Next!
Tuesday, May 1, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune profiles mayoral candidate Paul Vallas…
Vallas’ challenges are also clear: It’s been 16 years since his run for governor and CPS tenure. He tends not to deliver a concise, easy-to-understand message. And he acknowledges he will spend little, if any, money on TV commercials, leaving plenty of room for Emanuel and his allies to define him with attack ads.
He doesn’t plan to spend money on TV ads?
Does he think a few nice mentions by some political columnists will do the trick against Rahm’s millions?
- Ron - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:16 am:
I like Vallas. He’s probably one of the few I would consider voting for against Rahm.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:17 am:
We will know the Vallas baseline with that strategy.
Also, heaven forbid Rahm or someone else goes after him, it’s like asking others to show the “real” Paul Vallas.
Vallas is now an “official spoiler” candidate for someone(?)
- James the Intolerant - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:18 am:
Wait until the stream of ads tieing Vallas to the Daley financial problems start. I am no great fan of Rahm, but he is not walking away quietly.
- TominChicago - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:22 am:
I always suspected that this was just a vanity play for Vallas. He really thinks that Chicago will rise up and collectively agree that it needs him and only him.
- Claud Peppers - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:23 am:
It’s been four years since he ran with Pat Quinn for Lt. Governor.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:24 am:
But even the conservative John Kass likes him…
Kass lives in the burbs, of course.
- ZC - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:27 am:
Vallas … doesn’t really come off very well, in this profile. He seems less concerned about putting together a winning bid for Mayor, and more about defining his legacy and validating his tenure running CPS.
Also that comment that “he promised that union leaders from his time leading the district would publicly endorse him” … ?? When _Thomas Reece_ steps forward and endorses Paul Vallas, that’s gonna be a game-changer? Deborah Lynch? Whom is he even talking about?
- Biker - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:29 am:
I think the ads are going to be on the internet this time around. I was unloaded on yesterday by anti pritzker internet ads.
- Annon3 - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:36 am:
And he won’t have to travel outside of Cook County it’s an election made for him.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:43 am:
===It’s been four years since===
You say that like he’s still fresh in everyone’s memory. Bill Brady ran for governor three times. He thought he could win his third bid on name rec alone, without spending money in the primary. How’d that work out?
- Shytown - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:55 am:
Like Quinn, Vallas needs to go away. His rep as a reforms at CPS and elsewhere will be in tatters by the time the campaign is over. This story is just one of so, so many out there that speak to his big fail in education which is what he’s going to build his campaign theme around. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2013/08/04/the-problem-with-the-paul-vallas-brand-of-school-reform/?utm_term=.54e5b21abe3c
- 44th - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:56 am:
On paper, I like him a lot. Rahm lost me when he closed our police station, raised taxes and allowed crime to run amok across the Northside by releasing criminals constantly.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:03 am:
“And he acknowledges he will spend little, if any, money on TV commercials”
This definitely puts a marker down for dumbest political comment of 2018 and that’s saying something.
Intellectuals always poo-poo TV ads. They assume nobody would be taken in by TV ads. This will be the ultimate test…oh who am I kidding. It will be an absurdly embarrassing exercise for Vallas if he really intends to go this route. Pro tip: if you don’t plan to raise money to get on TV, don’t waste your time and stop insulting our intelligence by claiming you’re a real candidate.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:25 am:
With a crowded field, I suspect he’s just hoping lightning will strike, Emanuel will be held under 50% and he’ll finish second to be the Anti-Rahm in a runoff. That’s what they’re all hoping for.
It would certainly be rough for him to raise any money in the Chicago area, as few would want to risk the vengeance of Emanuel. I hear he’s not a forgiving sort.
Maybe the Daleys can help him with some out-of-state money. Bill Daley signaled in his chit-chat with Fran Spielman the other day that they’re honked that Emanuel continues to blame all the tax increases on Richard M.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:27 am:
===Bill Daley signaled===
Yeah, but he didn’t exactly light the world on fire for Kennedy.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:30 am:
There is a big hole in this race for a Bernie-crat with some stature.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:32 am:
===a Bernie-crat with some stature===
lol
Only if that person actually exists. Got a name?
- Annonin' - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:47 am:
Tribbies did not give enough attention to how Paul can bring the full power of GovJunk forces into play. They will come off the November’18 “experience” and swing right into Feb ‘19. Should be fun.
- Jocko - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 11:05 am:
Like Tom said, after “washing out” at Bridgeport, I think Paul is trying to rebrand himself as a politician.
- Amalia - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 11:08 am:
Vallas thinks so highly of himself he believes the reverberations of the arrogance will bounce the sound of his voice to all those who live in Chicago.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
I’m in my 60s and I watch about 1/2 an hour of actual commercial broadcast television a week. Not seeing Paul Vallas ads during the one day a week I get to watch Jeopardy! isn’t going to make any difference for people like me. And my guess is there’s lots of people like me.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 1:27 pm:
===And my guess is there’s lots of people like me.===
lol
Define “lots.”