* Greg Hinz…
Maybe there are some special reasons in this case. But for a guy who has kept his distance from Donald Trump, Gov. Bruce Rauner sure seems to be cozying up lately—at least a little bit—to a president the polls say isn’t very popular in Illinois.
* Daily Herald…
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam is skipping Vice President Mike Pence’s appearance Friday in Rosemont — planning to be in Washington to take votes instead — but Gov. Bruce Rauner will be at the event to introduce Pence, officials confirmed Thursday.
Pence is expected to headline a fundraiser for Roskam and other Republicans in the area
Um. OK. Roskam isn’t showing for a fundraiser for… Roskam?
* Sun-Times…
Usually a Republican governor introducing a Republican Vice President wouldn’t be worthy of highlighting in the first paragraph. In this case it is, because Rauner has gone to some effort – until lately – to distance himself from President Donald Trump.
What’s changed? Rauner needs to repair relations with the Republican base in Illinois as he battles J.B. Pritzker, the Democratic nominee for governor.
But repairing relations with that base comes with consequences.
* DGA…
It’s only halfway through July, but for Governor Bruce Rauner, this summer has all been about President Donald Trump. The Chicago Sun-Times now reports that Rauner will introduce Vice President Mike Pence at a Chicago-area rally promoting Trump’s economic policies and performing “damage control” for the administration’s trade policy.
For Rauner, it’s just another day in his summer of Trump. Over the past few weeks, Rauner praised Trump’s Supreme Court nominee this week and flew to Washington for a “photo op” with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announcing an already-announced infrastructure grant. At the same time, a Super PAC affiliated with Trump’s Illinois backers began running ads propping up the vulnerable incumbent. And all the while, Rauner has kept on praising Trump’s handling of the economy.
“It’s the summer of Trump for Bruce Rauner,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “All summer, Rauner has been moving from silently supporting Donald Trump’s agenda to outright embracing his administration. For Illinoisans concerned with how Trump’s policies are hurting their families, Rauner’s just finding a new way to fail them all over again.”
* Tribune…
The governor’s decision to introduce Pence in Rosemont drew criticism from Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker, who previously has labeled the Republican governor a “silent partner” to Trump.
“Rauner has spent the last few months cozying up to Donald Trump, praising his policies, and getting support from his top Illinois fundraiser’s SuperPAC, but now he’s taking their partnership to the next level by campaigning with his VP,” the Pritzker campaign said in a statement. The campaign was referring to Pritzker attack ads being run by a PAC formerly headed by Ron Gidwitz, Trump’s Illinois campaign finance chair and now U.S. ambassador to Belgium.
“While Rauner ranges from Trump’s silent partner to his proud, vocal supporter, campaigning with Trump’s VP brings their alliance to new heights,” Pritzker spokesman Jason Rubin said.
* And here’s something brand new in the world of DPI: A protest led by its new interim executive director…
Today, Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Christian Mitchell will lead a protest against Mike Pence, Bruce Rauner, Peter Roskam, and their attacks on Illinois communities.
WHO: Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Christian Mitchell, Illinois Democratic Women, Citizen Action Illinois, Indivisible Chicago, Indivisible Illinois, Women’s March Illinois, Gather Activism, UFCW Local 881, ATU Local 308, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Personal PAC, and SEIU Healthcare.
*** UPDATE *** Sam McCann’s campaign was passing out this flier at the protest today…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:03 am:
Perfect example why whatever Rauner does, it’s problematic.
Bruce Rauner has no constituency.
Otherwise, we’d know how good and bad this all is.
- Sue - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:08 am:
Complain all you want. By 2020 Trump will have appointed 150 judges and maybe even one more Supreme
- Exclamation Point Deleted - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:13 am:
Roskam is toast. He is a massive disappointment on pretty much every level.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:18 am:
Rauner is his own worst enemy…forget Madigan…
Couldn’t agree more about Roskam…he is 2nd in my let’s retire him after Rauner…
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:29 am:
Democrats will have to find something to run on besides Donald Trump. We already know Democratic special interest groups can’t stand Trump, Rauner and Pence.
Nationally his poll numbers are higher than they have been since March of 2017.
Rassmussen daily tracking poll has Trump even higher at 46% vs President Obama at 48% at the same time in their presidencies
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/prez_track_jul13
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/
- Texas Red - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:34 am:
It is one this to say that Rauner has “distanced” himself from Trump, I’ll give you that. But how is the GOP governor of IL introducing the GOP VP who also was the past Governor of Indiana somehow an inconsistency ? It seems to me to just be a matter of party protocol and the right thing to do.
- Saluki - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:34 am:
Sue for the win…
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:36 am:
All blue state Republicans are in a bit of a pickle. Last I heard Trump was polling at about an 87% approval rating amongst Republicans. They need every one of those voters to come out in November but in appealing to that group they become less attractive to independents, where Republicans aren’t polling well right now, and any Democrats who otherwise could be influenced.
A guy like Roskam may be able to get enough Republicans to the polls in his district. It’s a much heavier lift for Rauner on a state wide basis.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:38 am:
=Sue for the win…=
America for the loss…
- Jocko - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:41 am:
One day, he officiates a gay wedding. The next, he is introducing Mike Pence. Is Bruce trying to upset everyone before leaving for Italy?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 10:49 am:
===Democrats will have to find something to run on besides Donald Trump.===
The anti-Bush strategy worked pretty darned well for the Dems in 2006. Blagojevich’s fundraiser was indicted a couple weeks before the election and he still won by 10 points.
===Rassmussen daily tracking poll has Trump even higher at 46% vs President Obama at 48% at the same time in their presidencies===
First, this is Illinois. Second, do you remember what happened to the President’s party in 2010?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 11:19 am:
===Democrats will have to find something to run on besides Donald Trump.===
Welp
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/13/politics/russia-investigation-indictments/index.html
- anon2 - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 11:37 am:
=== By 2020 Trump will have appointed 150 judges and maybe even one more Supreme ===
That would be true only if the GOP maintains its majority in the U.S. Senate this November. Even if Republicans do keep their majority, what would happen if a SCOTUS vacancy didn’t occur until the final year of Trump’s term? Would they be so brazen as to discard their own Garland rule?
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:10 pm:
It seems like an odd thing to want to alienate three generations of both dem and independent voters in order to secure some judicial appointments. But, as the kids say, whatevs
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:39 pm:
McCann has a job to do: remind social conservatives that they’re Rauner’s expendable pawns. Hopefully he is up to it.
- Original Rambler - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:12 pm:
Anon2 - faster than you can say “this is different.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
–Democrats will have to find something to run on besides Donald Trump.–
Wishing doesn’t make it so, comrade.
- dray - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
We can all sleep better knowing McCann and Trump are keeping boarding houses and their occupants secure.
- Sue - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
Anon 2- on January 1 2019 there will be at least 53 R’s in the US senate and more likely 54.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
To the Update: “Labor Donated” In more ways than one.
- Deadbeat Conservative - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
=Sue for the win…=
==America for the loss…==
Thinking exactly the same thing, people who bought the Trump “what have you got to lose?” premise are going to find out in the coming years.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 3:06 pm:
Also, aside from the boarders laugh, is that pronounced Illi-noisy-ans?