56 Comments - WSJ Paywall - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:14 am: Way more effective than the ad they currently have running. - Phew - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:15 am: This is much more effective than the first ad. - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:15 am: Ineffective. I’m not voting for someine that won’t run on his own record. - unclesam - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:19 am: The only constant I’ve learned from recent campaigns: if they start a negative issue early, the “soft” hit is done first, and you know there is always more ready to use as follow-up if needed. Rauner’s initial “soft” hit actually was harder than expected. Pritzker’s statement at recent debate did him no favors. And now the first follow-up ad. This issue will hurt Pritzker. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:19 am: Other than the fact he is a self financing billionaire why are Cook County Democrats crowning him? - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:21 am: Wow Jb asked to be state treasurer. Big deal! This is just lame. - A guy - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:24 am: It has sting. - Leonard Washginton - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:24 am: Oh boy, the Democrats are going to nominate the only person Rauner could beat. This is 2016 redux. - Almost the Weekend - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:24 am: *Chris Kennedy arrives to campaign office, opens capfax, watches new Rauner ad, opens a bottle of red wine and before he takes a sip* “For willing to speak truth to power” - Chicagoski - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:25 am: Agree that this add is far more effective than the first one. - wordslinger - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:28 am: I’ve been waiting for this one. Not sure why they ran the other one in the first place. Here’s a direct JB ask to corrupt Blago. Spin yourself silly, JB. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:32 am: I’d be curious to know what people think about the twitter account that claims to have information about Pritzker’s taxes - jwI - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:32 am: if j b gets nominated our only hope will be a 3rd party candidate to announce in may - PJ - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:33 am: Every time I hear this tape, I roll my eyes a little more at the cadre of Illinois Democrats who are with Pritzker exclusively because “he can beat Rauner”. Money is great. Money without a tape of you chatting with a notorious felon about favors is even better. Biss for Illinois, baby. Not because he’s an incredible candidate, but because he’s a normal human being and experienced legislator. The bar isn’t super high in this race. - Rogue Roni - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:34 am: Is Blago as unpopular as he was in 2009? In the same time span Bush has gone from being the one of the most unpopular Presidents to having a favorable opinion rating. Its not great for Pritzker, but I don’t see this changing too many opinions. I give it a C. - New Slang - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:34 am: Saw it earlier this week. With all the side noise going on in the house, I lost attention. It’s a “long” ad for all that talking. The one line zinger ads are much more effective. Like, “I’m not in charge.” - Robert the 1st - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:37 am: Is team Rauner convinced JB has the nomination? - Actual Red - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:37 am: I’ve said it before — Pritzker’s money is not a guarantee that he is “the best candidate to beat Rauner.” I personally don’t think this is that big of a deal, but I’m willing to bet in leaves a bad taste in enough mouths to hurt JB significantly. - Iron - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:38 am: Seems lame. Throw your name in the hat. Self promotion. - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:39 am: This ad is for the ignorant. Blago wanted to appoint Jb to a certain position and Jb said he would rather be treasurer. Big deal - Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:41 am: ===This ad is for the ignorant=== Pretty much all campaign ads are. - don the legend - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:42 am: There have been several wonderful suggestions as to how JB should have responded to the first audio tape. In politics sometimes you get a second chance to make a first impression. Hope JB and his team seek don’t blow this second chance. - Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:43 am: When I hear JB offering money to Blago for an appointment, then maybe I’ll show interest. It’s not against the law to talk to the governor on the phone. - Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:45 am: ===opens a bottle of red wine=== I’m told he prefers Tito’s and tonic. - Langhorne - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:45 am: Dancing the polka… They must have some good support from — “would you be more or less likely…” polls. - SSL - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:47 am: I don’t think this will change anyone’s vote, but it could suppress turnout. Rauner is just getting started with these ads. And JB will counter punch all day long. Plenty JB can do, but will it have the same effect as a government phone tap. You won’t want to watch TV by the time this one is over. - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:50 am: If these ad’s are so effective why is Rauner releasing new versions every week? - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:51 am: Ride that horse - Responsa - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:52 am: JB initiating the conversation–not just “politely” going along with Blago. Short and deadly ad. Powerful stuff. - Concerned Dem - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:53 am: Until we see some actual polling data that shows this line of attack is working I think it’s a bit much to call this a 2016 repeat. Pritzker doesn’t have nearly 40 years of being vilified by the opposition as Hillary did, so he has more flexibility to shape his narrative. Doing so will require him to take this issue on in a more contrite manner though. For anyone clamoring for Biss, let’s not forget that he will get overwhelmed by Rauner (and his giant pile of cash) with the “he voted for Mike Madigan” and he “took Madigan’s money” along with a healthy dose of “he screwed you over on pensions” to turn Biss into 2006 JBT. - Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:53 am: Biss is a normal human being? You must hang out in faculty lounges, where there is zero acknowledgement that economic development is the only thing that will save Illinois and reverse our dismal populations trends. Senator Biss proposes a financial transaction tax imposed only by Illinois that would eliminate 100% of whatever taxes Illinois collects in this sector because the electronic exchanges would move to one of the 49 other states that don’t have this tax. - DuPage - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:56 am: I don’t hear where JB offered Blago anything in exchange for any anything. Telling someone you would like them to appoint you to a vacant position does not indicate any wrongdoing unless it is combined with cash changing hands. - Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 11:58 am: I don’t know why you guys think this stuff is so impactful. This stuff only works in the minds of the 30% already in the tank for Rauner. For crying out loud, Illinois voters not only re-elected Rod when he was being investigated - they turned right around and elected his LG after Rod was impeached and sent to jail. In this deep blue state, with the turnout levels being what they will be thanks to trump, against an even moderately likable candidate pushing a hugely popular marijuana legalization plan (regardless of whether that candidate is Biss or Pritzker) Rauner has zero chance. Folks here at CapFax will hem and haw and argue back and forth for the next 10 months over every ad and sound bite, but none of this is going to make a difference in the end. Rauner would be better off spending his money paying Chris Kennedy and Bill Daley to attack other democrats. - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:02 pm: Jb should do a fact telling with his own Blago wire tap ad’s to explain what is going on. That will end Rauner for good. - Arsenal - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:03 pm: ==If these ad’s are so effective why is Rauner releasing new versions every week?== The the first one or two is ineffective doesn’t mean subsequent ones will be. And Rauner’s got enough bread that he can do a whole “marketing strategy” roll out. It remains the best piece of oppo on JB, you can’t give up on it after only a couple tries. - Turn Around For What? - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:03 pm: Every person who has ever been Governor has had someone ask them for a position or an appointment. That is all I am hearing here. - Red fish blue fish - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:04 pm: Effective and concise. B+ The add is effective, but it will take a lot more for voters to reject Pritzker and re-elect governor “I’m not in charge”. I hope to God that Pritzker doesn’t have any particularly damaging skeletons in the closet. Unlike Kennedy and Biss, Rauner can afford proper oppo research. My nightmare scenario is a hooker/#metoo scandal breaking out on March 21. - 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:04 pm: Once these tapes were released, whether by the Tribune, one of the many lawyers involved, or whomever, it became inevitable that they would be played. JB knew he was on those tapes. He’s answered for it and he was never accused of anything. But Rod talked a lot, to a lot of people. Talking was like breathing for him. He left few thoughts unexpressed. He spent most of his time talking politics and sports with people, all kinds of people. Did I mention he was a talker? He also schemed about appointing Lisa Madigan, Valerie Jarrett, even himself to the Senate seat. Who knows who else he promised it too? JB expressed interest in being appointed Treasurer if there was a vacancy. JB and Rod talked about politics. Rod talked about politics with everybody. These tapes definitely hurt JB, but I don’t think it’s remotely close to fatal. It is a nice distraction though. Let’s talk about a ten-year-old phone call where nothing illegal was discussed instead of three years of carnage and failure under Bruce Rauner. Classic misdirection. But will it work? - Arsenal - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:04 pm: ==Telling someone you would like them to appoint you to a vacant position does not indicate any wrongdoing unless it is combined with cash changing hands.== And indeed, when Blago asked for money, JB said, “I can’t”. But ads aren’t the place for such nuanced thought. - Jack Kemp - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:05 pm: Real, lol, who are you trying to convince? Us, or yourself? Get back to your phones and vol lists, dude. I’m sure JB ain’t paying ya to post on the Cap Fax. - Arsenal - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:11 pm: ==It remains the best piece of oppo on JB, you can’t give up on it after only a couple tries.== OTOH, there is a level of diminishing returns to this; too many ads on the same subject tend to blur together, even if the latest one is sharper than the others. - PJ - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:12 pm: ===For anyone clamoring for Biss, let’s not forget that he will get overwhelmed by Rauner (and his giant pile of cash) with the “he voted for Mike Madigan”=== God forbid we elect someone Rauner will try desperately to tie to Mike Madigan. I’m sure Rauner won’t try that like of attack with anyone else. https://bossmadigan.com/j-b-pritzker/ https://bossmadigan.com/chris-kennedy/ - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:20 pm: Real, lol, who are you trying to convince? Us, or yourself? -hey if you think asking to be treasurer is such a bad thing then I feel sorry for you for allowing Rauner to play you for a fool. - Arsenal - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:26 pm: ==God forbid we elect someone Rauner will try desperately to tie to Mike Madigan. I’m sure Rauner won’t try that like of attack with anyone else.== And thus, the lesson is that Rauner will smear anyone, and Democrats shouldn’t nominate out of fear of that. Rauner doesn’t get veto power. - Real - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:30 pm: What we see here is misinformation and Rauner trying to misinform voters. So for all you Rauner supporters if Rauner is misinforming here just think where else he is misinforming you? It seems Rauner caters to voters that are incapable of conducting research themselves. - Concerned Dem - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:35 pm: PJ… my point being that Biss is not the savior some portray him to be and there is no reasonable path to him having the resources available to compete with Rauner. I would argue a Madigan hit on Biss is more effective than a Blago hit on Pritzker simply because Madigan is still relevant. - wordslinger - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:37 pm: FWIW, this brings back memories of the screwball conversation caught on FBI tapes between Emanuel and Blago in which they talked about “appointing” Emanuel’s successor in Congress. The tape proved Emanuel had no clue as to how vacant rep. seats are filled. Whatever happened to that guy, anwyay? http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110607/news/706079765/ - Rabid - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 12:58 pm: Say “I offered my service and preferred postion to help illliois. When rod offered pay to play I refused “ - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 1:03 pm: It’s a solid “B+”… borderline “A-“ “Why?” It’s the language and the discussion, it’s never laying down a marker that the Prizker Crew coulda showed a real response, firm, instead of a wishy-washy, mumbo-jumbo run on thought that Pritzker had problems remembering during the debateZ It’s all the right counters, as best as they can be said, but delivered and packaged so sheepishly. Shoulda put to bed a firm response, show it publicly as a firm thought, and this run, while going after Rauner with no mercy or no quarter. It’s like the Pritzker Crew here goes 80%, but the last 20% that is lacking makes thus ad that much better. You’ve committed $40+ million so far… Rauner went after 3 Primary candidates and Quinn at such a level all four couldn’t breathe. Rauner IS breathing, Rauner IS laughing. It’s a “B+”… possibly an “A-“ Pritzker Crew… get to work. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 1:21 pm: People are seeing these ads… People are just learning about the business dealings Rauner did. Candidate Rauner always sucked the oxygen out of the negative he was getting. That’s Skyhook. - One to the Dome - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 1:33 pm: Now you know there is more to come.. - Worth It - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 1:42 pm: What Responsa said. Pritzker initiating the call makes it harder to deflect and will stick with the listener. Worst case scenerio interpretation: Pritzker is a corrupt candidate that had something to do with Blago selling the Senate seat. Still bad interpretation: Pritzker isn’t a criminal, but a Political Insider who has Blago’s cell phone number and calls in favors. Not the outsider he is running as. - 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 1:49 pm: ===Not the outsider he is running as.=== I’m not sure which campaign you’re watching, but the long-time political donor and former Clinton bundler, who was endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party and a host of other establishment political organizations, labor unions and left-leaning special interest groups, and the guy Speaker Madigan is supporting, is NOT running as an outsider. Lol. - old time golfer - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 2:43 pm: Cosgrove might want to reconsider that statement he just put out - Crapulous - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 3:33 pm: That’s a solid hit and an effective spot. It will definitely move some numbers quickly. - Rabid - Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 3:36 pm: all these years of the Rauner administration and this is the only corruption they can one up with Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.