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*** UPDATED x2 *** Has Pritzker gone to ground?
Friday, Mar 16, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller * Usually, statewide Democratic primary candidates spend time Downstate early in the campaign so that they can spend as much time as possible in the Chicagoland area (where most of the votes are) during the homestretch. Rod Blagojevich’s 2002 strategy was a bit different. His plan was to fight Chicago to a draw and then run up the score in the Metro East and other Downstate areas. JB Pritzker, who has given $200,000 to the St. Clair County Democratic Party, was in the vote-rich Metro East area yesterday and today…
Pritzker was in Madison County yesterday. The other candidates haven’t spent much money in that region, so it makes some sense to go there. *** UPDATE 1 *** Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) just called to say he’d help set up this trip “weeks ago.” *** UPDATE 2 *** Hoffman forwarded me an e-mail from several days ago which shows he was, indeed, telling the truth. End of story. * But Pritzker’s campaign schedule also has one other advantage…
* A few pics from the trail…
…Adding… Pritzker was also at an Irish flag-raising celebration this morning.
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- BC - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:45 am:
Makes sense. I think we’ll see a 2002 primary pattern playout during vote count on Tuesday night. A very close three-way race as Cook and the collars report, then the downstate vote comes in and pushes JB over the top — just as it did for Blago.
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:47 am:
makes sense, he’s just like Blago in so many ways.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am:
===makes sense, he’s just like Blago in so many ways.===
Watch out Amalia, he may start combing his hair forward!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am:
It does speak a tad to being unable to answer their own oppo, and trying to limit damage Pritzker can do to himself because of it.
It also speaks to a campaign and Crew that has nearly two dozen campaign offices statewide and running a full-tilt statewide apparatus that can gin up pluralities the others might not be able to in central and southern Illinois.
Lots being said.
- Arsenal - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am:
Gotta love the Chicago media’s self-regard. “A statewide candidate is campaigning in another part of the state? Must be because he’s scared of us!”
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am:
Last I checked, downstate is part of Illinois too. Yes, it is conveniently far from Chicago reporters. But downstate voters are some of the most vocal and paranoid about their perceived diminished importance that spending a decent chunk of time there right before the primary might shut them up for a while.
It also helps that he has the place to himself, which should help generate some extra soft news coverage.
- Annonin' - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Pretty common end of campaign. Stay on the move
avoid a 12 hour rolling press conferences and let campaign get out the vote
Anyone seen GovJunk today? Ask about the National Review endorsin’ the Commando
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 12:09 pm:
@Six Degrees, if you squint, the look is there.
- illini - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
That “street money” that JB contributed will still help move the needle in this area.
The $200,000 donation he made to St. Clair County could prove to be money well spent.
- South Side Irish - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:09 pm:
== Pritzker was also at an Irish flag-raising celebration ==
Big deal. He’ll get my vote when he burns the Union Jack.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:14 pm:
==Gotta love the Chicago media’s self-regard. “A statewide candidate is campaigning in another part of the state? Must be because he’s scared of us!”==
Agreed. The vast majority of the Chicago media apparatus should go back to doing what they’ve done best for the last three years - getting paid to act as Rauner stenographers.
Also, I’d really like to know what they mean to imply by saying that he’s “keeping his distance from the media”. Do Chicago media members think there are no credible reporters outside of the city limits? Or that Chicago media figures are too important to ever travel to cow-towns like Alsip and Granite City? Betting it’s a little of both.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:21 pm:
One of the big complaints about state-wide candidates, especially Dems, is that they ignore “downstate.” Spending time “downstate” makes sense in this crowed race (Biss and Kennedy seem to have ceded downstate) and looking forward to the fall General Election.
- Arsenal - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
==Or that Chicago media figures are too important to ever travel to cow-towns like Alsip and Granite City?==
I thought about that, too, but when Tronc is laying off staff, we can assume that no one in Chicago media will pay for reporters to go downstate.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
Pritzker has nearly two dozen offices statewide.
The other campaigns have nothing in numbers or depth in central and downstate.
Sending Pritzker out with that type of groundwork itching to spring on Tuesday… yep, you plan to use that to your full advantage. That’s why you invest the money, time, and people.
- Arsenal - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:50 pm:
==One of the big complaints about state-wide candidates, especially Dems, is that they ignore “downstate.” ==
Illinois is just very parochial from Winthrop Harbo to Cairo. Downstate wants attention, and deserves it. But Chicago isn’t willing to share. So it goes.
- wordslinger - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:01 pm:
He’s running for IL governor, not Chicago reporter easy-quote machine.
Back in the day, the Chicago media would actually pay to have reporters follow candidates around the state in the final days.
- Metal - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:03 pm:
I’ve seen a bunch of big JB signs spring up around me overnight. What’s the legality with campaign signs on public land? Most of these signs are on raised, grassy medians on the highway. Are those legal?
- wordslinger - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
–…Adding… Pritzker was also at an Irish flag-raising celebration this morning.–
There goes the pro-Cromwell vote.
Must be one of those anti-British colonialists, like Obama.
And Washington. Franklin. Adams…..
- ZC - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:22 pm:
What others said. “Downstate” votes, too. It worked for Poshard and Blagojevich.
- TKMH - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:04 pm:
==I’ve seen a bunch of big JB signs spring up around me overnight. What’s the legality with campaign signs on public land? Most of these signs are on raised, grassy medians on the highway. Are those legal?==
No different than electioneering or protesting on public sidewalks. Legal to do, unconstitutional to stop (with some exceptions).
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:55 pm:
==I thought about that, too, but when Tronc is laying off staff, we can assume that no one in Chicago media will pay for reporters to go downstate.==
The papers, yeah maybe but that story is from nbc Chicago - they’ve got enough coin. Heck, they can even send someone from a local affiliate if they’re so concerned about Pritzker’s whereabouts. Most likely laziness, easier for them to write down whatever Will Allison tells them.