40 Comments - W Flag - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:25 am: Will Chris Kennedy even make it to primary? His candidacy seems to be lethargic. - Cassandra - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:31 am: Did they ask him how he was planning to pay for this. Specifically, who will pay, and how much. - walker - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:32 am: Pritzker has impressive campaign staff - so far. - Anon - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:33 am: This is a huge get! JB is on the move, and Kennedy is coasting on his name. - Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:34 am: But CK was endorsed by the Southern 20,everything from his fundraising to campaign operation seems second rate to JB. I can’t see him going through the whole petition process. I think Biss is working hard though I wouldn’t cross him off yet. He needs CK to stay in too if he wants any shot. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:35 am: Well, on the bright side, Kennedy’s Crew made it clear that endorsements, even ones they already got, are not what Kennedy is about. Kennedy is running a campaign bereft of endorsements, and they like it that way, until they get their next endorsement… It’s the fundamentals that can sink campaigns and Crews quickly, then it’s stuff like this that send the ship to the bottom. So far, the Pritzker Crew has looked, sounded, and appeared more organized, more thoughtful, and has the appearance of trying to be the place to be… because they are organized enough to maximize their advantages. We’ll see how others respond. I wouldn’t be too quick to go after Pritzker, but I’d be quite quick to stop being out-hustled. - Downstate Dem - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:38 am: Current count Kennedy 21 counties Pritzker 1 county - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:41 am: Oh - Downstate Dem -, lol Kennedy’s response TO endorsements… ===“I made it clear where I stand when I spoke to the Cook County Democrats in March. This race is not about politicians endorsing other politicians or what might be happening behind closed doors.”=== Are those “21″… “…politicians endorsing other politicians or what might be happening behind closed doors.” LOL! - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:42 am: –Current count Kennedy 21 counties Pritzker 1 county– Which number matters, number of counties, or population? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:43 am: - Ron Burgundy - Good point… Counties don’t vote, voters vote. So, there’s that. - Downstate Dem - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:52 am: You all should hear yourselves sometime. When Kennedy gets endorsed by the Southern 20 counties, it’s ho hum. When Pritzker gets one county, it’s all about that amazing Pritzker staff - ha ha. You just have to have a sense of humor in this business. Again, the county count is 21-1. How lethargic is the Kennedy staff? hmmm - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:53 am: === When Kennedy gets endorsed by the Southern 20 counties=== Um, St. Clair is part of that organization. Half the members weren’t at the meeting and not all who were there backed Kennedy. Also, 40,000 Dems voted in St. Clair County during the 2016 primary. I’m betting that’s more than all those others combined. I don’t count Kennedy out, by any means. I don’t even think he has to win these endorsements. But don’t be foolish. - Fax Machine - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:55 am: Will be interesting to finally see a real poll with all the names (Kennedy, Pritzker, Biss, Pawar, Daiber) after this last week of JB on TV to see where the eace really stands. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:56 am: ===hen Kennedy gets endorsed by the Southern 20 counties, it’s ho hum=== … because it wasn’t really the “20″, was it? Do you want to open that can of worms too, lol. That’s why it was “ho hum” ===You just have to have a sense of humor in this business.=== Are you on Kennedy’s Crew? That explains quite a bit. ===Again, the county count is 21-1. How lethargic is the Kennedy staff?=== … but it’s really NOT 20 counties. I can show you where you’re being disingenuous. Not a good trait to have with endorsements… Speaking of endorsements… Kennedy Crew? ===“I made it clear where I stand when I spoke to the Cook County Democrats in March. This race is not about politicians endorsing other politicians or what might be happening behind closed doors.”=== lol… - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:56 am: ===Again, the county count is 21-1=== lol Counties don’t vote. People vote. - Can - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:58 am: Dear Chris Kennedy, Please do NOT respond to this news with some ridiculous statement. Just because a country organization endorsed an opponent, does NOT mean you need to comment. Sincerely, A Supporter - Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:58 am: ===after this last week of JB on TV to see where the eace really stands. === Meh. It’s May 9th. - Grand Avenue - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:01 am: When the Madison County Dems endorse either Pritzker or Kennedy, does Bob Daiber drop out? - Fax Machine - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:04 am: True, it’s early, but I want to see if JB on TV moves the needle. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:09 am: ===I want to see if JB on TV moves the needle.=== My “guess” is that the Pritzker Crew wants to see by, arbitrarily, State Fair, after the 4th of July, how close in name ID they are to Kennedy, and how quickly they can sink others in their own rollout of Pritzker, and making it about Pritzker, then start up petitions and such with the organized labor and Democratic support to dry run that newly minted apparatus. May 9th, June 9th, even July 9th, it’s a name ID ball game now The ground game, the structural building, the Crew meshing… that’s later. - Hit Em With the Hein - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:25 am: Can’t wait to see the eventual A1. Is is 50K from JB to SCC Dems or 100K? Does this also mean that someone like Jerry II will be his Lt. Gov? Very interesting stuff! - Rocky Rosi - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:28 am: Endorsements are like a nice pair of shoes. You just got to pay to wear them. All national newspapers endorsed Hillary and Mr. Trump still won. - Anon - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:33 am: Rich, thanks for clearing up that nonsense about the southern 20 endorsement. It wasn’t unanimous and not all member counties were even present. It’s a pretty hollow endorsement. Maybe Kennedy should have an event with each endorsing county chairman. Stand in front of 8 and “thank the 20 who endorsed my campaign.” - Anon0091 - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:39 am: As Rich and Willy have said, I believe it was only a few of the Southern 20 that endorsed and none of them had actually heard from Pritzker when they made those endorsements. St. Clair is clearly the heavyweight in the Southern 20 and now that they’ve heard from Pritzker a few times, they’re saying not so fast. The other thing is, while I appreciate that his money talks loudly, I would argue it’s his personality and approach that are currently kicking Kennedy’s butt with these endorsements and not his money. - Carhartt Representative - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 11:58 am: I don’t know. It just seems like everything that you can hammer Rauner on, you can nail Pritzker on. You want to attack Rauner for his attacks on workers? Great, can you explain the Hyatt’s labor issues, JB? Rauner had no political experience and bought his office? Do you think that’s a problem, JB? - Anon0091 - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:03 pm: Carhartt, For the eight millionth time, Pritzker hasn’t worked for Hyatt since he was a teenager and he never sat on the board or had any role in Hyatt. And unlike Rauner, Pritzker has had experience with government in a variety of ways, so that superficial claim ain’t gonna hold up. - A guy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:07 pm: It is what it is; St. Clair is a very good get for a Dem in Illinois. He’s got one important one on the board. Everyone else is tied for second so far. - Ok - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:10 pm: I don’t think Pritzker has to explain any labor issues when dealing with someone as hardcore anti-labor as Rauner is. - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:35 pm: I guess somewhat important in the primary, but St.Clair is not the Dem machine it once was. HrC only beat trump by 7,000 votes. It wont surpriae me a bit if Rauner squeeks out a tie there against whomever. - Pyrman - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:40 pm: A great get for JB. St Clair has 40k dem voters and the ground game to deliver them for JB in the primary. - Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:41 pm: I am pretty sure I recall Pritzker announcing the endorsement of 13 labor unions representing tens of thousands of voters, and a pretty big announcement by some heavy-hitting African American leaders in Chicago. It is not the number of endorsements, however, but what they deliver. And St. Clair County Democrats and the unions and African American leaders that have endorsed JB have a history of delivering a lot of votes. - Ok - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 12:49 pm: Blue dog dem Clinton was a very unpopular democrat.. I’m sure Pritzker will do good there with 2 disasters in office like Trump and Rauner. - Downstate Dem - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 2:56 pm: Chris Kennedy spoke in a Caseyville (St. Clair County) Steamfitters Hall last week (the Facebook live speech some saw). The crowd of about 180 left enthusiastic about his American Dream remarks. At the end of the day, Kennedy will do alright in St. Clair and Madison Counties. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 3:09 pm: ===Kennedy will do alright in St. Clair and Madison Counties=== Wishes don’t win campaigns. I’m excited you think it, it’s fun. I woulda let things go, but your continued trying to dismiss endorsements, it just reminds me when Kennedy does get an endorsement, it won’t mean anything, Kennedy endorsements just aren’t what Kennedy is about, lol - Downstate Dem - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 4:26 pm: I haven’t dismissed endorsements. In fact, I was pointing out that Kennedy has more county chair endorsements than any candidate in this race. Back to Cook County, what Kennedy said is that he wouldn’t drop out if he didn’t receive the county slating endorsement pre-primary. He went on to say he loved all of them, but challenged their process. Never heard him say he wouldn’t appreciate their support or any else’s support. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 4:31 pm: ===I haven’t dismissed endorsements. In fact, I was pointing out that Kennedy has more county chair endorsements than any candidate in this race.=== The campaign has said that endorsements are just politicians making back room deals. So Kennedy has more smoke-filled, back room deals from politicians, or Kennedy thinks endorsements are all band and doesn’t need any? lol I’ll let you chose. ===He went on to say he loved all of them, but challenged their process. Never heard him say he wouldn’t appreciate their support or any else’s support=== Hmm… ===“I made it clear where I stand when I spoke to the Cook County Democrats in March. This race is not about politicians endorsing other politicians or what might be happening behind closed doors.”=== That’s dismissing endorsements. That’s also dismissing the endorsers. You aren’t helping, lol - Big DOG - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 5:57 pm: So truth be told who were the counties in the downstate 20 did not endorse Kennedy? And was this endorsement meeting a real thing or just rumor? - Way Down Here - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 8:26 pm: St. Clair is a big get; probably the biggest get south of I-80 for a Democratic candidate. It is also very unusual for St. Clair to endorse so early in such a race. This is a real slap to the “Southern 20″ endorsement Kennedy received earlier. As Rich said, add the other 19 counties’ Democratic votes together and they don’t add up to the D votes in St. Clair. The rest of the “Southern 20″ and its leaders–and, yes, St. Clair technically belongs to the group–must be scrambling for cover now. St. Clair is an important endorsement not only because of the number of D voters there, but that organization brings its endorsed candidates across the finish line in primaries. - illinicoal - Tuesday, May 9, 17 @ 10:06 pm: A lot of smoke behind the southern 20 endorsement but not much fire. From what I’m hearing several chairman were not present and not long ago Pritzker was in Jackson county and was well received. - Big DOG - Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:28 pm: what I figured on the downstate meeting! Only a couple people running all of it Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.