Raoul’s AG Bid Takes Message to the Airwaves, touts latest congressional endorsement
First Raoul ad states he’s just getting started
CHICAGO – IL Sen. Kwame Raoul’s campaign for Illinois Attorney General debuted its first television ad of the campaign season today.
In the ad, entitled “Call on me,” Sen. Raoul chronicles what’s at stake in the race to replace Attorney General Lisa Madigan and why he’s ready and able to get the job done. The ad cites varying problems facing Illinoisans, how Sen. Raoul has stepped up to confront them during his career in public service and his desire to continue his advocacy as the people’s attorney. […]
Raoul also announced the endorsement of Congressman Danny Davis today.
“This ad is a testament to Kwame’s ability to win on behalf of victims and our communities,” Congressman Danny Davis said. “With so much on the line for families and neighborhoods across the state, we need an attorney general who is ready, willing and able to get the job done,” Congressman Danny Davis said.
The Raoul campaign also enjoys the support of Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
“Since filling President Obama’s seat in the state senate, Kwame has fought tirelessly to pass laws to keep us safe and reform our criminal justice system. Kwame’s work has led to laws which modernize our juvenile justice system, place tougher accountability measures on police, strengthen the state’s gun laws and prioritize prosecuting violent criminals instead of locking up low-level non-violent offenders,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly about the ad.
The ad will air on broadcast and digital platforms.
Kwame Raoul was born on the South Side of Chicago to Haitian-born immigrants. As a lifelong resident of Illinois, Kwame is committed to safe neighborhoods. In 2004, Kwame was appointed to fill the vacancy left in the 13th Legislative District by former State Senator Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate. Kwame quickly gained the confidence of leaders to handle difficult negotiations and landmark legislation including the abolition of the death penalty, expanding access to healthcare and the strongest voting rights protections in the country.
To date, his attorney general bid has been endorsed by organized labor organizations including Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Teachers Union. His campaign has also received the support of local Democratic activists across the state representing Cook, Kankakee, Madison and St. Clair counties.
Crime.
Gun violence.
Whole communities left behind.
As a prosecutor, I saw the pain it causes.
When Barack Obama was called up to the U.S. Senate, I was called upon to fill his seat.
So I did what I knew: protect people and their rights, reform the criminal justice system to keep people safe and crack down on online predators who prey on our children.
This is the work of my life…and I’m just getting started.
Good opener, but will he have enough in the tank to overcome the Pat Quinn name ID? A lot of candidates in that race and Quinn is number one on the ballot.
Don’t feed the troll. He’s desperate for any attention.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:39 am:
I give the ad a B-. It’s better than his online roll out, but I still think it leaves much wanting.
If you watch the ad with the sound off all you see is pictures of Barack Obama. I’m not sure if this is enough to break through the white noise of the primary. What’s his message? That he filled Obama’s State Senate seat?
Pretty good first ad. The non-Quinn voters are going to have to get behind one non-Quinn candidate. We’ll see if Kwame can be that candidate.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:44 am:
A-.
Wraps himself up in Obama. Smart. With respect to Boone 9:39, I think you are looking at it too logically, rather than visually.
Says he is against online predators. Who isn’t but still smart for an intro ad.
Only quibble: I think I would have started with the Obama shot rather than “prosecutor” - seemed like every scene of the ad was superior to the first shot.
I don’t think I’m that much of an outlier, but the only place I see these ads is here. If I have the tv on, it’s either WTTW or Netflix/Amazon. I think campaigns are going to have to address that fact, because I’m not the only one.
If anything, the ad portrays him as more of a “law-and-order” candidate than anything else, which I find a bit surprising. (Maybe his polling shows Dem primary voters respond more positively to tough-on-crime messaging than some might think?)
Solid B. I like the “just getting started” tagline.
C- for being misleading. The Attorney General’s Office does not do much in terms of criminal prosecutions (sometimes, yes, but not too often as the office’s primary function is different) that is the job of the State’s Attorneys. Raoul, whose law practice had been in Evanston, actively sought to replace Obama in the State Senate and made generous contributions to the ward committeemen choosing a replacement. It is a stretch to say that he was called upon when he solicited for it.
True, the AG is not really much of a prosecutor. I’m just relieve we have a candidate who is not spitting out the ol’ “fight corruption” cliche. The AG’s office has very little to do with that too, but that never stops the candidates from pretending like they’re running for US Attorney.
C-; strange that Raoul is going with the “prosecutor” story. There are three fed prosecutors in this race. By using this storyline, Raoul has ceded the message to them, generally, and Drury, specifically. Raoul’s generic message - beyond highlighting his inexperience- will not win the day.
Not a bad short intro ad. As others have mentioned, Kwame talks about issues of public concern some of which are not necessarily in the AG’s wheelhouse. But candidates do that all the time in ads. The Obama seat reference and picture was a good choice for the intro. B grade.
I guess that’s what big tobacco money can get you. Most voters are uniformed about his HUGE conflict of interest. This ad is decent but he’s got a ways to go.
- m - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:05 am:
Nice ad to introduce the candidate.
So when does Pat go up with his?
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:06 am:
Abolition of the death penalty was a good thing?
- Trump2020 - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:09 am:
So that’s what all that big tobacco money can buy.
- DarkHorse - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:09 am:
It’s quite good. Raoul’s problem is not when he’s packaged, it’s how he reacts in unscripted settings like the Tribune forum.
- A guy - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:11 am:
It’s a good ad. Solid first piece.
- Sugar Corn - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:11 am:
Quinn should air the video of Barack, Michelle and Joe Biden endorsing him at big public events.
I’ve always heard that PBO was never a huge fan of Kwame.
- #UnionVoter - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:13 am:
the ad seems a little rushed but otherwise good. He should switch out death penalty with his work passing conceal carry for a downstate ad.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:15 am:
Good opener, but will he have enough in the tank to overcome the Pat Quinn name ID? A lot of candidates in that race and Quinn is number one on the ballot.
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:16 am:
It’s pretty Kool.
- Conn Smythe - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:29 am:
It is in this primary, Blue Dog.
- Northsider - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:30 am:
Well played, CityZen @ 9:16. Very well played.
- Can - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:33 am:
Death penalty isn’t mentioned in the ad.
- WSJ Paywall - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:37 am:
Don’t put opaque text over a bright white background (at second 24)! Otherwise pretty good.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:38 am:
–Death penalty isn’t mentioned in the ad.–
Don’t feed the troll. He’s desperate for any attention.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:39 am:
I give the ad a B-. It’s better than his online roll out, but I still think it leaves much wanting.
If you watch the ad with the sound off all you see is pictures of Barack Obama. I’m not sure if this is enough to break through the white noise of the primary. What’s his message? That he filled Obama’s State Senate seat?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:41 am:
– What’s his message? That he filled Obama’s State Senate seat?–
He’s the only one who can say that. It’s his USP in a very crowded Democratic primary field.
- Can - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:42 am:
My bad. To the post,
Pretty good first ad. The non-Quinn voters are going to have to get behind one non-Quinn candidate. We’ll see if Kwame can be that candidate.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:44 am:
A-.
Wraps himself up in Obama. Smart. With respect to Boone 9:39, I think you are looking at it too logically, rather than visually.
Says he is against online predators. Who isn’t but still smart for an intro ad.
Only quibble: I think I would have started with the Obama shot rather than “prosecutor” - seemed like every scene of the ad was superior to the first shot.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:49 am:
I don’t think I’m that much of an outlier, but the only place I see these ads is here. If I have the tv on, it’s either WTTW or Netflix/Amazon. I think campaigns are going to have to address that fact, because I’m not the only one.
- Roman - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:50 am:
Death penalty?
If anything, the ad portrays him as more of a “law-and-order” candidate than anything else, which I find a bit surprising. (Maybe his polling shows Dem primary voters respond more positively to tough-on-crime messaging than some might think?)
Solid B. I like the “just getting started” tagline.
- Avery - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:58 am:
He forgot the part where he takes campaign money from tobacco companies and helps Madigan draw up gerrymandered districts.
- Glass half full - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:05 am:
He’s going to need more than “I filled Obama’s seat” because Trump can say the same thing. Pat Quinn is still the favorite in this race.
- Tom - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:08 am:
Excellent ad. It hits on all the key points and brings up Obama who is the most popular figure in Illinois.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:08 am:
Good ad. Ties him to Obama. Reaches for fear of online predators. Plays well in Chicago and suburbs.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:11 am:
It’s too bad the AG doesn’t deal with all that stuff he touts in the ad. Looks nice, though.
Grade: B.
- Skeptical - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:24 am:
C- for being misleading. The Attorney General’s Office does not do much in terms of criminal prosecutions (sometimes, yes, but not too often as the office’s primary function is different) that is the job of the State’s Attorneys. Raoul, whose law practice had been in Evanston, actively sought to replace Obama in the State Senate and made generous contributions to the ward committeemen choosing a replacement. It is a stretch to say that he was called upon when he solicited for it.
- Roman - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:40 am:
- Arthur Anderson - and - Skeptical -
True, the AG is not really much of a prosecutor. I’m just relieve we have a candidate who is not spitting out the ol’ “fight corruption” cliche. The AG’s office has very little to do with that too, but that never stops the candidates from pretending like they’re running for US Attorney.
- Disgruntled Laborer - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:44 am:
C-; strange that Raoul is going with the “prosecutor” story. There are three fed prosecutors in this race. By using this storyline, Raoul has ceded the message to them, generally, and Drury, specifically. Raoul’s generic message - beyond highlighting his inexperience- will not win the day.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:55 am:
That’s a very good ad.
- State worker - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:37 am:
He zones in on sexual predators as his main talking point. That’s a Lisa Madigan tactic for sure.
- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 2:10 pm:
Not a bad short intro ad. As others have mentioned, Kwame talks about issues of public concern some of which are not necessarily in the AG’s wheelhouse. But candidates do that all the time in ads. The Obama seat reference and picture was a good choice for the intro. B grade.
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 3:40 pm:
It’s so obnoxious that Kwame compares himself so often to Barack Obama. Obama, you’re not, sir.
- Powerpuff - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
I guess that’s what big tobacco money can get you. Most voters are uniformed about his HUGE conflict of interest. This ad is decent but he’s got a ways to go.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:40 pm:
Glass Half Full, you raise an excellent point.
- NorthsideNoMore - Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 9:07 am:
7 of 10 which is good for his introduction to a few million folks that have never heard of him.