Today, the JB for Governor campaign released a new television ad, “My Choice,” to air in markets across the state. The ad features U.S. Senator Dick Durbin direct to camera highlighting why JB is his choice to bring Illinois together and move our state forward.
“Senator Durbin is fighting for our families every day in Washington and it’s time he had a partner in the governor’s office,” said JB Pritzker. “I know that we can unite Illinois and bring people together to put Springfield back on the side of working families. I’m so proud to have him standing with me in this campaign as we work to tackle the challenges that communities across our state face and build a better future for Illinois.”
Those of us from Downstate know we have special challenges, things that people in the other parts of the state may not realize. JB Pritzker knows that, and he’s focused on that, and he’s also shown that he’s listening. He’s not just visiting, he’s listening. JB has tried to unite our state and unite our Democratic party. When I listen to JB talk about what he wants to do as governor, I know he’s in touch with working families and their priorities and their values. You gotta make a choice, and my choice is JB Pritzker.
B+, will probably help, but telling downstate a Billionaire is “in touch with working families” isn’t going to fly downstate or anywhere else (see Rauner).
Fascinating. This primary has the potential to reflect the 2002 primary where rod blagojevich came in 3rd in the city but won with a strong downstate vote. Wouldnt it be ironic that the path to victory would come from the same person with the potential to derail JB right now — blago?
Dick Durbin has been useless to southern Illinois….allowed the NGA to go to St. Louis, and had only platitudes to say when it went there. If you contact his office rarely do you get a real reply. He is a joke who advocates for Dick Durbin, not for the people he is supposed to be advocating for. It is way past time for him to go. He has totally forgotten where he came from…….southern Illinois.And to say Pritzker knows what southern Illinois needs is a bigger joke. I’m not a Republican, but neither of these two are what we need for southern Illinois.
I mean, as a resident of downstate, my perception is that they don’t much like Rauner, but will certainly vote for him over “Some Chicago LIE-beral.” I suspect by a smaller margin than they did in 2014, though.
Durbin may not be as far past the expiration date as Nancy Pelletier, the poster child for sour milk, but one whiff of the carton and the whole group needs to be discarded like a refrigerator being cleaned out after returning from a long vacation.
Anything positive right now will take part of the sting away from the past week. Pritzker needs to trot out more well recognized endorsements. This can only help him. We are a little more then a month out, if he wants it he better do more of this.
I’m a downstate (Springfield) dem waffling back and forth between Pritzker and Biss. Leaning Biss after the most recent FBI tape drama, but I like that Pritzker is building a strong framework for democrats throughout the state, which is what we need in central and southern IL. I’m new to this undecided voter thing.
It allows Pritzker to try to build and/rehabilitate with a well respected downstate Democrat that is willing to speak to JB in this ad that leaves no doubt he’s with JB
To the campaign,
Usually about 50 days out, the pretenders and contenders find a way to seperate.
That Crew has been so impressive at times, look what they’ve built. They have a statewide apparatus, both US Senators, a willingness to talk about issues…
The Trump thing without hammering Rauner every day is puzzling.
The taking it to Biss and Kennedy like Rauner did to win his Primary, is puzzling.
The passive, “no push back or pushing first”, strategy has allowed for hits to stay as messages…
… but they have all the resources, skills, Crew, and apparatus to right this ship. This ad begins that.
The time to wait, or a fear of highlighting Boss or Kennedy is over. They lost that part of where they could take them down and keep them down.
It’s ads like this and pointed attack ads need to come out and they need to decide its their race, and work at taking Biss and Kennedy down, and taking it to Rauner. Now. Today.
I still think the can do it. The daylight is burning.
Great that Durbin had time to cut a video for JB. Durbin’s latest statement that he was “working full time for DACA ILLEGAL Aliens” wasn’t well received down here.
What has Biss done in his time as an elected official? Other than author an unconstitutional bill with regards to pensions and voting “YES” on garnishing wages for students who are struggling to pay back school loans.
Where’s the farmer agonizing over “putting down a heifer… because you just don’t know the animal anymore.”
That’s the kind of truth, authenticity and passion that resonates with Downstate voters — if you’re Dan Proft, and Sugar Daddy Dick lets you light stacks of hondos on fire just for kicks.
Anon at 11:30.
As a republican its easy to see that Rauner wants to face Biss. The one way Rauner wins is by going against a candidate that is on the fringes of the D’s. JB won’t divide independent voters like Biss can.
Because Biss will never come close to having the resources to defend himself from what the Rauner attack machine will do to him. Rauner’s entire message will be Madigan was ruining the state before he got there, so its all his fault… and Biss voted for Madigan to be Speaker, then voted for Madigan’s Budgets, then was paid by Madigan to get out of the Comptroller race. Mix in a dose of flip flopping on various issues and Biss’ less than stellar skills on the stump and you have the recipe for Round 2 of the Rauner Admin.
As a Dem voter, I’m afraid of running one inexperienced billionaire against another who’s shown how disastrous that can be. Especially when said inexperienced billionaire has seemingly unlimited Bahamas and Blago baggage, and especially when we’re at the most populist political moment in recent history. Oh, and when despite his $50 million investment in his campaign, he’s barely eking out a lead after months of constant advertising.
The state party has already gotten a lot wrong about this race. I don’t know why they deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point.
I had planned to be down in Central Illinois this weekend for a family event—but the snowstorm and weather advisory has changed all that. I was really looking forward to informally chatting with people about their perceptions of both the Dem and R. gubernatorial primary races. Oh well.
I think this JB ad may leave many undecideds still wanting. At this late stage what he needs is much more first person “these are some specific reasons you should vote for me and I am humbly asking for your vote” –rather than relying on other long-time politicians like Sen. Durbin to urge voters to vote for JB in the form of an endorsement.
Grade C. The ad is neither bad nor good, but I doubt it does much of anything tangible to hit or overcome the trust and hypocrisy problem JB is currently facing.
Easy. They think he’d get crushed by Rauner under and onslaught of anti-Madigan hysteria. Biss is tied to Madigan in far too many ways. And his disingenuous embrace of the Bernie wing now is belied by his support of Hillary Clinton in the primary. Also, his disastrous vote to garnish student wages on behalf of the banking and unscrupulous student loan industries is not going to go over well once folks know his record.
**What has Biss done in his time as an elected official?**
He’s done a lot. He passed a groundbreaking Secure Choice Act. He’s passed a ban on gay conversion therapy. He’s done lots of good work on data privacy. He passed the Student Loan Bill of Rights. He passed legislation ending the carried interest loophole.
He has a pretty impressive legislative record, with both big and small bills.
Anyone who works in the futures industry should fear Daniel Biss. Being the only state in the union with a financial transaction tax would move this industry out of Illinois
You should take off the rose-colored glasses. Biss was no rabble-rouser in the state legislature. He ran a PAC with Madigan and buddied up to wealthy interests. His crowning achievement was an unconstitutional law to steal pension money — a law that had the backing of every conservative, entrenched interest in the state.
Somehow I don’t think the establishment is afraid of Biss.
- Veil of Ignorance - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
This is a misread by Durbin. If Pritzker doesn’t win it’ll show that IL Dem leaders aren’t adjusting to the new landscape and the political moment we’re facing. It’ll signal it’s time for new leadership across the board. State, city, and federal.
==Anyone who works in the futures industry should fear Daniel Biss. Being the only state in the union with a financial transaction tax would move this industry out of Illinois==
Ad will help JB and should have been aired long ago -and not just downstate. Durbin’s always been strong with the Dem base, most of whom actually live in the Chicagoland area these days. Come on guys…
- Rutro - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:44 am:
B+, will probably help, but telling downstate a Billionaire is “in touch with working families” isn’t going to fly downstate or anywhere else (see Rauner).
- Anon - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:44 am:
Fascinating. This primary has the potential to reflect the 2002 primary where rod blagojevich came in 3rd in the city but won with a strong downstate vote. Wouldnt it be ironic that the path to victory would come from the same person with the potential to derail JB right now — blago?
- Skater Dad - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:44 am:
I once thought Hillary Clinton wasted the most money and opportunities in a modern election campaign.
Then came JB Pritzker to take the title.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:46 am:
Dick Durbin has been useless to southern Illinois….allowed the NGA to go to St. Louis, and had only platitudes to say when it went there. If you contact his office rarely do you get a real reply. He is a joke who advocates for Dick Durbin, not for the people he is supposed to be advocating for. It is way past time for him to go. He has totally forgotten where he came from…….southern Illinois.And to say Pritzker knows what southern Illinois needs is a bigger joke. I’m not a Republican, but neither of these two are what we need for southern Illinois.
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:47 am:
== isn’t going to fly downstate (see Rauner).==
Rauner cleaned up downstate, and will probably do so again.
- A guy - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:51 am:
Might have been believable…in 1995.
- @Arsenal - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 10:55 am:
I’m guessing they’ve learned. I’m probably wrong.
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:01 am:
==I’m guessing they’ve learned.==
I mean, as a resident of downstate, my perception is that they don’t much like Rauner, but will certainly vote for him over “Some Chicago LIE-beral.” I suspect by a smaller margin than they did in 2014, though.
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:03 am:
==Might have been believable…in 1995.==
Durbin is still pretty golden among downstate Democrats. We’re a thirsty bunch.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:05 am:
@10:46 is right. Durbin’s way past his sell by date. I cannot think of a more useless senator in our state history and that includes Roland Burris
- Frankly - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:10 am:
Amazing how Durbin is risking his reputation to double down on backing this guy. Why are they so afraid of Daniel Biss?
- Politically incorrect - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:13 am:
Out of curiosity, in the many years durbin has been in the Senate…. What have his been his latest list of accomplishments?
Time to retire old man
- Truthseeker - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:13 am:
Durbin may not be as far past the expiration date as Nancy Pelletier, the poster child for sour milk, but one whiff of the carton and the whole group needs to be discarded like a refrigerator being cleaned out after returning from a long vacation.
- Truthseeker - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:15 am:
. . . .Nancy Pelosi . . . .sorry - spellcheck
- Retired Educator - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:15 am:
Anything positive right now will take part of the sting away from the past week. Pritzker needs to trot out more well recognized endorsements. This can only help him. We are a little more then a month out, if he wants it he better do more of this.
- Nishi - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:16 am:
I’m a downstate (Springfield) dem waffling back and forth between Pritzker and Biss. Leaning Biss after the most recent FBI tape drama, but I like that Pritzker is building a strong framework for democrats throughout the state, which is what we need in central and southern IL. I’m new to this undecided voter thing.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:19 am:
It’s as solid “B”
“Why?”
It allows Pritzker to try to build and/rehabilitate with a well respected downstate Democrat that is willing to speak to JB in this ad that leaves no doubt he’s with JB
To the campaign,
Usually about 50 days out, the pretenders and contenders find a way to seperate.
That Crew has been so impressive at times, look what they’ve built. They have a statewide apparatus, both US Senators, a willingness to talk about issues…
The Trump thing without hammering Rauner every day is puzzling.
The taking it to Biss and Kennedy like Rauner did to win his Primary, is puzzling.
The passive, “no push back or pushing first”, strategy has allowed for hits to stay as messages…
… but they have all the resources, skills, Crew, and apparatus to right this ship. This ad begins that.
The time to wait, or a fear of highlighting Boss or Kennedy is over. They lost that part of where they could take them down and keep them down.
It’s ads like this and pointed attack ads need to come out and they need to decide its their race, and work at taking Biss and Kennedy down, and taking it to Rauner. Now. Today.
I still think the can do it. The daylight is burning.
This ad helps. It’s a “B”
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:26 am:
I am thinking of voting for Pritzker but I hate Durban and never vote for that guy so I do not like the ad.
- Downstate - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:27 am:
Great that Durbin had time to cut a video for JB. Durbin’s latest statement that he was “working full time for DACA ILLEGAL Aliens” wasn’t well received down here.
- Honeybadger - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:28 am:
@ - Frankly - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:10 am:
What has Biss done in his time as an elected official? Other than author an unconstitutional bill with regards to pensions and voting “YES” on garnishing wages for students who are struggling to pay back school loans.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:30 am:
- Frankly - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:10 am:
Amazing how Durbin is risking his reputation to double down on backing this guy. Why are they so afraid of Daniel Biss?
Lying Biss, we are not afraid of you. Get over your “smartest guy in the room” self and take a hike.
We know that Pension theft lying Biss can not win the General Election against Robbing Rauner
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:33 am:
You call that a Downstate ad?
Where’s the farmer agonizing over “putting down a heifer… because you just don’t know the animal anymore.”
That’s the kind of truth, authenticity and passion that resonates with Downstate voters — if you’re Dan Proft, and Sugar Daddy Dick lets you light stacks of hondos on fire just for kicks.
- Downstate - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:34 am:
Anon at 11:30.
As a republican its easy to see that Rauner wants to face Biss. The one way Rauner wins is by going against a candidate that is on the fringes of the D’s. JB won’t divide independent voters like Biss can.
- Concerned Dem - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:35 am:
“Why are they so afraid of Daniel Biss?”
Because Biss will never come close to having the resources to defend himself from what the Rauner attack machine will do to him. Rauner’s entire message will be Madigan was ruining the state before he got there, so its all his fault… and Biss voted for Madigan to be Speaker, then voted for Madigan’s Budgets, then was paid by Madigan to get out of the Comptroller race. Mix in a dose of flip flopping on various issues and Biss’ less than stellar skills on the stump and you have the recipe for Round 2 of the Rauner Admin.
- Grand Avenue - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:40 am:
Isn’t Pritzker the one torpedoing the Downstate Debate?
- @misterjayem - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:41 am:
Seems like this ad is highly ineffective with regards to commenters who won’t vote in the Democratic primary.
– MrJM
- Frankly - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:46 am:
As a Dem voter, I’m afraid of running one inexperienced billionaire against another who’s shown how disastrous that can be. Especially when said inexperienced billionaire has seemingly unlimited Bahamas and Blago baggage, and especially when we’re at the most populist political moment in recent history. Oh, and when despite his $50 million investment in his campaign, he’s barely eking out a lead after months of constant advertising.
The state party has already gotten a lot wrong about this race. I don’t know why they deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:47 am:
===Based on what I’ve seen, Oswego Willy loves corporate dems so much that he’s willing to overlook any of their flaws.===
lol
Go back yesterday and you might say my compliments to Biss would make me a Bernie-Bro.
Your point about me isn’t going to taint or help any candidate.
I’m pretty sure if Pritzker’s Crew took me serious for 13 seconds, I wouldn’t be one if their favorite people.
But, make it about me, lol
- Responsa - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:55 am:
I had planned to be down in Central Illinois this weekend for a family event—but the snowstorm and weather advisory has changed all that. I was really looking forward to informally chatting with people about their perceptions of both the Dem and R. gubernatorial primary races. Oh well.
I think this JB ad may leave many undecideds still wanting. At this late stage what he needs is much more first person “these are some specific reasons you should vote for me and I am humbly asking for your vote” –rather than relying on other long-time politicians like Sen. Durbin to urge voters to vote for JB in the form of an endorsement.
Grade C. The ad is neither bad nor good, but I doubt it does much of anything tangible to hit or overcome the trust and hypocrisy problem JB is currently facing.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:55 am:
Biss is not trustworthy
I see him destroying pensions including the pensions of teachers with no social security. He already showed his true colors in the past.
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:59 am:
==Because Biss will never come close to having the resources to defend himself from what the Rauner attack machine will do to him.==
Sure he will, but he’ll have to cozy back up to Madigan to do it. Eek.
- Anon0091 - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 11:59 am:
“Why are they so afraid of Daniel Biss?”
Easy. They think he’d get crushed by Rauner under and onslaught of anti-Madigan hysteria. Biss is tied to Madigan in far too many ways. And his disingenuous embrace of the Bernie wing now is belied by his support of Hillary Clinton in the primary. Also, his disastrous vote to garnish student wages on behalf of the banking and unscrupulous student loan industries is not going to go over well once folks know his record.
- SaulGoodman - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
**What has Biss done in his time as an elected official?**
He’s done a lot. He passed a groundbreaking Secure Choice Act. He’s passed a ban on gay conversion therapy. He’s done lots of good work on data privacy. He passed the Student Loan Bill of Rights. He passed legislation ending the carried interest loophole.
He has a pretty impressive legislative record, with both big and small bills.
- cannon649 - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
Dick Durbin continues to disappoint - retire already
JB just go away
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 12:09 pm:
As a downstater who loves Durbin, this still isn’t moving me from Biss.
- Scott Cross for President - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 12:28 pm:
Concerned Dem +1
That reads like it’s a memo from a Rauner campaign strategy meeting. Right on target.
No one is “afraid of Daniel Biss.” Not Pritzker, not Rauner.
Actually, I’m wrong.
Seniors, public employees, working men and women of organized labor - they’re afraid of Daniel Biss.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 12:57 pm:
Anyone who works in the futures industry should fear Daniel Biss. Being the only state in the union with a financial transaction tax would move this industry out of Illinois
- Angel's Sword - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
Frankly,
You should take off the rose-colored glasses. Biss was no rabble-rouser in the state legislature. He ran a PAC with Madigan and buddied up to wealthy interests. His crowning achievement was an unconstitutional law to steal pension money — a law that had the backing of every conservative, entrenched interest in the state.
Somehow I don’t think the establishment is afraid of Biss.
- Veil of Ignorance - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
This is a misread by Durbin. If Pritzker doesn’t win it’ll show that IL Dem leaders aren’t adjusting to the new landscape and the political moment we’re facing. It’ll signal it’s time for new leadership across the board. State, city, and federal.
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
==Anyone who works in the futures industry should fear Daniel Biss. Being the only state in the union with a financial transaction tax would move this industry out of Illinois==
Well, except he’d never get it passed.
- McGuppin - Friday, Feb 9, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
Ad will help JB and should have been aired long ago -and not just downstate. Durbin’s always been strong with the Dem base, most of whom actually live in the Chicagoland area these days. Come on guys…