* Sen. Bertino-Tarrant wasn’t expecting to have such a spirited reelection bid, but she’s most definitely got a barn-burner on her hands. So, this press release will help, but there are two odd things about it…

Barack Obama today announced his endorsement of Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant’s campaign for State Senate, 49th District.

“I am very honored to receive the endorsement of Obama,” said Bertino-Tarrant, a first-term legislator from Shorewood. “I am proud to have the support of our president who is working tirelessly to invest more in our schools, create better paying-jobs, and reform the status quo.”

Bertino-Tarrant is now the first candidate for state Senate to receive the Obama’s endorsement in Illinois. Her campaign is now endorsed by organizations that represent teachers, police-officers, fire-fighters, small business owners, retirees, responsible gun-owners and working families.

“What drives me every day is the desire to provide a better future for our District,” said Bertino-Tarrant. “As a fourth-generation Will County resident and life-long educator, I am running to give the 49th District a voice they can count on to champion common sense legislation and promote bipartisan reform in Springfield.”

Until this year, Obama has not endorsed in state legislature races. Prior to serving in the White House and U.S. Senate, Obama served in the Illinois Senate representing Chicago’s Hyde-Park neighborhood.

1) No actual statement from the President? What’s up with that?

2) I was also told there will be no accompanying TV ad, which is odd, right?

* Meanwhile, speaking of national politics, this is from a reader…

Hi Rich,

Thought I would pass this along to you. I took this outside an early voting site in Park Ridge this morning.

* The pic…

Yeah, somehow I don’t think Michael paid for that truck.

…Adding… From a GOP friend…

That McAuliffe ad truck is owned by a hardcore GOP guy named Brian Younker. Maybe friendly fire?

       

39 Comments - New Lenox Patriot - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:05 am: “I am very honored to receive the endorsement of Obama,” said Bertino-Tarrant. She can’t even refer to the leader of her political party as President Obama? LOL. - AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:09 am: “I am very honored to receive the endorsement of Obama,” said Bertino-Tarrant. That would be President Obama, ma’am. It’s a simply gesture of respect that should be understood. - Roman - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:09 am: The JBT thing is interesting, given that half her district is held by a GOP Rep and extends well into exburbia. Obama’s favorability #s must be very strong throughout the collars. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:11 am: I’ve seen a lot of back and forth over the relative merits of campaigns purchasing yard signs versus facebook ads, and how really ineffective both are. But this, the mobile billboard, this has it all. It’s like a rolling yard sign. It’s everything awesome about a huge billboard, but on wheels. If I was still in the campaign business, I’d spend all of my dough on mobile billboards. If it works for strip clubs, how can it not work for a political campaign? - Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:14 am: expected the Trump McAuliffe signs. now waiting for the Marwig Foxx signs. - Ricky Vaughn - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:17 am: @Amalia is spot on - if that’s chicanery, I’m not sure how much net negative effect it will have in that race. - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:23 am: “I’m Senator Bertino-Tarrant, and you can take my word for it!” Patriot & Alfondo - great catch. What’s up with the brevity? - hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:24 am: did a doubletake at the JBT reference upthread in comments. R.I.P. Judy. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:28 am: Ya allegedly get an endorsement from the sitting President of the United States, you don’t go informal “last name” identifier” in a quote. Ridiculously poor Staff and Crew work. Little things slip through cracks. What else are y’all missing? Further, You get a quote and you get an Ad. Otherwise, the sloppiness of “Obama” reinforces a premise… “They seem to be just… I don’t know exactly what this means” Keystone Kops ridiculousness. If this is a preview of your Election Day apparatus… Yikes. - DS - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:32 am: Oswego Willy: She probably just slipped up. It happens. I have heard her campaign is ridiculously efficient and well-organized so that’s why I think it was probably just a mental slip-up from a grueling campaign season. - BucktownDem - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:43 am: Merry Marwig was endorsed by the President over the weekend as well. Was on every Early Vote flyer that canvassers took out in the suburban portion of the district. Check it out- https://www.facebook.com/MerryMarwigIL/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf - Centennial - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:43 am: You aren’t allowed “slip ups” when it comes to an endorsement from the President of the United States. - DS - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:46 am: @Centennial: I agree with that too - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:46 am: - DS - Yeah… You send a release touting the endorsement of the President of the United States and not person caught that? Not one? ===It happens.=== Sloppiness? I dunno, when you start making excuses… ===I think it was probably just a mental slip-up from a grueling campaign season.=== Slip ups can cost an election. It’s single-digit days out. Details. It’s always the details. With respect, and your valid point is noted - A guy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:47 am: It’s goofy time. OY. - Big Muddy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:54 am: Is Obama throwing her a life ring or a pallet of cinderblocks? It will be interesting to see how this plays in that district. Is a Hillary endorsement next?? - Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 11:54 am: When I see extra-large candidates’ faces in an advertisement medium, I immediately think North Korea. - Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:02 pm: Trump will be so proud that someone connected to Rauner is finally praisin’g him…well not really praisin’ We guess bein’ 20 points down ain’t that big a deal. - Anon221 - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:08 pm: Has McAuliffe formally endorsed Trump? Honest question. - Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:15 pm: so, the truck, being an advertising piece, does it have identifiers from which one can trace the payee for the roving nonsense? - Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:16 pm: Third odd thing about that press release: the lack of honorific titles when referring to the president. Who says “…the endorsement of Obama”? Does it down further too. Sloppy. - JoeMaddon - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:17 pm: Michelle Mussman also announced on FB last week that she was endorsed by President Obama: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMussman56/photos/a.1141874629215818.1073741828.1138467216223226/1250107215059225/?type=3&theater - Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:27 pm: this just in, Obama endorses all Democrats. Shocking! - LakeCountyOG - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:46 pm: I LOVE that rolling billboard! When your opponent is hitting himself over the head with a hammer, best is to get out of the way, make popcorn and enjoy the show. - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:54 pm: Sloppy and disrespectful. They probably responded “Thanks Obama!” (And JBT will always be Judy Baar Topinka to me.) - Anon - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 12:57 pm: ===I think it was probably just a mental slip-up from a grueling campaign season.=== LOL — except that working during a grueling campaign season is their job. Granted, the tradition in Illinois is the tacit expectation that house staff members will volunteer hundreds of hours on campaigns. So, maybe this is the kind of work you get for free. ===1) No actual statement from the President? What’s up with that?=== The endorsement they’re announcing is probably a misunderstanding of what constitutes an endorsement, as opposed to someone saying that the President supports your race, is really hoping you win, etc. There’s a big difference between ’supporting someone’ and taking the time to cut an ad. - JoanP - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:01 pm: @ Ron Burgundy: “And JBT will always be Judy Baar Topinka to me.” To me, too. I actually went back to re-read the post to look for the reference to Judy Baar Topinka! - Union Thug Gramma - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:33 pm: I find it funny how many people are clutching their pearls about not incuding “President” when addressing President Obama when there is a very large amount of conservatives in power that refuse to call him President and that’s just fine. - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:36 pm: –there is a very large amount of conservatives in power that refuse to call him President and that’s just fine– No, that’s not “just fine.” - Deft Wing - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:41 pm: The President of the United States endorsed … Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Michelle Mussman?! That. Just. Can’t. Be. True. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:47 pm: Must have been a sale on hyphens in Will County. For those who care about such things, the following should not be hyphenated: police officers firefighters gun owners Hyde Park - Longsummer - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:54 pm: That trump/mcaullife truck may not be as dumb as people think it is. Aren’t lots of ex/current police in that district? Trump is going to win election. Just watch. He finally isn’t the piñata for a cycle or two, at a clutch time. I also believe that the country is so polarized that his support runs deeper than people think it does. Meaning many won’t fess up to voting for him, but will. Not saying he is going to win Illinois’ electoral votes or anything but here he comes. - Ugh - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 1:55 pm: That polling location is in the Moylan part of Park Ridge…hopefully they keep that sign out of the McAuliffe part. - SwingVoter - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 2:45 pm: JBT’s press release couldn’t refer to President Obama by his title. POTUS can’t use his/her title while endorsing in non-federal races. It’s against the law. So JBT’s campaign WAS being meticulous in its omission. Tsk, tsk, Oswego Willy. - Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 3:20 pm: is the GOP truck guy a southsider? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 4:28 pm: - SwingVoter - Aw, ===“I am very honored to receive the endorsement of Obama=== What, did they forget “Mr.” or Barack could work too? “… of Obama”? Yikes. Poor form. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 5:02 pm: SwingVoter, it’s not a President Obama release. It’s her release. He can’t be punished for what she says. She can say President Obama all she wants. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 6:10 pm: –SwingVoter, it’s not a President Obama release. It’s her release. He can’t be punished for what she says. She can say President Obama all she wants.– She can get in trouble. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 16 @ 8:56 pm: Hey UTG, chill. No one is clutching pearls or fetching the smelling salts. Just noting the tone-deafness of a Dem’s press release. Oswego Willy is right, there are ways to refer to the president without running afoul of election laws and without sounding like a “thanks Obama” republican. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.