
==Didn’t the Lt. Gov say Rauner was “just like Scott Walker?” ==
Yes, and she thought that was a good thing. I find it odd that he knows all the governors. It’s a little telling.
- Archiesmom - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 6:21 pm:
So he has six good buddies running, ‘eh? Thought he was the outsider who was gonna shake up politics. Yeah, right…
- thoughts matter - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 6:47 pm:
Being as we are President Obama’s home state, and Illinois rarely gets mentioned on the news for anything other than murders in Chicago, I doubt the 17 campaigns care too much about endorsements from Bruce. When was the last time you heard Bruce’s name on any national news broadcast? Now, maybe in Feb or March, candidates that are left may be interested….
- Lt Guv - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 8:09 pm:
Politically smart. In reality, he’s a mind meld with Walker.
- Now What? - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 8:24 pm:
agree with Archiesmom: “yeah, right.”
- AlabamaShake - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 9:15 pm:
** I doubt the 17 campaigns care too much about endorsements from Bruce. **
You don’t think that any of the 17 would want the Governor of the 5th largest state in the country to endorse them?
Interesting analysis.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 9:22 pm:
AS, I think the candidates would very much like the governor to write some checks to them and the PACS that are sweet on them.
Money aside, what interesting analysis can you offer on the kind of pull Gov. Rauner would have in next year’s Illinois GOP primary?
Or do you think he’s nationwide?
- thoughts matter - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 9:34 pm:
Alabama Shake
No, I don’t - not until closer to the Illinois primary. As I said - when was the last time you heard about Illinois politics or the Illinois Governor on a national network or cable show? The only time our state comes up is when one of our politicians goes to jail, leaves jail, gets indicted or convicted. The 5th largest state is the home state of the President and Dick Durbin…. and we still get no coverage.
Our state fair is on, but we didn’t get any Presidential candidates stopping here on their way home from the Iowa state fair. So that should tell you something.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 18, 15 @ 11:30 pm:
Read between the lines, if he says Dairy Boy he ticks off his buddy Jersey Guy and vice-versa. Plus, he’s probably had to buy the services of some of the others running for one scheme or another over the years, so why pick and choose just now?