Dem candidates urged to play nice
Friday, May 12, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rick Pearson…
With early friction emerging in the 2018 Democratic race for governor, the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association is urging the candidates to turn their wrath toward Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner instead of on one another.
The phone call this week raising concerns about the contest’s tone among the campaigns and the group’s leader came as billionaire entrepreneur and investor J.B. Pritzker has launched TV ads and begun amassing endorsements, prompting rivals for the nomination to criticize him. […]
Pritzker campaign manager Anne Caprara said it was “important for all Democratic candidates to focus their time and energy on getting (Rauner) out of office” and ensure he is not re-elected. Biss’ campaign said the election isn’t just about the governor’s office, but also is “a battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.” Kennedy’s campaign suggested their candidate is the only one ready to “bring radical change to Springfield,” while Pawar’s camp said its effort was focused on the alderman’s “vision” for Illinois.
* Pearson also took a look at an earlier report that the AFL-CIO could endorse Pritzker. He traced it back to the trade unions which endorsed Pritzker earlier this month…
Now those trade unions are pushing for the Illinois AFL-CIO, the umbrella organization of organized labor in the state, to make an early endorsement of Pritzker, union sources said.
The sources, who were not authorized to discuss union business publicly, said that while the trade unions want to move quickly, public sector and service unions want to move more slowly and deliberately. But trade unions carry more clout. A meeting has been set for next month to discuss the way forward.
- Norseman - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
Playing nice was a rarity before the Trump era. Now it’s a pipe dream.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
Well 2 of those 4 comments on playing nice seem like a “thanks, but no thanks.”
- Fax Machine - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:34 pm:
There’s gonna be JB oppo dropping every week. There’s so much material.
The question for Rauner is if JB is the nominee, does he stick with the JB = Madigan message or does he use all the JB specific stuff
- wordslinger - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:35 pm:
Meh, primary fights aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Raise name recognition, sharpen the eventual nominees game.
GOP primary candidates were brutal to Trump, then most were kissing his tukkus in the general election.
- Mama - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:39 pm:
I agree none of the Dem candidates should ever attack another Dem candidate. Lets show the world the Dems know how to play nice with each other.
I agree with the public sector and service unions wanting to move more slowly and deliberately and get to know each candidate well before choosing one.
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
===does he stick with the JB = Madigan message or does he use all the JB specific stuff ===
He’ll probably combine ‘em.
- JoeMaddon - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
**He’ll probably combine ‘em.**
Yup, and it isn’t hard.
Mike Madigan and JB Pritzker fight for lower property taxes… for themselves and their rich friends. And it leaves the rest of us to pay higher taxes to foot the bill.
Or…
Mike Madigan has driven this state into the ground. And you know who funded him? JB Pritzker.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
Gee, do you think the thumb on the scales by teh Dems for Pritzker has anything to do with the hard feelings being demonstrated? You can force the candidate down our throats, but we aren’t required to like it, and we darn sure aren’t required to vote for him.
I’m already looking third party.
Rauner Round II it is i guess.
- Arsenal - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
==I’m already looking third party.
Rauner Round II it is i guess.==
You’ll have no one but yourself to blame.
- Arsenal - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
==I agree none of the Dem candidates should ever attack another Dem candidate.==
Eh, we got some issues to hash out. Primaries are good places for that.
- Earnest - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 4:04 pm:
>Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association is urging the candidates to turn their wrath toward Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner instead of on one another
And we’ve made it easy for you by developing a clear, consistent anti-Rauner/pro-Democrat message over the last two years. Just use the convenient attached talking points. /s
- Play nice - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
Playing nice should include not spending millions on ads, and not accepting Mike Madigan’s attempt to anoint his candidate (that worked out well for Dems last year, didn’t it). Otherwise this “play nice” talk just helps clear the way for ultra wealthy candidates.
- Arsenal - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
==Playing nice should include not spending millions on ads, and not accepting Mike Madigan’s attempt to anoint his candidate==
Oh, so we should still rig the game, just in favor of a different candidate. Got it.
- walker - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 5:44 pm:
Oh grow up. Nothing brought up now, and dealt with in the Primary, would not be used in the General anyway.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 12, 17 @ 8:25 pm:
There’s nothing that any one of the currently announced candidate are, or can be, that’s WORSE than who’s governor now.
Kennedy could be a chip off his father, JB could be exposed as a UFO believer, Biss could reveal that he suffers from chronic halitosis, IT DOESN’T MATTER more than getting Bruce Rauner out of office.
Illinoisans are dead tired of dead end squabbles. The past two years is two years too long. The next governor needs to be honest. I don’t care if it’s Eugene Debs - anyone willing to do the damn job.
So quit it Democrats. Quit the crap. Act like adults. Not one of you guys is going to win. Rauner has gutted Illinois. You’re gonna need toxic haz-mat suits to keep from dropping over after Mr. Turnaround.