51 Comments - JoanP - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:55 pm: RAGA is delusional. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:57 pm: ===That release may also be designed to help discourage any other Republicans from running=== That was the first and ONLY thing I thought when I saw the Post. It has nothing to do with Harold pushing Lisa Madigan, but showing that RAGA is with Harold and discouraging others. The idea that this will scare anyone is as comical if not more than the premise Harold chased Madigan out of the race. - iggy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:57 pm: I think you would have to be totally uninformed to think that the Rauner Recking Crew would back anyone but Erika. This one is hers for the taking. Anyone that primaries her will be an outsider without the blessing of the Bruce crew. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:01 pm: ===I think you would have to be totally uninformed to think that the Rauner Recking Crew would back anyone but Erika. This one is hers for the taking. Anyone that primaries her will be an outsider without the blessing of the Bruce crew.=== “Yesterday. That was yesterday.” - Arnold Rothstein - illini - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:02 pm: How delusional is this group? Erika may have the blessing of BVR, but does she intimidate or is she responsible for the decision that Lisa made - I highly doubt it. - Honeybadger - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:05 pm: What JoanP said. - City Zen - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:06 pm: The one monetary contribution by RAGA logged in the BOE database is a $15,000 voided check. - AC - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:07 pm: ==Erika Harold is an exceptionally strong candidate. So strong, in fact, that== Wow, we finally have someone to challenge Chuck Norris. - Anon221 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:08 pm: Laughing till it hurts, dries eyes, and pleads… “Please make it stop ( banned punctuation)” Oh that RAGA. They do know how to deliver a funny. - DuPage Saint - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:11 pm: I did not know recreational marijuana was legal in Arkansas - wordslinger - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:12 pm: Leslie Rutledge is known as some kind of a comedian. Google “Leslie Rutledge emails” and you’ll see why. - Fax Machine - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:13 pm: Here’s the real question - does Dan Proft recruit someone? Maybe from IPI’s in house Liberty Justice Center law firm. He salivate at the chance to have his puppet as state AG - let the subpoenas commence! - Amalia - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:14 pm: Sure Rs, stick with that! - Truth B Told - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:16 pm: You can bet she will have a primary. Some ambitious Rep won’t care what Rauner thinks. - iggy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:18 pm: yesterday, last week, last month, and into the future we go. There will be no shift in Erika’s support. If you cant make that implication based on who is running Erika’s campaign efforts then I have nothing else for you. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:21 pm: ===There will be no shift in Erika’s support. If you cant make that implication based on who is running Erika’s campaign efforts then I have nothing else for you.=== We’ll see. Things change. Petitions haven’t even been filed yet… It would be political malpractice to “just go” with Harold now that LM has walked away, well before petitions being filed. Harold is all “that” - Reaganing - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:35 pm: –It would be political malpractice to “just go” with Harold now that LM has walked away, well before petitions being filed.– This didn’t address this part - based on who is running Erika’s campaign - Harold is the supported Republican candidate. I would be interested who you think is a contender or would merit the Rauner organization to drop a recruited candidate. - Perrid - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:39 pm: People need to lay off the shrooms. First Leader Currie and AG Madigan are not seeking reelection because of the Speaker’s toxicity, and now RAGA thinks that a challenger, who I believe has never actually held any public office, scared off the AG. I mean, if Currie or Madigan themselves said those are the reasons why they are leaving I would have my doubts, and they expect me to believe it? - Precinct Captain - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:40 pm: ==That release may also be designed to help discourage any other Republicans from running.== Any candidate who falls for that isn’t worth their salt. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:41 pm: ===…based on who is running Erika’s campaign…=== Again, that was yesterday. It would be political malpractice to default to her, even now, unless they just don’t want the office and expect her to lose… LOL ===I would be interested who you think is a contender or would merit the Rauner organization to drop a recruited candidate.=== Let’s see who shakes out. Thinking no one will is wishful thinking. All say again, if the goal is to have Harold lose, be it to Lisa Madigan or someone else, then yeah, they’ll “support” her and… whatever… LOL Ignoring the algebra has changed is not how politics works. Never has. - James Knell - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:43 pm: I’m glad my party doesn’t “talk smack” or whatever this kind of delusion drivel this is called. If the IL Dems started making such claims I’d be very uncomfortable. I guess Republicans like that sort of bravado. If I leaned GOP or was an Indie, I’d find that very off-putting. - Reaganing - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:46 pm: - Let’s see who shakes out. - That doesn’t answer my question.i asked who you thought would better garner the party’ support. - Jack Kemp - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:47 pm: “Ignoring the algebra has changed is not how politics works. Never has.” Your grammar isn’t very good, Steve. Never has. Oh… I mean Willy. - the Patriot - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:52 pm: Never underestimate the ability of the Illinois Republican party to shoot itself in the foot. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:54 pm: ===hat doesn’t answer my question.i asked who you thought would better garner the party’ support.=== If the Raunerite Party is set on losing even after Lisa Madigan decides to move on, that’s on them. Saying “not revisiting” is the smart political play to actually win, welp, “ok” Are you assuming no one is now going to run in the primary against her? Your premise is this… “That doesn’t answer my question.i asked who you thought would better garner the party’ support.” So you’re saying no one is going to run? Let’s see who puts their name out there. Harold is beatable. She is. - Demoralized - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:55 pm: Yeah. I’m sure Erika Harold scared Lisa Madigan out of the race. This release is comedy level material. - Downstate43 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:55 pm: I miss Jim Ryan, but at 71 and with what he’s been through personally, that’s a pipedream. Seriously, I have a hard time thinking of anyone I consider a decent person who’s had it as bad as him personally. Seriously, the only other Rs with any plausible chance, that would also conceivably even consider running are suburban SAs, like Berlin and Thompson - Dan Webb wouldn’t be able to make his car payment with the AG’s salary. - Norseman - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:57 pm: This is only marginally less humorous that ILGOP’s press release. - Reaganing - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:01 pm: - Harold is beatable. She is. - Never said she wasn’t. However she has the money and the apparatus behind her. I think without an incumbent her chances shoot up. You still haven’t given names of who you think is a better candidate. So you either you don’t have anyone in mind or are just tryint to not sound wrong by being vague with “let’s see who puts there name out.” I asked who you thought should run. - VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:03 pm: Sure she did, and Barney Fife caught those bank robbers all by himself. - Chris P. Bacon - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:11 pm: Thanks, needed a good laugh. And I didn’t know there was a RAGA. - Jack Kemp - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:22 pm: Just when you think that OW has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on in Springfield, he comes up with this completely goofy narrative. Erika Harold. The former Miss America turned Harvard grad turned Civil Rights attorney? With all of the money and all of the infrastructure. She’s “beatable” in a primary? I think he may have smoked his lunch. - Demoralized - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:25 pm: @Jack You’re a riot today. But then again you’re always good for a laugh. - Former State Employee - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:26 pm: Did Kellyanne Conway write this? I can’t imagine anyone else this delusional - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:31 pm: ===Just when you think=== That’s usually where mistakes are made… thinkin’ ===… has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on in Springfield=== Who said that? ===…he comes up with this completely goofy narrative=== We’ll see if anyone decides to take Harold on. She’s beatable. With LM out of the picture, I’d be a bit surprised if she still gets a free pass. Thus, we’ll see who decides to run. It’s been since Jim Ryan first ran that this office was seen as an open contest for a Republican to consider running. Depending on who does eventually win, the chance to run for AG again could be 8 years or longer fork being possible again. Think about how long that’s been. You’re asking a lot of people now to sit out on the GOP side. We’ll see who thinks this is that window too. ===With all of the money and all of the infrastructure. She’s “beatable” in a primary?=== She’s already lost one primary… The RAGA propping her up might be a signal they are worried too others might jump in. - Mr B. - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:35 pm: Not sure we got a real answer why Lisa M. is retiring. For sure, there are some voters, including frustrated Democrats, who would vote against the Madigan brand name. Agree that Harold did not chase her out of the race. I think her candidacy certainly has some strengths and appeal beyond voters from her party. - In 630 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:36 pm: That’s comedy writing right there. - Jack Kemp - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:39 pm: “She already lost one primary…” LOL. Yeah. To probably the most popular member of the IL Republican Delegation, who had the full backing of the party (as she does now). In the ‘14 primary, the McLean County GOP could’ve fit all of her supporters into the same booth at the Olive Garden across the street from their HQ. Granted, Olive Garden does have some booths that fit six I think. - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:48 pm: Erika Harold had zero effect on this decision. Zero. – Harold is beatable. She is. - Never said she wasn’t. However she has the money and the apparatus behind her– Had. When she was running against Lisa Madigan. Now the equation has changed. We’ll see who jumps in, but I doubt she scares any Reps, Senators or State’s Attorneys who want a shot at a rare open AG seat. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:50 pm: ===… the full backing of the party (as she does now).=== That was before LM withdrew. We’ll see how this shakes out. It’s not even 24 hours with LM not running. ===Granted, Olive Garden does have some booths that fit six I think.=== They have round tables for 10 that are intimate yet you can get 10 comfortably. - iggy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:54 pm: Aaron degroot’s personal facebook is pushing out links to circulate petitions for Erika… nothing is changing, so this whole lets just see how this shakes out is laughable in every regard. And Ron Burgundy I have some breaking news for you, your inability to name a candidate is more proof that no other legitimate candidate is going to push Erika out. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:57 pm: ===Aaron degroot’s personal facebook is pushing out links to circulate petitions for Erika…=== Again, this has been over 24 years since an open opportunity to run for AG as a Republican, and Erika is going to get a pass? You’re asking almost a whole political generation to skip a chance they didn’t have for 24 years, run and win as the GOP nominee for AG. Petitions have only been out, or able to be circulated for 10 days. - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:57 pm: Not my job to name a candidate. They will name themselves. - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:03 pm: Erika who? - iggy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:04 pm: Willy, I get it someone is thirsty for this seat, but my point remains that the party is extremely fired up for Erika, she will be the chosen one, and anyone else that tries to bump her will be doing so without the aid or blessing of the admin. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:10 pm: ===…extremely fired up for Erika, she will be the chosen one, and anyone else that tries to bump her will be doing so without the aid or blessing of the admin.=== She lost for Congress, against a sitting GOP congressman. “…she will be the chosen one, and anyone else that tries to bump her will be doing so without the aid…” … of Rauner polling at 63% disapproval. We’ll see how “scary” a sitting governor at 63% disapproval and an open seat not seen for a generation keeps people from running against Harold. - low level - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:17 pm: Sorry , RAGA, Lisa had petitions on the street yesterday. If it was this candidate, LM wouldnt have bothered printing the oetitions as EH announced some time ago. Use logic. Oh never mind. - SweetLou86 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:42 pm: This post is the first time I’ve ever seen Erika Harold’s name. This is one of the biggest bluffs to prevent a primary challenge I’ve ever seen. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:45 pm: The flip side of all this is LM waiting 10 days into petitions to make sure that Erika Harold is the nominee keeping those afraid to take on LM now stuck and Rauner stuck with Harold when a better candidate could’ve appeared… had they known the seat was going to be open… That could be a fun scenario. - Retired Educator - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:04 pm: Rauner and his minions have changed me from a life long Republican to an Independent. If Rauner backs them the other guy/gal gets my vote. They have worn me out, and I find myself hating the game I used to love. I want representation, not someone who will simply do as they are told. Deep pockets seem to buy integrity. It saddens me that so many give it up for the right price. - wordslinger - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:13 pm: Iggy, I missed that press conference where Rauner anointed Harold and dropped that fat check in her campaign fund. Even if, as you are so desperately pleading, Rauner was inclined to support Harold, the situation has changed dramatically. And in case you missed it, the guy’s been known to throw loyal peeps under the bus, when he thinks it’s in his own interest. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.