52 Comments - Former State Employee - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:23 am: I want someone to beat Rauner, but the Dem’s better do a lot better than this if they are going to compete with his money. She is probably a very nice person, but………… - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:28 am: Could Rauner spend $100 million on his re-election? It would take a miracle to get close to what he’ll spend. If only Illinois Democrats had a Terry McAuliffe. - Jocko - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:34 am: Is this the same Cheri Bustos who was planning on donating 10% of her salary to charity…then thought better of it? - Doug Simpson - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:35 am: What a sad commentary, that we even have to be concerned about a former nursing home manager who claims to have some money, but zero coalition building skills. - A Jack - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:35 am: A multi-front battle is a great way to bring down an enemy with superior financial forces. At this point, the more the merrier. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:38 am: Reality? Sen. Durbin appears (less Pat Quinn) to be the only candidate that could command a clearing of the field by simply announcing. Rep. Bustos’ family history would point to that deference as well. Any contested primary on the Democratic side for governor, and “President Clinton” facing midterms, how can you not see Rauner and his incumbency and possible $90+ million to take on the DemocratS in their primary to soften them all up, no matter the winner, and Rauner doing what he did to Quinn. Note, unless the map issue gets resolved, the next elected governor, be it the incumbent Rauner, or another, that governor signs the new map. Rauner will, 100%, hold the map hostage for Union-Busting language Rauner didn’t get in his first four years. We all need to get through 2016, but Rauner and his Crew know how imperative Rauner’s re-elect is, especially if Rauner can run with “you need me to keep maps fair!” hanging out there. If the map issue is out there, Rauner will make clear he won’t sign an unfair map, and won’t sign any map without “reforms” designed to destroy social services, unions, or both. So, Democrats, keep trolling out “possibles”, Rauner and his Crew will … lie… “in wait”, and y’all have serious, serious hurdles, like a contested primary, you place on yourselves to defeat him. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:43 am: “Sure, we’d love to have you jump in!” - Governor Rauner - Name/Nickname/Anon - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:44 am: As unpopular as Washington is, looking at the Congresscritters or Cabinet/White House officials might be the only way to get enough money into the race to compete. - illinoised - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:51 am: I like how Bustos comports herself, but Dick Durbin needs to be the candidate unless a very deep-pocketed contender comes out of nowhere. - Try-4-Truth - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:51 am: I keep going back to the 50.8% Rauner “won” in 2014, against probably the most un-politically talented person in Illinois. 50.8%!!! No record to defend, and all that money to spend. I know that each election is different, but moving .9% of the vote in a blue state seems like an easier task than what it is being discussed here. - Publius - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:55 am: Lisa madigan and Jessie white would be uncontested. Draft Michelle Obama? - Just Me - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:57 am: I’ve come to learn that a lot of these polls just float their names for a month or so in order to raise instant cash for their political war chests. There is a certain Chicago Alderman who like clock work says he is interested in running for Congress against Rush every two years, his professional fundraiser raises a ton of money for his federal PAC (collects their 10%), and then he says he will remain an Alderman. You could set your watch by it. - phocion - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:57 am: Bustos would be a decent choice for the Democrats to pick. Female, experienced, not from Chicago. Then again, there’s likely going to be a fairly bruising primary, with some nasty ethnic/gender breakdowns among the Democrats. Rauner will obviously not have a primary challenger. And Oswego Willy nailed something here: the Fair Maps “victory” the Democrats secured through the Illinois Supreme Court will hand Rauner the best reason he has to gain the trust of the voters. He is the only one who can stop the Democrats from gerrymandering the next map. - Gooner - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:59 am: Try-4-Truth is right. Even with Rauner’s money, it is still not that complicated. Unless the Dem nominee is seriously tainted (sorry Pat, but nobody ever liked you) the Republican is going to have an incredibly tough time winning. War chests are great, but if they pay for ads for somebody voters are not inclined to support, they don’t do much. That war chest can be valuable when spread out down-ballot. At the top? It is still blue v. red in a blue state. To the more direct point — I will admit that as a Chicago guy, I don’t pay as much attention to non-Chicago electeds as I should (particularly for Congress, which matters less to me than Springfield). I look forward to hearing more about her. - Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:00 am: If I recall she put her name out there in 2016 for US Senate. Think this is similar tactic for something further down the road. - Dozer - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:01 am: I’d love to see a big, contentious, issue focused, D primary for Gov. - cgo75 - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:20 am: Most any Democrat will suffice at ending the gridlock, bickering and potential demise of the State. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:26 am: - Gooner - See: Blagojevich, Rod. An incumbent governor, not well-liked, even by some in his party, gets a primaried victor, battered, and behind in fundraising and bridges to mend… It’s really, really, REALLY tough to beat an incumbent governor, popular or not, then throw in the cash-money abc the protector of Fair Maps? Yikes, Rauner is not someone to sleep on, Rauner has the template to win, and the resources to execute that victory. With respect. - Earnest - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:26 am: My thoughts on the topic are very shallow: Please God Not Quinn! I’d also love to see a pro-union primary opponent for Rauner. Does it feel to anyone else that, Illinois-wise, everything, even the presidential election, is all fodder for speculating about the 2018 gubernatorial election? - OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:31 am: 2 years from now is a long time… I wouldn’t be dancing on Bruce’s grave yet. - Doug Simpson - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:32 am: @earnest: Yes, I would like for someone to ask him why he is obsessed with Teachers Unions. - d.p.gumby - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:38 am: Dems can’t our Rauner Brucie. Perhaps only alternative is someone new-ish. Female, Downstate, Union-connected, link to Dem/DC deep-pockets…who knows. In an off-year it’s going to be a tough climb for anyone and everyone to challenge Brucie $$. If the 10% charity is the best they can do, it’s no polka w/ George. - burbanite - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:39 am: Never heard of her. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:42 am: I don’t know much about Bustos, but she’s spot on about Rauner being a disaster for the state, including killing jobs. I read this morning that Governors State University is closing business/trade centers that create thousands of jobs, due to the budget shortfall. The author of the article I read attributes this to a “historic” GA impasse and does not mention Rauner’s role, which is central. There’s a lot to work with, for Democrats to run against Rauner, but there’s no substitute for the right candidate. - Gooner - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:46 am: Oswego, I was going to use Blago as an example for my point. I don’t think his advantage was as much “incumbent” as it was “Dem.” Most of us knew he was a seriously flawed person, but we voted for him because he’s a Dem and that’s what we’ve done here, primarily, since about 1992. That being said, “incumbent” was huge during the primary. It prevented other Dems from waging campaigns. In November I don’t think it mattered. It was just blue v. red. - Ahoy! - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:50 am: She would be a formidable candidate statewide. she has downstate connections that would carry her enough and would poll very well with suburban women. The question is, would she really want to go through the election. There will be tons of money against her, everything she has ever done will be used against her and it’s probably going to be a Republican year. Then of course the “winner” gets to deal with Madigan and the State’s mess. I don’t see anyway Durbin gives up his Senate seat (which he will be in the majority) for the Governorship. Both good candidates, but it’s going to be hard to find a good candidate to run in that election, because the good ones are a little wiser. - The Muse - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:52 am: So Bustos is going to be Durbin’s running mate? Got it. /sarcasm - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 10:59 am: Try-4-Truth- Rauner beat Quinn by more than 4 %. He also won every county except Cook Democrats will need to convince more than .8% as a third party candidate drew some votes Keep in mind this will be an off year election and the Democrats have not laid out any vision for Illinois other than opposing any and all reforms. - Try-4-Truth - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 11:02 am: Mr. Willy — Blagojevich = Democrat Sorry, but it’s really simple. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 11:12 am: ===Blagojevich = Democrat Sorry, but it’s really simple.=== Nope. Sorry. If it was, Rod wouldn’t had needed all those millions and started ads against Topinka as early as he did… if it was… that simple. - Gooner -, ===In November I don’t think it mattered. It was just blue v. red.=== With respect, I pose the same fact everyone keeps ignoring. Rod spent millions early and often and at a clip that Topinka was chasing for too long. Dismissing the monetary advantage, the spending of that advantage, and being able to frame a message outside of “Rod is a bad guy” counter allowed an unpopular incumbent with a significant financial advantage to overcome and win despite his own electoral problems. It’s not an easy “blue state wins” thingy. Before Quinn, how far back do you have to go before you find an incumbent losing re-election? - Anon - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 11:19 am: ===Your thoughts?=== Anyone that’s been specifically hired to examine this possibility has likely examined every Democratic member of congress. Floating a rumor, as we’re all aware, is a good way to help raise money, increase name recognition, and realistically, increase the politicians esteem a bit. Iowa’s Steve King has considered running for Governor every couple of years to simply raise his profile and to make soliciting contributions easier. - NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 11:25 am: Maybe she is hedging her bet for the Nov election if she fails to win. Get some state committee donations up early to keep afloat if she is gone come Jan. - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 11:51 am: She is just the type of second-tier candidate without substantial name recognition in much of the state that would jump in, which would lead to 2 or 3 other similarly situated candidates jumping in, which would lead to Pat Quinn jumping in and winning the primary based on statewide name recognition. - Downstate Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 11:57 am: Reports from the Quad Cities are that Chris Kennedy did a great job at the big Labor Day event. - walker - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 12:02 pm: Durbin’s current standard answer is “I like my job in Washington.” What the US Senate looks like after Election Day, especially as Leadership falls out, will likely play a big part in his decision. - @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 12:18 pm: “Even with Rauner’s money, it is still not that complicated.” Rauner can afford to blanket the airwaves with “What’s She Thinking?”-style ads defining the Democratic candidate from the moment the nomination is secured. This year’s presidential campaign is a reminder that defeating a shockingly disliked candidate with a very disliked candidate is no simple task. And Rauner has more than enough money to make any Democrat in the race a very disliked candidate. – MrJM - Greatplainser - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 12:36 pm: I think a lot of people view Rauner as a vacuum. To many he exists only because of him and therefore can easily be beat. Lets look at the 2016 ILGA races getting “nasty” man we’ve got 18+ months of that to look forward to no matter who the Dems nominate. Also, who says Rauner doesn’t Claire McCaskill the Dem primary and fund the least candidate…Illinois Go, anyone??? As it relates to Cheri I don’t think she wants to sign up for that. Not many would and that I believe is the rub. Pick on the bully and you’ll get beat up… Politics today is too precarious for someone to risk their career on that. I don’t see her taking the chance here. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 1:27 pm: What about Jack Franks? - OldIllini - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 2:19 pm: Why would anyone want to run with the state situation so extremely fluid? It’s way too early for candidates to get serious. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 2:31 pm: The Frat Boys would love a shot at Chris Kennedy. OW, the last incumbent who lost a re-election bid in the general was Dick Ogilvie. That loss was broadly believed to be due to his support for the first State income tax. I’m pretty sure Ogilvie would not mesh well with many of today’s “Republican leaders.” - Educ - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 3:38 pm: Bustos represents me since the latest redistricting. I’ve been very pleased with her work, both nationally on issues and locally on constituent services. - Wizzard of Ozzie - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 4:31 pm: I heard that Kennedy did well in DuQuoin also. I think a while ago Rich said that if he goes to DuQuoin he’d take Kennedy seriously. If his message is playing downstate he’d be tough to beat in a primary by anyone other than Durbin. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 4:32 pm: === I think a while ago Rich said that if he goes to DuQuoin he’d take Kennedy seriously=== Wasn’t me. And Kennedy didn’t show up for the “real” state fair, where the actual reporters were. Another dodge. - Kyle Hillman - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 4:35 pm: I am sure her NRA A- rating will go over well in Chicago and Suburban moms right now. Next. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 4:43 pm: - Kyle Hillmam - But, seriously, other than that, just throw that out, forget it, get it out of your mind… - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 4:47 pm: Nice that Kennedy is doing better at the stump speeches, but the fact remains he blew it big time when the big media market cameras were pointed at him. That will smart for a while. - Wizzard of Ozzie - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 5:39 pm: My bad. This is what I remembered… https://capitolfax.com/2016/06/15/durbins-sound-advice/ And maybe I’m mistaken, but I’m pretty sure in election years only candidates are invited on stage at the Democratic County Chairs’ breakfast and Democrat Day at the State Fair. Also, since Hillary was in Rock Island, I would guess Kennedy was aware that there would be cameras there. Whether or not any reporter asked him a question, I don’t know. I haven’t seen anything reported. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 6:45 pm: With all due respect to my learned colleagues, a little thing like an A- rating ain’t gonna kill Bustos. It’s the trifecta of guns, reproductive rights and gay rights. Many Democrats couldn’t trust Poshard on any of the three, and in the General he never escaped it. I would bet Congressman Durbin, Congressman Simon had pretty good records with the NRA before running statewide. Bustos does have an uphill climb to get the name recognition and “introduce” herself to voters in Cook County before her potential opponents do. - Gooner - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 8:10 pm: Kyle Hillman, You may want to expand your social circle to get a better understanding of what motivates IL voters. Outside of Rodgers Park coffee houses, many IL Democrats are surprisingly moderate. They view a reasonable position on guns as, well, reasonable. It will play well in many areas of Chicago, it will play great in the suburbs, and it will make her the only choice downstate. The Democratic Party in IL is not dominated by the far left. IL isn’t Georgia, but it not Uptown either. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 8:14 pm: ===They view a reasonable position on guns as, well, reasonable=== You can’t win the nomination without winning Cook County. A- on gun issues in Cook is not 100 percent lethal, but it’s very, very difficult to overcome. Just ask Robin Kelly’s opponents. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Sep 7, 16 @ 9:53 pm: The U of I has almost (finally) replaced all the hiring errors that took place on Kennedy’s watch as Board chair. There’s some decent OR in those events if he tosses his hat in the ring for Gov. - Logan Square - Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 4:31 pm: Bustos reminds me of Gillebrand–running as a pro-gun, not-that-policy-oriented Congresswoman from outside the big city. Gillebrand basically pivoted hard left and stayed there for the rest of her career–on guns and other issues. She took “policy tours” and her views on the issue “progressed” very quickly so she could represent a state-wide constituency. Didn’t hurt her one bit. For that matter, guns didn’t stop a dottering old Jewish socialist from creating a national movement of the far left. My guess? Unless Durbin runs, the Dems will be desperate for any viable candidate, especially one without any stench of Springfield on her. 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