* Chris Kennedy went on WVON this week to talk to Maze Jackson and Charles Thomas. From their off-air chatter..
CHARLES THOMAS: So when you going to put some TV on man? When you going to have some TV ads? They beat you to the punch.
CHRIS KENNEDY: C’mon
THOMAS: They’ve got – JB is all over man. JB’s got that saturation bombing going on.
KENNEDY: I know. Didn’t you ever see Ali?
THOMAS: Yeah I saw him rope-a-dope, I saw him rope-a-dope
KENNEDY: There you go. Who do you think’s watching this race? Do you think anybody’s looking at it Charles? Outside of about 10,000 of us?
THOMAS: Well, I mean he’s got a name thing he’s got to deal with ‘cause nobody knows who he is. I mean, people know who you are, or they have an idea. So he’s got to do it.
KENNEDY: I just don’t know that anyone’s paying attention. Ra and I went down to Peoria, the guy says to me, ‘Hey you announced your lieutenant governor? The race isn’t until 2018, don’t you think it’s a little early to be making decisions like that?’ That’s a reporter. It gives you a sense – I mean we’re all in the mix, this is our day-to-day lives.
Video is here.
* Speaking of which, Sen. Daniel Biss was asked about this very topic the other day…
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I haven’t had a chance to see you in person and I don’t know how to expose you more. It’s like, I feel like you’ve already lost, I’m like ‘oh my God he is still running.’ Because – I don’t mean the election I thought, like, you were dropping out already because it’s like I don’t see your name anymore. It’s like all I’m seeing is Pritzker, Pritzker, Pritzker and Rauner, Rauner and I – the other guy dropped out ‘Aywar?’ And, you know, I kind of wanted to give him an opportunity and it worries me that you’re just going to get lost in the shuffle, not get your message out.
BISS: Alright, so that’s a fair question. Depressing, but fair.
Video is here.
* But Pritzker’s money can also be used as an issue against the candidate. Pritzker and his spouse gave a combined $20,000 a few years ago to a group which backed people like former Rep. Dwight Kay. Oppo…
This Monday was the Personal PAC luncheon, where people applauded when speakers said you know where people stand based on the checks they write and where people booed when there was an image of Dwight Kay that popped up during one of the videos projected at the event.
JB contributed to the “We Mean Business PAC” and media reported about the [anti] union angle of this PAC but no one has mentioned yet that this PAC supported 15 anti-choice candidates - most of whom even oppose rape and incest objections.
Personal PAC President Terry Cosgrove sent an email to supporters on May 8, 2017 titled Meet the Real Diana Rauner, where he blasted Diana Rauner for supporting anti-choice legislator Dwight Kay. The PAC JB helped fund, contributed to Dwight Kay.
* OK, let’s go back to the WVON show…
MAZE JACKSON: Tell me, who are the black elected officials in your estimation that you feel like you can work with that are doing a good job?
CHRIS KENNEDY: I think there’s a huge number of state reps and state senators that
JACKSON: Give me some names
KENNEDY: I put people in jeopardy Maze when I compliment them because—
JACKSON: You’re going to be the governor of the state of Illinois and you can’t say, you can’t name black positive legislators who are doing—how do we expect you to govern for us if you can’t—c’mon man give me some names, who ya know?
KENNEDY: That’s not what I’m saying, let’s not throw me under the bus like that. Let’s say that those state reps and state senators are under incredible pressure from the Democratic Party of Cook County, the Democratic Party of the state of Illinois and their own leadership in the House and sometimes in the Senate and if I say they’re my friends those are the people I admire they get pressure the next day from other campaigns.
JACKSON: So what happens when you’re governor and you’re asking them to do these things that you’re talking about?
KENNEDY: I speak to them all the time, I have a great relationship with a large number of elected officials and I have that relationship
JACKSON: So they’re supporting you behind the scenes?
KENNEDY: They’re supporting me behind the scenes, they’ll take the other fella’s money and they’ll give me their vote.
Video is here. It’s worth a watch. Lots of words.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
Visibility and exposure is what JB’s Obamacare ad is all about.
With a message all Democrats will agree with. And which does nothing to even acknowledge JB has opponents.
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:44 pm:
=== BISS: Alright, so that’s a fair question. Depressing, but fair. ===
Biss’ response made me LOL.
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
Obviously Kennedy couldn’t, off-the-cuff, come up with the names of some African American legislators. He didn’t have to name supporters, just those that he is friendly with and would have a good relationship with. Not that hard of a question if you are familiar with who’s who in the ILGA and have pre-existing relationships with some African American legislators.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:47 pm:
Who would have thought that the guy with billions of dollars would have a more robust media operation? BREAKING NEWS
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
Good line by Biss. Chris just doesn’t have that …that….thing going for h8m.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
=== I speak to them all the time … ===
I find it hard to believe the that the guy who isn’t making his fundraising calls is however in regular contact with legislators.
- Anonish - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
I’ve never met Ali, but Mr. Kennedy you are no Ali
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
It’s OK.
No one is going to outspend Billionaire Bubble Boy.
There’s time.
You have to keep your powder dry until it’s time.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
That question to Biss was like, I don’t know, like aggravating in the way that, like, you know how when you have to interact with somebody 25 years, like, younger than you? And they’re, like, so woefully inarticulate that you can’t, like, understand what they’re like trying to say? It’s like that.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
Who knew that Moon Unit Zappa was a Biss supporter?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
In the meantime, Rauner is everywhere.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:07 pm:
Seriously, is Kennedy a bone head? I really don’t think he learned anything about campaigning from his family at all. Those comments are goofy.
- Colin O'Scopey - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:16 pm:
#Mazesaid? More like #MazePaid
Isn’t this the same Maze Jackson who accepted compensation from a republican candidate for Comptroller?
- City Zen - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
Try not standing behind JB.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
Questioner was an elderly women, 47th ward. No need to needlessly insult young people
- City Zen - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
==Who knew that Moon Unit Zappa was a Biss supporter?==
Nice catch. The question is actually easier to understand using Moon Unit’s voice. Although her “Aywar” comment did make me laugh.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:33 pm:
Biss: Demented and sad, but social.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:33 pm:
I volunteered for the Kennedy campaign briefly. It is organized, energetic and has a good message. They say he has a lack of funds.
That being said, Pritzker has taken a double length lead. Actually very smart to spend this early.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:41 pm:
===Questioner was an elderly women,===
If you are the questioner, accept my apology. If not, then whoever it was spoke like a teenager who didn’t really have a point or a question but felt compelled to make noises into a microphone. Lots of people like that, all ages too, at public meetings.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
===Biss: Demented and sad, but social.===
This is restaurant-quality
The mathematic undercurrent takes this to levels…
To the Post,
At this point, both Kennedy and Biss need to focus on getting on the ballot, as media buys seem less abs less likely by the moment.
At this point…
… they both are at… “let’s get in the ballot”… and small ball is where the “insiders” and those paying attention will be watching.
That’s it… At this point.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
a little bit of Maze goes a long way and we are way over the limit. Sounded like they were hustlin’ a little time buy from CK? Does that mean GovJunk has not bought all the inventory for himself, Harald and what whatever stooges they pick to ride in the back seat of their clown car?.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:50 pm:
take their money and give me their vote. yep. seen it happen in races where a candidate had lots of money and signs but somehow those union voters just went elsewhere.
- Century Club - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
Unless it happens before the quotes start, Jackson didn’t narrow it to State electeds. Kennedy could have just said Congressman Rush or since I don’t think he’s endorsed anyone yet, Congressman Davis.
- The Muse - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 4:29 pm:
Unfortunately for Kennedy and Biss, the public IS starting to pay attention to this election and Rich’s poll is indicative of how they’re leaning.
Folks, voting by mail starts in less than 2 months (Dec. 20th) and early voting the first week of February. If Kennedy and Biss cannot start raising some serious cash, which will be tough when people know they’re trailing by 24 points or more, they might not make it to the primary.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 7:39 pm:
Chris Kennedy is in deep, deep denial.
Early voting starts in less than 120 days.
Deep denial.
- NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 9:34 pm:
Kennedy gave good answer… at the end… he knows what polling tells him and that is the familiy name carries a lot of weight in the party with the over 50 crowd (likely primary voters ) keeping his cash now is a good plan. Guessing he will get the $$$$ he needs to compete when he needs it
- Maxwell Bayer - Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 7:51 am:
The Kennedy campaign is doing pretty well actually. Pritzker is just spending boatloads of money and banking on low info voters.
- Jimmy D - Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 7:56 am:
=== Chris Kennedy is in Denial ===
36 percent of voters are undecided, they’re probably not going to JB
- Arsenal - Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 10:45 am:
==36 percent of voters are undecided, they’re probably not going to JB==
No reason to assume that.