* Fundraising pitch…
You might remember when we emailed you a little over two months ago to share the news that Lisa Madigan dropped out of the race against Erika Harold for Attorney General.
Well…the Madigan Machine is at it again.
No – Lisa is not running for office. But yesterday career politician and Madigan ally, former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, officially filed his petition signatures to get his name on the ballot against Erika.
We wanted to make sure you knew this because the last thing Illinois needs is a Madigan ally running for Attorney General.
Erika joined this race because she knows that Illinois deserves better. Challenge the Madigan Way by chipping in $5, $10, $20, or whatever you can afford to Erika’s campaign here.
JOIN US TODAY to challenge business as usual and get rid of career politicians.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
Today, Daniel Biss announced that he has received the endorsement of renowned legal expert, campaign finance reform activist, and former presidential candidate Lawrence Lessig.
“Is it about money or people?” Lessig asked. “That’s the question that Illinois gets to answer. We must end big money politics. And Daniel’s fight here is the same fight everywhere — a fight by the people for a government that represents more than the billionaires.”
“Daniel is the only candidate we can trust to take on this broken system once in office. Backed by a statewide coalition of voters and experienced in organizing the legislature around his progressive vision, Daniel has the background necessary to implement long-term reforms to change the way campaigns are funded. I am honored to stand with a reformer, and I would urge every American committed to achieving democracy in America again to stand with him too.”
“I am honored to receive Lawrence’s endorsement,” said Daniel. “In the wake of Citizens United and amidst the chaos of the Trump presidency, our nation is at a crossroads: we can continue to sell our country, piece by piece and state by state, to out-of-touch billionaires, or we can take back our democracy for middle-and working class families. On Team Biss, we know where we stand — and we’re proud to have Lawrence Lessig alongside us.”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 11:56 am:
No suprise, given how Harold lacks political acumen, that a fundraising letter claims Quinn (snicker-snicker) is a Madigan ally.
That’s really all Harold brings to the table. Harold is another prong for Rauner to say “Madigan”
If Harold loses, again, she can try to run for the state senate, and join the likes of Jim Oberweis and (fingers crossed) Jason Plummer and they can form … the “Icarus Caucus”
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 11:58 am:
Here’s a handy guide for future Harold fundraising pitches:
Kwame Raoul? Madigan ally.
Jesse Ruiz? Madigan ally.
Nancy Rotering? Madigan ally.
Aaron Goldstein? Madigan ally.
Renatto Marriotti? Madigan ally.
Scott Drury? Madigan ally.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 11:58 am:
Madigan is the Pelosi of Illinois politics.
- Fixer - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
Here’s what I’m willing to chip in the the Harold campaign: not everyone with a D in front of their name on the ballot is a Madigan ally. The constant hand wringing and aging by Gov. Victim isn’t something you should take up. Take an actual position for voters to support you on besides “Madigan” maybe.
My $0.02
- Fixer - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
Sorry, aging should be whining. Shrek thumbs and an iPhone don’t mix well.
- DarkHorse - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
Here’s a thought: do you think Harold controls her fundraising pitches, or is it dictated by Rauner?
- Sameold - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
Career Springfield Politician State Senator Dan Biss has been an insider who is a part of a system that needs be overhauled. We need an outsider and reformer like JB or Kennedy.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
Can we interpret this to mean Harold thinks PQ is her strongest competitor? (God help us).
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
Straight from the Gov. Gaslight playbook. The lights aren’t flickering, it’s Madigan, always Madigan.
They will continue to use the “It’s Madigan” message until they have proof it doesn’t work. It’s a simple message, easy to push, works for everything…what’s not to like?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
I take it anti-abortion Harold will be returning all those contributions from the Boss Rauner-bankrolled ILGOP?
That money-laundering gag doesnt make it any less Rauner’s money.
Same goes for all other anti-abortion GOP candidates who take money from Rauner or the ILGOP.
The old conflict between principles and principal….
- Texas Red - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
The responses here seem to indicate that Harold has accomplished much. In criticizing the campaign pitch her name is getting out, and she is inflating the status of an opponent she would potentially easily defeat in the general.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
ok, the Erika Harold thing was my laugh of the day until the Lessig endorsement for Biss. he comes off more like a gadfly.
- Lunchbox - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Kwame Raoul was the one slated by the Cook County Dems, he is going to get enough of the regular vote there to make up for the splintered rest of the vote between the other candidates in the burbs and downstate. I’d start aiming my arrows toward him, but to each his/her own…
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
Quinn will ask Michael Madigan how high to jump and then will jump. Seriously.. is this the best we can do….
- Gooner - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:00 pm:
I really wanted to like Harold, but so far her campaign is incredibly unimpressive.
I’m not a fan of Kwame (the likely nominee) and moreover, since I expect J.B. to defeat Rauner, I would like to see a GOP A.G.
She’s not it though.
All she’s doing is reciting tedious lines.
If she wants to be A.G., she’s going to have to establish to moderates like me that she can think on her own.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:23 pm:
Quinn is much beloved. . . at Chicago State University where the students have to be housed in hotels and shuttled to and from classes because the pipes burst and there is no heat in the dormitories.http://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article186835883.html
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
===Quinn is much beloved. . . at Chicago State University===
Yeah, I heard Quinn was seen leaving the dorm holding a shovel. It’s pretty clear he dug down and broke that pipe himself.
I’ve read some wild, wacky stuff on this blog, but blaming Quinn for a burst pipe at CSU wins today’s dumbest comment of the day award.
Also, pick a name so I know who I’m mocking.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
I think some of you are underestimating Harold. Inexperienced? She’s in her mid 30s. She’ll be a quick learn. She did graduate from Harvard by the way. She’s polished and comes from a diverse background. She’ll have a chance. Quinn is recycled and unappealing. Remember, Hillary got knocked off by Obama. The public didn’t come around to like her a second time.
- FearTheTree - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
It’s going to be Quinn vs Harold. And I think Quinn wins by 2% points.
Harold would easily beat any other Dem
- Colin O'Scopey - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
The brilliance, or lack thereof, of the “Because Madigan” strategy is a twist on the old adage “if you’re not with me, you’re against me”. Except in today’s parlance, it’s “if your not with me, you’re with Mike Madigan”.
That dog has been flogged to the point that it is starting to lose it’s luster.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
I will never, ever vote for another Republican ever again. And the ILGOP can thank both Rauner and Trump for that.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
@47th Ward:
If you remember, Quinn enabled the scandal plagued administrators who mismanaged CSU into its on going crisis. There were long threads about those topics back in the day. Quinn was allied with some of the pols connected to the university, so he dumped trustees seeking to oust the university president and replaced them with hacks. Quinn has given speeches at commencement ceremonies at CSU.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
===Quinn is recycled and unappealing.===
Well actually, comparing him with his successor and his predecessor in the Governor’s Office, he looks quite good.
- DarkHorse - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
While I agree with anonymous to a point, there’s a difference between being an accomplished - even admirable - person, and being good at politics. On paper, Harold’s a great candidate. But is she actually good at the politics of getting elected?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:03 pm:
Dude, Quinn’s been out of office for three years. The pipe burst last week. The statute of limitations for blaming Pat Quinn has expired. Try to keep up.
- WS Mama - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
I recall a post on facebook a year ago that Pat Quinn had been spotted getting a petition signed in Daley Plaza demanding term limits for the mayor of Chicago. The comments on the post were super snarky with most deeming Quinn a washed-up joke. Super anecdotal but I think most folks in the state do not hold Quinn in the highest regard. Many die-hard dems voted Rauner in the last election because of Quinn’s perceived ineffectiveness. I find it very hard to believe he will be the nominee despite Harold’s best efforts.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
==I think some of you are underestimating Harold==
I think you and a lot of others overestimate her way too much. Her policy positions are what will drag her down in the general election against Quinn or anyone other Dem. The last time we saw Ms Harold as a candidate, she was running as the “Rodney Davis is too liberal” candidate. Opposition to abortion with no exceptions, adamantly against gay marriage, and other far-right stances she has taken over the years are going to hurt her vote totals everywhere but mid-to-south Illinois. She can try to moderate for this election, but her history reads like the female version of Ken Cucchinelli. Illinois voters are not going to elect an AG that’s likely to waste taxpayer money fighting Don Quixote-like court battles in the national culture wars.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
===The last time we saw Ms Harold as a candidate, she was running as the “Rodney Davis is too liberal” candidate. Opposition to abortion with no exceptions, adamantly against gay marriage, and other far-right stances she has taken over the years are going to hurt her vote totals everywhere but mid-to-south Illinois.===
This is why Harold, who thinks the “Quinn-Madigan” fundraising plea, along with her own right leaning beliefs seem to be at odds with how voters might see the “real” her.
Where Harold fails, she fails at thinking her “persona and story” will overcome her stances on same sex marriage and abortion statewide.
Good luck with that.
- Sigh - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
Oh, Erika… do you remember this comment to a Champaign radio station back in 2014 after you lost to Davis?
Oftentimes, people run campaigns that are negative and focus on tearing down other people because they think that, ultimately, that is what people will reward.
“There’s a significant amount of the public who wants people to run positive campaigns,” she added.
- Been there, done that - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
Am I the only one remembering Quinn and Madigan locking horns several times while Quinn was Governor? Like Madigan holding up and/or killing Quinn’s bills in the House? I don’t remember them being all that close. This claim of hers (and the ILGOP) doesn’t quite fit, but I am sure they will spend millions on it anyway.
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
If Ms. Harold thinks Quinn is a Madigan “ally” may I humbly suggest she read the edition of Illinois Issues from the month of her birth. /s
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:48 pm:
@47th Ward:
Once again, you must not read the newspapers. Pipes have been bursting at regular intervals. This is not the first time that CSU has had to evacuate the dormitories. CSU Faculty Voice has blogged about this in the past.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:06 pm:
===Pipes have been bursting at regular intervals.===
Anytime Rauner’s hand-picked leadership team wants to fix the problem, fine by me. You and Rauner are acting like Quinn is still Governor.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 6:23 pm:
===Where Harold fails, she fails at thinking her “persona and story” will overcome her stances on same sex marriage and abortion statewide.
===Good luck with that.
It’s the Jeannie Ives claim that the lurkers are all with her.