24 Comments - Chungas revenge - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 9:41 am: I’ve already received 3 mailings from him. His Northwest side of Chicago area is heavily populated with police, firefighters and teachers. Lockstep with Lord Bruce is definitely going to hurt him. - DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 9:42 am: Solid ad. As was stated before, once you’re on TV you better stay up. That’s going to be some big dough in Chicago network. - Century Club - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 9:48 am: Exactly the kind of ad he needs, because the Dems are going to tie him to Rauner and Trump all day long. - northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 9:57 am: I saw this 3 times between last night and this morning during the today show, so it’s a heavy buy. I was waiting for Mrs. to say “Michael doesn’t have a social agenda”, but she never did. - Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 9:58 am: Thought he was NOT in lockstep with Rauner. one big vote recently voted with Chicago residents interests, from my recollection. - A guy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:03 am: == police, firefighters and teachers. === Maybe teachers. But Police and Fire have a considerable bone to pick with the Democratic party right now. It’s not a little problem. - Downstate GOP Faithless - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:22 am: Saw the spot today - it is a decent enough spot and I agree being up this early may kill the race for Dems. I am not a genius, but it seems like Madigan wants to pick off this seat, but at the end of the day its not the top of the list. - DuPage - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 10:26 am: TV station executive: This is going to be a very good year for us!!$$$!! - Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:13 am: “Truly Independent Voice for Us” will probably unearth Madigan votes that have not been in the interests of the district and connect to Dem candidate running as more of that. - Shield - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:14 am: Keep in mind, many were saying that Brent Hassert, Terry Parke and Skip Saviano were unbeatable but we know what happened. If Madigan and his foot soldiers target you, watch out. McAuliffe has been given a free pass and it’s going to take more than his wife’s commercial to save him. Hard to say you stand up to party bosses when you vote hand in hand with the Gov. - Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:19 am: Scott Kennedy has McAuliffe at almost $250K COH, so he’s got some money to spend (Rauner money of course since a huge portion of that 250K is 133K from HRO). Still, the effect of individual TV ads does not last very long. He’s got to follow this up with something sustainable and meaningful. How much does the fact that this is Rauner money taint him? http://illinoiselectiondata.com/profiles/2016/general/generalassembly.php - Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:44 am: the community. who represents it best. in multiple ways. that is always a question in any race. - phocion - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:50 am: McAuliffe voted against the Governor and for labor on a prevailing wage bill this Spring. So now labor is going to punish McAuliffe by falling into line with Madigan’s attempt to oust him? Probably not a good lesson for other Republicans who might be tempted to buck the Governor and support labor in the future. - Anonymouth - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:55 am: Isn’t his wife a big Springfield lobbyist? - JoeMaddon - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:03 pm: **Scott Kennedy has McAuliffe at almost $250K COH, so he’s got some money to spend ** LOL - you know quickly $250k goes if you’re on broadcast TV in Chicago? The money doesn’t really matter though… Rauner/HRO essentially have unlimited funds, so they’ll be able to spend whatever they want/need. But lets not pretend that the $250k is meaningful. - Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:05 pm: Google finds his wife worked for Dems and has a firm. - The Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:25 pm: I can’t tell from the video above, does it say who it’s paid for by? - JoeMaddon - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:27 pm: **does it say who it’s paid for by?** Yea - it was paid for by Citizens for Michael P McAuliffe and House Republican Organization. - The Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:33 pm: @ JoeMaddon Thank you. - anon - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 2:27 pm: Was Mike McAuliffe standing up to party leaders when they helped his mother in law (Bette Morreale) get clouted into a job at Dept of Revenue? - anon2 - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 2:41 pm: It’s my perception that McAuliffe cast more independent votes under Cross than he has under Rauner. I remember, for instance, when he and Skip voted for a state contribution to the CPS pension fund. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 2:45 pm: I wouldn’t want to wager against McAuliffe given his family’s history of pulling out contested races. Everyone emphasizes the customary “nonaggression pacts” and “truces” between area Democrats and Republicans which have held during most, but not all, election years. Both McAuliffe and his late father beat back occasional Democratic challenges. Roger McAuliffe was the last Chicago Republican standing after the Cutback Amendment took effect. Michael McAuliffe bested another Democratic legislator who moved into the area after redistricting. - Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 3:12 pm: well, at least anonymous/uninteresting identifiers are applying to both sides of the aisle posting on this thread! - JoeMaddon - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 5:46 pm: **It’s my perception that McAuliffe cast more independent votes under Cross than he has under Rauner.** Not just your perception… Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.