95 Comments - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:40 am: Newsflash: Rauner will make either Chris Kennedy or Daniel Biss radioactive too. It’s telling that Rauner is focused on Pritzker, but make no mistake, Pritzker has been kind to both Kennedy and Biss. Rauner will destroy them before Memorial Day. Going nuclear negative is Rauner’s only hope. - Honeybadger - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:41 am: Ummmm..Rauner is a tax dodger. Rauner has ZERO accomplishments as Governor. Rauner had lied to the pols in both parties and to the public beginning with his alleged election night conversation with the Speaker and Senate President. Rauner is the worst Governor in Illinois history, even tge ones who went to prison had legislative accomplishments. - The Captain - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:42 am: In a week we’ll be done with the undercard, looking forward to the big fight. Let’s get it on. - ItsMillerTime - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:42 am: JB Version I’m the one person who can beat Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin and I will beat Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin. Rauner, I know him. He’s a liar, he hid those deaths at Quincy, he rips social services apart, so he doesn’t have to vote for a budget. He tried to buy the NRA’s support by vetoing gun legislation. We are gonna blow him up and take him down. We are gonna beat him. He’s Trumps handpicked candidate. If Rauner were to win, it would turn out the lights in Illinois. And I’m gonna pound him, we’re gonna beat him. And I’m excited to do it. - Signal and Noise - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:46 am: I mean, there I am, making a massive deposit in a Cayman Island bank and I look to my left, Pritzker. Can you believe this guy? - Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:47 am: Nobody paying attention expected anything but a nasty campaign. The problem for Rauner is that he may be going against a candidate who will punch back just as hard, if not harder. - Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:49 am: ===Newsflash: Rauner will make either Chris Kennedy or Daniel Biss radioactive too.=== Yes, but his soundbites on Pritzker are quite brutal and I fear will be effective. I just don’t see what the comparison simple attack lines would be vs. Biss or Kennedy. - just sayin' - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:49 am: Wow. Rauner sounds like he’s channeling that time as a kid when he stalked that poor bullfrog for hours at grandpa’s farm in Wisconsin. He only left out the duct tape. #Disturbing - Henry Francis - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:49 am: Eh. Whatever. He said merely that he was gonna “take him down”. Until he threatens to “bury” him, or make him “radioactive” or threaten to “hurt his family” - then he really isn’t bringing his “A” game here. - hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:50 am: Even if Bruce can make all that stick, he is still a Republican running in 2018. Saw the pantagraph has some early voting tallies for uber-Republican McLean County (all county office holders and 15 of 20 county board spots are GOP). they have 56 percent of early/absentee ballots going Dem in the city of Bloomington and they have Dem early/absentee ballots coming in for the primary at 54 percent for the rest of the county. in the 2014 primary only 19 percent of early/absentee ballots were for Dems. http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/democrats-strong-in-local-early-voting/article_b5631df7-2545-56eb-b1d3-c8bd2e576c45.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2 Curious if any other counties are seeing a swing like this. - Fax Machine - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:50 am: For Rauner to win there needs to be a non crazy 3rd party candidte like Rich Whitey who can act as a safety valve for people who can’t vote for Rauner but get disgusted at Pritzker after the negative barrage. Otherwise they will hold their nose and vote Pritzker. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:50 am: Even if 100% true, it’s all a pittance to letting elderly heroes die in nursing homes. - fly - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:51 am: Rauner’s comments make the case to some voters that he is most afraid of JB and is doing everything possible to defeat JB in the primary. If he was really so confident about beating JB in the general, why would he spend so much money advertising against him now. Does…not…make…sense. - Moe Berg - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:53 am: Great rhetorical choices, Bruce. People are literally being blown up in Austin, TX and gunned down everywhere. You send out mailers bragging about how tall you are. Sorry, pal, there’s a shrinking audience for that overdone machismo, especially in the burbs. And, though you dare not say his name, you can thank Donald J. Trump, who has an administration that, like yours, is in chaos. I know she told you that HB 40 was going to win over suburban women for you, but Illinois Policy Institute “Democrat” Diana has proven repeatedly that she’s really not as smart as she thinks she is. And, neither are you. - LevivotedforJudy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:55 am: Rauner is getting as many licks in as possible before JB can focus only on him (if JB wins Tuesday). But, after seeing what Jeanne Ives did to Rauner during their Tribune “debate”, it will be interesting to see how Rauner takes a punch from JB. - Pieroge tirebiter - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:56 am: Shouldn’t he wait until a week from tomorrow to be making such boasts? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:56 am: ===Pritzker, I know him. He’s a tax dodger, he hides his money in the Cayman Islands, he rips toilets out of mansions he buys, so he doesn’t have to pay the full property taxes on them. He tried to buy a Senate seat from Blagojevich. We are gonna blow him up and take him down. We are gonna beat him. He’s Madigan’s handpicked candidate.=== Hmm… Diana Rauner feels differently… especially when J.B. and the Pritzker families and foundations bailed out The Ounce for Diana when Bruce was denying over $7 million owed. Diana? ===“We are so grateful to the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation for sharing our belief in these innovations,” said Diana Rauner, president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund. “By developing strong leaders and programs, empowering parents and strengthening early learning systems, together we can change lives for children and families.”=== They can give back the $5 million to the evil Pritzkers at any time. The flip side? The Pritzker Crew has NO IDEA what Rauner will do. After the Blago tapes, and the weak responses and flat out admitting they have no idea what’s out there… whew. - Anon0091 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:56 am: “I just don’t see what the comparison simple attack lines would be vs. Biss or Kennedy.“ Daniel Biss is Mike Madigan’s errand boy. Chris Kennedy begged Mike Madigan to let him run. Is it really so hard? - People Over Parties - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 11:58 am: ===is doing everything possible to defeat JB in the primary=== He’s not. The goal by Rauner is to weaken him, not throw him out of the race. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:00 pm: –We are gonna blow him up and take him down. We are gonna beat him.– Are you sure you’ve got the order right there, Tall Guy B-A? Seems to me if should be take down, then beat, then blow up. From my experience with Swedish immigrants, they have a much better command of English as a second language than Rauner has ever demonstrated. By the way, the Tall Guy thing? It’s been done, about 40 years ago, by His Tallness. Unlike Rauner, he definitely was in charge, and could address any subject off-script without loading his drawers. - LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:00 pm: I’m tall vs. I’m fat - PJ - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:00 pm: ==He’s not. The goal by Rauner is to weaken him, not throw him out of the race.== Nah. If they could pick a different candidate, they would. JB has more skeletons, but money to battle Bruce dollar for dollar. God what a terrible summer to watch live TV this’ll be. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:03 pm: Everyone seems to be jumping into group-think: JB is a foregone conclusion. Actually, JB is quite vulnerable as the establishment candidate. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:06 pm: Meh. Rauner’s gotta talk tough ’cause his base respects strength and he’s been repeatedly shown to be weak, but he’s already been pumping negatives on JB for months and not getting anywhere. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:08 pm: ==nothing to prevent the total rape of taxpayers== You really feel cool comparing losing $30 out of your paycheck to *rape*? - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:09 pm: –the total rape..– Noon on Tuesday. Are you still going strong from last weekend or is this a really early start on next weekend? - Sonny - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:09 pm: “Total rape.” Tone it down a notch there. - Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:10 pm: ==Rauners only strong suit is that without him there is nothing to prevent the total rape of taxpayers by the Dems and public unions.== Really?1? Wow. Don’t hold back on your opinions. - PublicServant - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:10 pm: That is toned down for her. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:10 pm: Rauner made Pritzker under water. Pritzker still leads Rauner, and over 50%, by easily double digits. Rauner is the worst Republican Governor in America, he signed HB40, is vetoing gun seller licensing. Who exactly is Rauner’s constituency that “needs” Pritzker blown up? Speaks volumes that Rauner can’t run on his record. Bruce Rauner has failed. Pritzker’s own Crew has failed to realize what exactly they are up against and not using Skyhook in reverse, so far, has cost them disapproval ratings… as the Blago tapes (that we so far know about) are still out there. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:11 pm: ==The goal by Rauner is to weaken him, not throw him out of the race.== And last we saw, JB was up on Brucey by 15 and at 50 percent, so…job well done? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:13 pm: ===…nothing to prevent the total … of taxpayers…=== Johnny Cash knew a “Boy Named Sue” Can’t imagine many women tossing around words like… to explain … taxes. Nope. Can’t imagine it - 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:14 pm: Quite the inspirational leader we have in Rauner. If only he would be that direct when it came to the veterans’ home disaster. Talks a big game, little results. - Radio Flyer - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:14 pm: So Rauner ran into Pritzker in the Caymen Islands while the wives were shopping? How nice. - Mike Cirrincione - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:16 pm: Agree with Honeybadger and OW. - Iggy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:17 pm: =Ummmm..Rauner is a tax dodger. = BVR pays more in taxes in one year than you do in your entire lifetime… The guy who rips out toliets is JB, try again. thanks for playing. - DuPage - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:17 pm: Sounds like Rauner is going into his “I will bankrupt her” mode from the nursing home days. - James - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:17 pm: How many more cases of legionnaires can we expect at Quincy, Governor, while you’re out strutting and shadow boxing? - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:18 pm: That was the best sounding Rauner … maybe ever. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:19 pm: Yeah, Bruce real stand up guy. - TominChicago - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:20 pm: He has been “burying” Madigan for 3 years now and Rauner’s approval rating is still in the toilet. At the end of the day, an incumbent cannot only rely on negative ads. They need to point to their own accomplishments. Rauner has none. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:22 pm: ===BVR pays more in taxes in one year than you do in your entire lifetime…=== … and yet, Rauner was a tax dodger, taking multiple homeowners’ exemptions. Rauner also, it seems, used his Winnetka home address for income tax during the time he was claiming “Chicago” residency to clout his denied, Winnetka living daughter into Payton Prep. Which house, exactly, was getting the homeowner exemption when the Denied, Winnetka living Daughter was attending Payton Prep? The Chicago condo? That seems dodgy. - Radio Flyer - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:24 pm: “If Pritzker were to win it would turn out the lights in Illinois.” So in other words no more freebees from the taxpyers for Exelon? - @misterjayem - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:25 pm: “the total rape of taxpayers” Have you been drinking? Is there some medication you should be taking? Is there someone we should call? – MrJM - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:25 pm: “Rauners only strong suit is that without him there is nothing to prevent the total rape of taxpayers by the Dems and public unions. The state is far worse now than under Quinn. What could have caused that? Rauner has no strong suit. He made enemies out of people. Hatred drives this guy. He enjoys inflicting pain upon people. What kind of boss would attack and sue his employees on the first day of contract negotiations? What kind of person would spit on the legacy of MLK, who died while fighting for workers of a particular union, by filing for contract impasse against that union on his birthday? What kind of person wants to knife the people who made him rich, the public sector employees and their pensions? If he was different he could have had key incremental legislative accomplishments. But he blew up budget negotiations purposely and pushed his caucus to break because enough legislators could no longer take the destruction. - Stoph - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:28 pm: I think what Bruce meant with lights out was J.B. will no longer need the Mansion so they could turn the lights out and save $100,000. - Thoughts Matter - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:28 pm: Those words sound like Bruce thinks he is getting into a WWE or UFC ring with an opponent. This isn’t a knockout punch wins event. This is who gets the most votes. At this point, there are voters who will vote against Rauner no matter who the Democratic candidate ends up being. Not sure Rauner has an effective campaign strategy for that. - former southerner - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:30 pm: Too bad Bruce spent his entire term yapping nonsense instead of actually accomplishing something. Making hollow threats appears to be his only skill and he probably learned it young by manipulating his parents via temper tantrums and threatening to hold his breath. We have seen the tantrum side so maybe we will get lucky and he will just hold his breath for awhile. - DuPage - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:31 pm: Just yesterday Rauner was bragging about turning out lights in Illinois. (At he mansion). - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:35 pm: I would not count Rauner out…..JB has already alienated a lot of southern Illinois…he is as clueless, if not more, than Rauner. - @misterjayem - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:37 pm: “Gonna… gonna… gonna… gonna…” I guess there’s very little chance of Rauner running on his record as governor. – MrJM - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:43 pm: If Pritzker is the nominee this could be used in an ad, along the lines of: “Bruce Rauner blew up the state of Illinois and now he wants to blow me up. I’m running for governor to fix Bruce Rauner’s destruction and build the state up.” - Henry Francis - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:48 pm: Guv: I’m gonna work up a Number 6 on him. Press member: A Number 6? I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that one. Guv: Well, that’s where I go a-ridin’ into town, a-whompin’ and a-whumpin’ every livin’ that moves within an inch of Pritzker. Except the women folks, of course. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:49 pm: After the primary, comes the election on whom the voter hates least for governor! - Ginhouse Tommy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:53 pm: So JB is a tax cheat. Takes one to know one. This guy is all talk. Better to trash your opponent than try to defend your pathetic record as Governor. BTW the primary isn’t over yet. - He's right you know - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:54 pm: I still believe that JB Pritzker is the only (serious) Democratic candidate that can actually lose to Rauner. Shouldn’t we be electing a candidate that can go out and beat Rauner? No snark, can someone please make the case for why I am wrong? Is it just because of the impossibly large war chest he has? - Boat captain - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:54 pm: To OW-Pritzker would have buried Rauner by now if he would have spent a low 7 figure amount for you to be his campaign manager. Money would have been well spent. No snark. - DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 12:56 pm: Rauner truly is the worst governor he has done nothing and can do nothing. But he has Madigan. I believe by the time November rolls around Rauner will win. It is all Madigan’s fault and people believe that. This time it may be true because if Rauner wins it will really be because Madigan - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:00 pm: JB message in a nutshell is the only thing wrong with Illinois is we don’t tax the wealthy enough. Not that we let unions and trial lawyers veto any pro business legislation that would help to expand our economy, help the middle class looking for work and attract more people to move here Not that Illinois has the least faith in state government than any state in the union Not that we have more units of local government than any other state Given his record as a billionaire going to extraordinary means to avoid paying his fair share of taxes, why does anyone believe his rhetoric? - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:00 pm: “I still believe that JB Pritzker is the only (serious) Democratic candidate that can actually lose to Rauner.” Based on what? Rauner’s losing to Pritzker by double digits, during/after the Blago commercials. - Molly Maguire - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:12 pm: Henry Francis: stop it, you’re hurting me. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:19 pm: ===Given his record as a billionaire going to extraordinary means to avoid paying his fair share of taxes, why does anyone believe his rhetoric?=== Agreed. Rauner’s multiple homeowner exemptions, along with a questioning of his actual taxing residence, the residence where his denied Winnetka living daughter, or the Chicago condo, Rauner isn’t someone who could be trusted to pay the right taxes to the right home(s)? - Boat captain - I sincerely thank you for some very kind, far too kind, honestly, words. As you ask me to take your words, please take these with the same weight; No campaign could consider themselves credible or reasonably serious having me lead it, or me attached to it. Your kind words, I do appreciate. - Radio Flyer - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:23 pm: Henry Francis, besides the ol’ number six, Blazing Saddles had a not in control governor too. “Work, work, work.” - TominChicago - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:26 pm: Wrong LP - Pritzker’s overarching message is that Rauner is an incompetent governor and that message will play. - Aldyth - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:53 pm: Teddy Roosevelt, Rough Rider, Governor of New York, Vice President and President of the United States was a man who cast a long shadow. He was five foot nine. For a guy who is six foot four, Rauner’s shadow is at its tallest at high noon in downtown Chicago. Tough talk is nothing more than tough talk from a braggart. You haven’t walked the walk. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:59 pm: What will JB do to restore faith in Illinois government? Not join all 8 Democratic candidates for Attorney General and call for the Speaker to step down as head of the party. He is part of the establishment a majority of Democratic primary voter despise. He certainly checks all the boxes with promises to Democratic special interest groups but has no way to pay for all of his promises and he has no desire to change what Illinois voters despise about state government. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:25 pm: Expect all the negativity of the Munger and Kirk campaigns but on steroids with Bruce. - Stoph - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:28 pm: Not true Lucky he plans on changing the governor. - SwetLou86 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:35 pm: Rauner’s strategy is for this to be the most expensive gubernatorial race in the country’s history and the lowest turnout in the state’s history. It just might work. - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:38 pm: “no campaign could consider themselves credible or reasonably serous…having me attached to it.” OW, Norseman and I would beg to differ. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:53 pm: - AA - Thanks, as always. Still respecting your kind thoughts, I’m stickin’ with my take, while not casually dismissing your words. OW ===He is part of the establishment a majority of Democratic primary voter despise.=== … and yet, with those Dems and others, Pritzker is polling with a double digit lead over Rauner, and at 50% while being under water. Man, Rauner must not be that respected as a governor? - Arsenal - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:17 pm: ==What will JB do to restore faith in Illinois government?== Kick out the Governor with the 26% approval rating. - Dee Lay - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:20 pm: This sounds oddly familiar….. “I will bury her. I will make her radioactive. She will never get another job anywhere, ever. I will bankrupt her with legal fees. I don’t know if she has a family or not, but if she does, she better think twice about this.” Rauner has some misplaced anger issues. Maybe he gets it from his Swedish-immigrant Grandfather. - don the legend - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:25 pm: LP when it comes to lying and governing, as a conservative your man Rauner lied to Cardinal Cupich and signed HB40. But your concern for democrats and their primary choices is noted. - SAP - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:30 pm: ==I still believe that JB Pritzker is the only (serious) Democratic candidate that can actually lose to Rauner. Shouldn’t we be electing a candidate that can go out and beat Rauner? No snark, can someone please make the case for why I am wrong? Is it just because of the impossibly large war chest he has?== Just because we haven’t seen the oppo research on the other guys doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. - Alex Ander - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:36 pm: Funny, after three years he’s got nothing to run on. Just speculating what might happen if the other guy wins. Governor Nothing. Congrats on an empty 38 months, Bruce. - Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:05 pm: ===I still believe that JB Pritzker is the only (serious) Democratic candidate that can actually lose to Rauner. Shouldn’t we be electing a candidate that can go out and beat Rauner? No snark, can someone please make the case for why I am wrong?=== I share your concern and I haven’t seen anyone respond with a strong case yet. All 3 candidates can be, and will be, tied to Madigan. But Pritzker also has the tax dodging toilet seat removal and the blago tapes. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:31 pm: ==I still believe that JB Pritzker is the only (serious) Democratic candidate that can actually lose to Rauner. Shouldn’t we be electing a candidate that can go out and beat Rauner? No snark, can someone please make the case for why I am wrong?== All 3 of them can win. All 3 of them can lose. Nothing is granted. I think JB is the strongest because he’s shown the most willingness to go after Rauner and the most focus on pocketbook issues. He’s also taken Rauner’s first punch and maintained a wide lead over him. I firmly believe Kennedy is the riskiest, given his listless campaign and meandering message. - Anon0091 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:50 pm: Am I the only one who thought of Ivan Drago (and Nikita Kruschev) when they read that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lkhbD9vkfc - Boone’s is Back - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:55 pm: ===Somebody better get some smelling salts for a certain Tribune columnist.=== LOL. Rich must have had some strong coffee today. He’s had some great one liners. - Anon0091 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:58 pm: “I still believe that JB Pritzker is the only (serious) Democratic candidate that can actually lose to Rauner. Shouldn’t we be electing a candidate that can go out and beat Rauner?” I think his path is pretty clear and it’s spelled out nicely in this Sun-Times endorsement editorial. “This kind of future-focused approach to economic development is precisely what Illinois sorely needs right now. It is also reflective of what seems to be Pritzker’s philosophy for trying to make a difference in this world: work it from the bottom up. That’s the common thread — start at the beginning — running through Pritzker’s many years of public service, whether he was supporting new technology, working to expand childcare services and early-childhood education, or simply trying to provide every child with a good school breakfast. Pritzker saw the promise and nurtured it. Illinois could stand more of his positive and inclusive approach to leadership, as well as his ability — as witnessed in this campaign — to build broad coalitions.” https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/endorsement-j-b-pritzker-illinois-governor-biss-kennedy-democratic-primary/ There’s more but you get the idea. The public craves a better future and JB will lay it out in a positive way that the others cannot. He has a proven history of bringing people together and will have a unified Democratic Party behind him. Everyone knows the imperative is to beat Bruce Rauner and save our state. That will drive JB’s victory. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:59 pm: Robert the Bruce, Have you seen what Rauner did to Ives? He has GOP voters actually believing that Ives is in Mike Madigan’s pocket. That is the power of advertising. Now I don’t know any specifics, but I suspect there is some oppo floating around out there that we haven’t yet seen regarding one or all of the three Dem candidates. Of those three, only one can respond to an attack on Day One. The other two will need months to raise the cash to answer an attack that will be launched next week. It could be something in Kennedy’s business dealings. It might be twisting something from Biss’ academic record. It could be anything. We already know about the toilets and the tapes. It won’t be a surprise when Rauner goes there on the attack. But Pritzker won’t be caught off guard and will be able to respond. He’s a smart guy with smart people working for him. They’ll have a good response to the expected attacks. It’s the unexpected ones that worry me, and the other two are unprepared to respond. That should worry you. - Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 5:21 pm: Thank you, 47th, I see your point and you make a very good case. I’m less scared of the unknown than you are, and perhaps I am more scared of the known toilet seat tax dodge and blago tapes. And I’m not as impressed with Pritzker’s campaign as you are. And I haven’t seen a good toilet seat tax dodge response, though I’m not sure there is a good response. A good point you make that Pritzker has the money to be on air responding and attacking back on March 21. And Kennedy’s penchant for gaffes concerns me…he might create his own case for Rauner by mistake. This unknown certainly concerns me, and it arguably is a known - we know based on his primary behavior that Kennedy will go foolishly off script. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 5:26 pm: ===And I haven’t seen a good toilet seat tax dodge response,=== Hasn’t been needed yet. When you see toilets on TV you’ll see a good toilet response. At least I hope so. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, although I’ll note that Rauner had the ability to raise the tax dodge issue too, but limited his attack to the Blago tapes instead. That tells me Rauner doesn’t want to have a public debate about who is the bigger tax cheat, lol. “I’ll see your missing toilets and raise you three homeowners’ exemptions.” That’s the power of being able to quickly respond, it takes some otherwise strong attacks off the table and prevents Rauner from creating his own reality as he did four years ago. - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 5:48 pm: == Rauner has ZERO accomplishments as Governor. == Actually, Rauner does have some Criminal Justice reforms he can point to … but he also has some negatives on the same topic. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 5:50 pm: ===That tells me Rauner doesn’t want to have a public debate about who is the bigger tax cheat=== Nope. It tells you that Rauner wants Pritzker to win the primary a damaged candidate so he can use that toilet issue in the fall. Rauner never played the Madigan card on TV against JB either. Just Rod. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 5:57 pm: Lol Rich, Rauner will play the Madigan card regardless of who the Democrats nominate. He did it to Ives, he can do it to anyone. Any of the three Dems will be damaged because none of them is perfect. A damaged Pritzker can still punch back and Rauner has to sail against the strongest headwinds a Republican can face. The fact is, Rauner wanted anybody but Pritzker which is why he attacked only Pritzker. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 6:00 pm: ===It tells you that Rauner wants Pritzker to win the primary a damaged candidate so he can use that toilet issue in the fall. Rauner never played the Madigan card on TV against JB either. Just Rod.=== I said this up top… “Pritzker’s own Crew has failed to realize what exactly they are up against and not using Skyhook in reverse, so far, has cost them disapproval ratings… as the Blago tapes (that we so far know about) are still out there.” Rauner is holding out, as they should. The question for me is, “Does the Pritzker Crew truly grasp what they are going to face?” Pritzker’s Crew by not forcing Rauner to play defense allowed Rauner to keep so many avenues hidden, while Rauner got what he wanted, Pritzker, under water, as the nominee, with many things in the arsenal still fresh to roll out. The Rauner Crew has to be as pleased as the Pritzker Crew is probably pleased as they just attacked “enough” to keep the others down. So, who had the better season to get what they wanted, and have an advance play later too? Pritzker’s Crew better realize what’s ahead, or it will swallow them whole. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 6:03 pm: ===Rauner wanted anybody but Pritzker=== If that’s the case, he would’ve used the toilet issue and MJM. He would’ve put tons of points behind the “least offensive” ad. He would’ve created a dark money IE committee to “help” one of the other candidates. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 6:18 pm: I’m not Rauner so I don’t know. Your guess is almost certainly better than mine. I think Ives made your scenario more difficult, but that’s just a guess. But neither of us can prove our points. Well, you probably can but doing so might burn a source, lol. If so, i’ll concede If not, then we’ll never know. - 217 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 6:50 pm: Rauner wanted JB and he’s going to get him. JB comes across as a very congenial and nice guy. We’re about to see if he can take the gloves off and square up with a guy who I think is in this business solely because he craves battles and tournament living. I don’t know if JB has the mettle but I hope he does because I like him a lot. As for the many people asking about who Rauner’s constituency is, you must not follow these things very closely if you are honestly asking that. His constituency is the somewhat large (and ever growing) group of people really thoroughly fed up with MJM and Co. That group is filled with folks from both parties and Rauner will be beating JB over the head with that association every second until November. It might resonate, we shall see. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 7:00 pm: ===As for the many people asking about who Rauner’s constituency is,=== (Raises hand) ===you must not follow these things very closely=== (sheepishly lowers hand, hopes no one notices) I don’t follow this stuff too close, I grant you… “How-Ever” ===if you are honestly asking that. His constituency is the somewhat large (and ever growing) group of people really thoroughly fed up with MJM and Co. That group is filled with folks from both parties and Rauner will be beating JB over the head with that association every second until November. It might resonate, we shall see.=== Yeah. Rauner is polling 26 points under water, losing to Pritzker with Pritzker under water and at 50% against Rauner one on one. So, your theory sounds swell, the numbers seem to point to this “constituency” that has Rauner under water, losing to a guy under water, in a state Trump lost by 16 points, during Trump’s midterm… in a blue wave. I must not follow these things very closely. We’ll see. - Stuntman Bob's Brother - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 7:01 pm: Actually, Rauner does have one huge accomplishment he can point to - that he managed to stop Madigan from eating taxpayer’s babies for the past four years. Or, at least that’s how it will be framed. “Rauner may not have been in charge, but at least his presence kept Madigan from being in charge, either”. And as long as Bruce keeps pumping the Madigan=Satan line, and makes JB a lapdog of Satan, then logically Bruce becomes the preferred choice. Will that be enough? The best thing Madigan could do for the D’s at this point is to retire and take away Rauner’s most effective talking point. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 7:43 pm: –He would’ve created a dark money IE committee to “help” one of the other candidates.– I was waiting on that. I’m thinking he went one too many times to the well last time. I don’t think as governor he could have gotten away with the weaselly denials that he did as a nobody. Too obvious, cui bono. Pritzker and Rauner roll in the same circles; Rauner says he knows Pritzker, I’m guessing Pritzker knows Rauner. I’m guessing by November we’re all going to get quite a lesson on how the super-rich make their money and dodge taxes. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 8:31 am: Again, I like Pritzker’s positive ads (saw one on TV last night). That is very important. Rauner is portraying himself exactly as he is, someone who tries to blow up opponents and in the process has severely damaged the state. I am impressed by the showing last night in PA-18, in which Conor Lamb is an apparent winner. I very much want a positive message and willingness to work in a bipartisan manner. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.