* Press release…
Tio Hardiman, Democratic Candidate for Governor 2018
Dear Members of the Media,
After securing 125,500 votes, winning 30 counties downstate, and 28.1 percent of the statewide vote in the March 2014 Democratic Primary,
Tio Hardiman has decided to run for Governor in the 2018 Democratic Primary. “The 2018 Democratic Primary is wide open for a regular candidate like Tio Hardiman. We must say no to billionaires like Chris Kennedy, JB Pritzker, and Bruce Rauner. Bruce Rauner is one of the worst Governors in the history of Illinois. Anybody can beat Rauner in the General Election. “- Tio Hardiman
Hardiman for Illinois Platform Issues will include:
• Supporting Legal Gun Owners
• Increased Funding for Domestic Violence Shelters, Mental Health Facilities, HIV Awareness Programs, and Violence Prevention Services
• Create Jobs
• Reduce Gun Violence Statewide
• Increased Funding for Public Schools
• Unify Democrats and Republicans on Key Issues
“Anybody can beat Rauner in the General Election”? Hubris always comes before the fall.
* Nick Vlahos…
Hardiman, the former director of a Chicago-based anti-violence organization, didn’t come close to beating Quinn in 2014. Still, after Hardiman survived a ballot challenge, he didn’t have an awful showing against the incumbent.
Hardiman won 28 percent of the Democratic-primary vote. According to Hardiman’s news release, he won 30 of the state’s 102 counties. But Hardiman’s showing in a relatively low-profile campaign might have been more a statement about Quinn’s lack of popularity than anything else. […]
Hardiman also considered a run in 2016 as a Democrat against then-incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican.
“I plan to give Mark Kirk the biggest run of his life,” Hardiman told WMAQ-TV (5) in Chicago.
That didn’t happen. Then-U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth won a three-way primary that didn’t include Hardiman. Duckworth went on to defeat Kirk handily in the general election.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 9:42 am:
===But Hardiman’s showing in a relatively low-profile campaign might have been more a statement about Quinn’s lack of popularity than anything else.===
Tio is the poll question of popularity within the Democratic primary for the other candidate(s). That’s it. Nothing of credible substance is found in any of these Tio ideas.
- Amalia - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 9:48 am:
his involvement with Cease Fire and the ex/but really still. gang members working for the group with which he was so closely aligned for so long, would certainly become an accurate attack. Tio, we don’t need that in the dialogue. go away.
- Mr. K. - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 9:50 am:
Tio — Go away. You offer less than Rauner.
And that’s saying something.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 9:58 am:
Since “anybody can beat Rauner “, where is his challenger in the Republican primary?
I know it is probably a suicide mission given the money Rauner has, but the Republican party needs a hero.
- Arsenal - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 10:01 am:
Is “anybody can beat Rauner” really the most effective explanation of your own candidacy, Tio? Doesn’t that kinda diminish you?
- Real - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 10:05 am:
While everyone nit picks…. Good luck Tio!
We need Rauner gone by any means necessary.
- Anon - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 10:18 am:
I’d say anyone SHOULD beat him but in reality it’s probably anyone with as much or more money than him can beat him. Sad.
- Rocky Rosi - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 10:21 am:
Tio is right! Good luck with the race Tio. Who knows what will happen, Trump got elected right…… Not saying that Tio is like Trump. Anything can happen!
- The Captain - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 10:21 am:
It may be true that anybody can beat Rauner but Tio Hardiman can’t beat anybody so by the transitive property Hardiman can’t beat Rauner.
- Stones - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 10:36 am:
Tio just needs to go away. He’s the modern version of Lar “America First” Daly.
- Rod - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 11:03 am:
Harriman is right about one thing, supporting legal gun owners. Democrats give Rauner a big edge by supporting various gun control measures that are seen negatively by legal gun owners in Illinois. Combining an effective strategy to contain illegal gun possession with assurances to legal owners of guns would be a real positive development for Democrats.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Costello for governor. The only one of these so called candidates who could beat Rauner. Cant we get a conservative Dem anymore. Shucks, the Republicans got a liberal free spender in Rauner?!
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 11:18 am:
===Cant we get a conservative Dem anymore===
You gotta win a primary. These things aren’t just handed to you.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 11:26 am:
….just wishing.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 11:44 am:
Well he does meet the definition of “anybody.”
Funny that he really thinks his 2014 showing was anything other than a vote against Quinn. He’ll find out soon enough.
- Say What? - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 11:49 am:
With the passing of an iconic baseball player and Chicago broadcast legend, Jimmy Piersall, I want Tio to reflect upon the advice offered in this pop tune that had some local appeal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkHmWRFjalI
- Now What? - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 3:53 pm:
Man, I miss Judy Baar. Unfortunately, this go around is going to be clash of the Captains of Industry, circa 1890’s. Time to bring back the planet Pluto…cracy
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
Pat Quinn, where art thou?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:13 pm:
Thanks for the great comments.