* The Chicago Crusader…
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy held a rally at historic Quinn Chapel AME Church at 24th and Wabash along with supporters congressmen Danny Davis (D-Chicago) and Bobby Rush (D-Chicago) on Sunday, December 17. Kennedy, son of former Senator Robert Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, labels himself as the outsider of the governor’s race, pointing to Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan’s endorsement of his opponent, J.B Pritzker.
“He’s spent $42 million, he’s the establishment candidate,” Kennedy said. “And the speaker [Madigan] was able to use his role to compel unions to endorse Pritzker. He’s donated to Scott Walker in Wisconsin, this is a man who’s clearly been anti-union his entire life.”
He donated to Scott Walker? Really? That would be a bombshell if true.
* It’s not…
It turns out that JB’s Republican cousin Jennifer Pritzker (formerly James) is the Scott Walker contributor. Click here and here.
* But, either way, are we really supposed to think that Speaker Madigan is so powerful that he could force the IFT, Local 150, the AFL-CIO, etc. to endorse a “clearly” anti-union Democrat who backed Scott Walker?
That’s quite a stretch, even for Chris.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
Flailing. Sad.
- Molly Maguire - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
Shut it down, Chris.
- Anonish - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
They both start with J so maybe they just assumed it was the same person because you know, whatever.
- Roman - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:19 pm:
Got Bustos to push back — well played by the JB folks.
That’s the other problem for Kennedy, Pritzker continues to run a pretty darn good campaign.
- Sen. Blutarsky - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:20 pm:
I thought they were cousins?
- walker - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:22 pm:
“You seen one Kennedy you seen them all” perspective being projected outward.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:25 pm:
At first, I skimmed this and thought it said Johnnie Walker. Would have been a good story.
Guess I’m not fully recovered from the flu yet.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:32 pm:
How many Hail Mary passes will the Kennedy camp make before bowing out? It’s getting pathetic.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
Chris is not the Kennedy to carry on or rehabilitate the Kennedy name, depending on your POV. Hopping into this arena required a dynamo, but instead, got a domino.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
“It’s hard to keep track of all the rich, politically active cousins in that sprawling family,” said Mr. Kennedy.
– MrJM
- A Jack - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
The next thing Chris will be telling us is that his paternal grandfather migrated from Sweden.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:03 pm:
===But, either way, are we really supposed to think that Speaker Madigan is so powerful that he could force the IFT, Local 150, the AFL-CIO, etc. to endorse a “clearly” anti-union Democrat who backed Scott Walker?===
Sometimes, facts, truths, and what some want to be true make farce the comedy it is.
Kennedy continues to misunderstand how to run statewide.
With all those consultants on the dole, you’d think they’d get stuff like this right…
- Thomas Zane Stepp - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Kennedy seems like this campaign was just to test the waters for a possible future run. I think he’s figuring out that he isn’t quite cut for this.
- SaulGoodman - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
Say what you want about Chris, but probably isn’t his fault. This sure seems like a staff/oppo research mistake and not a Chris mistake. But, still, Chris should know to double and triple check something like this.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:31 pm:
==Kennedy seems like this campaign was just to test the waters for a possible future run==
I agree it seems that way, but at the rate he’s going Kennedy isn’t going to have a chance in any future runs unless it’s for a much lower office like county assessor or city councilman. Whether Pritzker wins or loses in the general, the first thing anyone will think of when Kennedy floats his name will be the absolutely terrible job he’s done on this campaign. Dems will remember how he couldn’t even raise as much money as Tio Hardiman, and how he spent 5 months regurgitating ILGOP efforts to blame every problem in Illinois on Berrios and Madigan (while never failing to tie them both to Pritzker).
I assume at some point one of the Kennedy people will figure out that running as a less-offensive version of Bruce Rauner in the dem primary was a very bad idea, but I don’t know if it will happen soon enough to salvage his prospects as a future dem nominee.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
An embarrassing error for Kennedy, though I have always thought JB’s sprawling family could be a vulnerability.
But not, yknow, one a *Kennedy* can exploit very well.
- InvolvedMillennial - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
The democratic party needs to focus on defeating Bruce Rauner. Come general election time, Rauner is going to have all the ammo he needs against courtesy of Kennedy and Biss.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
Desperation ain’t a good look Chris. And you can’t blame this on poor staff work. The job of the candidate, before lobbing a bomb like this, is to say to his staff, “are you sure about that? It sure doesn’t make any sense for a guy who has given millions to Democrats nationwide to have given big money to Scott Walker.” But Kennedy was just, “bombs away!”
Next words out of Kennedy’s mouth or at least campaign need to be, “I’m sorry for the mistake.”
- Evanstonian - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
Come on, Kennedy. Pritzker would never donate to Walker. He only considered a choice between Obama, Romney, and Santorum a difficult decision. He’s a true progressive.
- Fixer - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 3:13 pm:
Another unforced error. This is getting to the point of ridiculousness. I had high hopes for Kennedy, but he’s spiraled quickly in this campaign.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Keeping track of all those Pritzkers and Hiltons is as tough as keeping track of all those Kennedy’s apparently. Who’s givin’ old family money to who ya know.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 4:10 pm:
Geez, it’s terrible staff work, but Kennedy himself didn’t question it? Bad all around.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 4:35 pm:
“Keeping track of all those Pritzkers and Hiltons is as tough as keeping track of all those Kennedy’s apparently. Who’s givin’ old family money to who ya know.”
Yea, hard to keep one of the largest givers in the IL Republican Party - Col. Pritzker now Jennifer Pritzker - separate from one of the largest donors in the Democratic Party. Why would a candidate think to question it!
Mind-numbingly dumb.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 5:00 pm:
===Col. Pritzker now Jennifer Pritzker===
She’s still a colonel. Just sayin…
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:50 pm:
Interesting to see the first big New Year move under the new leadership chart is a goof.
Well done Jr.