Question of the day
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t plan to be there when Donald Trump makes his first visit to Illinois as president later this week.
Asked about his plans, Rauner wasn’t even sure when Trump would visit the state.
“I heard the president is coming to Granite City, I think either Thursday or Friday,” Rauner said Monday in Wheaton.
Thursday, a reporter pointed out.
“I, uh, I do not plan to go. I was just in Granite City just in the past week,” he said.
Hilarious.
* The Question: Which would be worse for the governor: POTUS is upset about the guv’s snub and tags him with an unflattering nickname; or POTUS tells the crowd what a great governor Illinois has? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey tool
- Montrose - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:01 am:
Having a video clip where Trump talks about how wonderful Rauner is would be pure gold to the Pritzker campaign.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:02 am:
How about a third choice for T- “Who’s Rauner?”
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:03 am:
That question is just too hard to answer. As your question suggests, both could be pretty bad.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:04 am:
Trump praise will be ignored by anti-Rauner voters. Trump turning on Rauner with a diminishing nickname will move the pro-Trump voters into opposition.
Rauner needs Trump supporters.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:05 am:
Great question and tough one. I picked unflattering nickname. Rauner nearly lost to a social conservative who’s not afraid of Trump. I’d think he really needs his base to come out and vote after the primary scare.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:06 am:
I think Rauner losing Trump base voters would be more detrimental so I voted for the nickname. I think most of the anti-Trump voters likely aren’t in Rauner’s camp anyway so a bear hug from Trump would eat up a news cycle or two but I doubt it would change many votes.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:06 am:
Supportive shoutout.
“Why?”
Rauner has gone out of his way to distance himself from POTUS, Rauner being lauded by POTUS would be a disaster.
POTUS lauding McCann would be genius. McCann needs 5% or so to move Rauner, so if POTUS chose McCann as his special candidate… (narrator: POTUS won’t).
If Rauner got a nickname, that only reinforces Rauner has no constituency, the Right, the MAGAs, they may not come back, and if POTUS gins up the anger again at Rauner, it only reinforces the non-constituency.
So… voted “praises Rauner” as worst.
- Otown Beatdown - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:07 am:
Supportive shout out would be better in the moment - Trump Country and happy with tariffs, but recording would be better for JB
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:07 am:
Tough question, but I’m going with “tells the crowd what a great governor Illinois has?”
Pritzker would spend a billion running that on a loop 24/7 in the Chicago TV market.
The GOP base might love Trump, but they aren’t enough to win a statewide election in Illinois, as Trump himself demonstrated. You need Independents and Trump is deeply underwater with them.
I think Rauner would agree. When’s the last time an Illinois governor wouldn’t even be seen with a president of the same party? Ever?
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:07 am:
I think a sticky and semi-accurate nickname could cause ongoing problems for Bruce.
Like an unflattering song that gets stuck in your head.
– MrJM
- Homer J. Quinn - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:07 am:
the right unflattering nickname could stick to him forever.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:09 am:
Of course, if he gives him a nickname, Pritzker can just pivot to running that clip on McCann’s behalf.
- Christopher - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:10 am:
I voted that an unflattering nickname would be worse. Because if the POTUS tells everyone what a great Governor Rauner is, that would merely be one more lie that Trump has told (just another one added to the pile).
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:11 am:
Alternate QOTD: Suggest possible Trump nick names for Rauner.
Invisible Bruce.
Rauner the goner.
Bean pole Bruce.
Biker vest Bruce.
Bruce who?
Liberal Bruce.
- slow down - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:11 am:
Trump is mostly toxic in the suburbs amongst women voters that Rauner desperately needs. Rauner doesn’t want compliments from Trump. Otherwise, he would be attending the event.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:11 am:
Unflattering nickname is worse. Now that McCann will be on the ballot, Rauner needs to keep McCann support as close to zero as possible. An aside, will Sam be in Granite City…?
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:12 am:
Went with “nickname”. 2 reasons.
1) Trump isn’t unpopular with trade unionists, so his praise might mean something to a cohort JB is trying to win.
2) A semi-pithy semi-clever nickname might be repeated indefinitely in all media. You don’t just need an ad buy for it, every anti-Rauner group can hashtag it in every tweet.
- Archpundit - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:12 am:
I’m going with the nickname simply because it makes Rauner look more like a cuck/beta (such silly terms, but that’s the base now) and that’s where he is weak. He’s already lost anyone who dislikes Trump other than two or three members of the Tronc editorial boards
- don the legend - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:12 am:
I voted unflattering nickname.
Most people shy away from talking politics with family or co-workers due to the tension and passions often involved.
But a good zinger creates common ground that everyone can talk about, no matter whether you like Trump and/or Rauner or not.
- BucknIrish - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:12 am:
I think we saw in the last election what a Trump Nickname can do to someone. I think anyone who would be upset with Trump support for the governor would not vote for Rauner anyway at this point. Getting squeezed by the left and the right dooms Rauner
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:13 am:
BTW, I would not expect Trump to call out Rauner. He’s not big on object permanence, so if he’s aware of Rauner at all it’s going to be because of his handlers, who certainly won’t bring him up in a way to cause trouble.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:14 am:
Trump doesn’t endorse leaders who publically tell citizens that he’s not in charge.
- Archpundit - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:14 am:
==Alternate QOTD: Suggest possible Trump nick names for Rauner.
Cash Grab Bruce
Beta Bruce
Money Blowin’ Bruce
- get real - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:17 am:
Rauner is such a nothing I doubt if the President wastes any time on him. Bost will definitely get a shout out.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:21 am:
Supportive shout out hurts a lot more, if Trump gives him an awkward nick-name and gives him flack, it hurts the Rauner-Trump narrative.
- PJ - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:22 am:
There is absolutely zero chance that Trump could name the Governor of Illinois if asked. And I can’t even blame him.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:23 am:
I don’t think Trump can come up with anything more harmful than the “Worst Governor in America” floating around the airways now. A negative nickname may turn off some of Rauner’s Trump supporters, but their numbers aren’t enough to get him reelected anyway. However, an endorsement would play very well for Pritzger.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:23 am:
I cannot begin to fathom how lame, clunky, and childish Trump’s nickname for Rauner will be.
- Flynn's Mom - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:23 am:
A shout out from Trump would be worse. I think the Republicans are rethinking their blind support for Trump. We are seeing more and more trying to distance themselves from his hateful rhetoric and dangerous policy decisions.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:26 am:
President Reagan and Governor Thompson were “pals” and visited publically.
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:27 am:
Rauner is a goner.
- SAP - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:27 am:
It’s a little over 3 months until election day and Rauner still needs to shore up his base, so I voted unflattering nickname.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:29 am:
Vote nickname
A new one might help replace GovJunk
Guessin Nick Ayers must be losin’ clout and could not get GovJunk a little greetin’ time at Scott Air Force Base.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:29 am:
Governor Edgar and both President Bushes were publically seen. Edgar was W’s Illinois chairman.
- Whatever - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:31 am:
Voted for the shout-out, especially if Trump slips up and makes some comment about how his tariffs helped the steel industry without hurting anyone except a bunch of farmers.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:31 am:
President Obama and Governor Quinn publically endorsed each other.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:31 am:
Voted for unflattering nickname, but honestly, I don’t think that’s going to happen. I do think he’ll beat the heck out of Rahm, Chicago, and Mike Madigan. Doubt he’ll consider the Governor even worth a snub.
- GOPgal - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:32 am:
Trump is working on such a higher level than the useless yokels in state politics here. No need for Trump to waste his time with likes of Rauner.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:33 am:
If he does, he could call him: “Harley-Quinn” and please and offend everyone.
- Former Hillrod - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:34 am:
The Spruce Bruce. As in something that looked impressive in theory but never really got off the ground.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:35 am:
==When’s the last time an Illinois governor wouldn’t even be seen with a president of the same party? Ever?==
None that I’ve found, so far.
Rauner is not a very good predictor of politics, at any level, is he?
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:35 am:
I voted nickname. Hating/trolling seems to be the more widely used means of political discourse for the GOP these days. Plus a nickname from Trump will speak much more loudly than thousands of political ads from JB.
I don’t see much of a path to victory for the Guv here, but in any scenario he must have the trump voters. A nickname from the troll in chief would end any chance of that.
- Colin O'Scopy - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:36 am:
I went with unflattering nickname. A shout-out will go only as far as the audio system’s volume will take it.
An unflattering nickname will stick with him forever. Just ask Lyin Ted or Crooked Hillary.
- Actual Red - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:42 am:
I think Rauner’s need to turn out his base narrowly trumps (pun intended) his need to retain suburban swing voters, so the nickname would be more damaging. I think the fact that Rauner is in that position shows what a tough road he has to reelection.
- Seats - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:42 am:
Its about the same. If he followed up an insulting nickname with a compliment towards Sam McCann that would be worst case scenerio.
But an insult or a praise alone cause about the same amount of damage. If Pritzker wasn’t rich enough to blast the support commercials to Chicago, I would say the Rauner nickname would be worse. But Pritzker has put himself in a position where either would be effective.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:45 am:
Unflattering nickname. Trump can run circles around Rauner on social media, and every unflattering tweet is campaign ad fodder.
- ZC - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:47 am:
As people have noted, no good options. Great question!
Unflattering nickname - McCann / Ives takes it and runs with it.
Supportive shout-out - Pritzker takes it and runs with it.
- Guzzlepot - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:47 am:
I picked supportive shout out. Pick a number from 3 to 9, now add seven zeros behind it. That number is the amount that JB would spend on tv ads in the Chicagoland area featuring the supportive shout out. Doubt he would do that much with the unflattering nickname.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:52 am:
–If he followed up an insulting nickname with a compliment towards Sam McCann that would be worst case scenerio.–
When’s the DGA’s “Sam McCann: Too Conservative for Illinois” spot airing?
The one for Ives almost did the trick. Run the play until they figure out how to stop it.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:53 am:
It was almost too close to decide (as is the current voting). Went with the shoutout as I think any snark from POTUS could put him in good company.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:54 am:
You call people nicknames that aren’t there, you support who shows up
- Slim Jim - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Hmmm, not sure yet. What unflattering nick names could Trump apply to Rauner?
- jwI - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
trump may not be very happy with brucie since he is one of the govs, who does not support trumps supreme court pick
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
“What unflattering nick names could Trump apply to Rauner?” “Madigan’s Favorite Republican”
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
I wonder if Sam McCann is going to be in Granite City on Thursday? And I kind of like Governor Gridlock, but a new name would be good.
- Deadbeat Conservative - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
The unflattering nickname for the following reasons.
- The Trump / Rauner base share the same plunderer fact-free universe. Accordingly Trump’s hit could hurt Rauner in his base.
- The Dems and their republican-lite ways are often happy to lend credibility to the GOP when it suits their short-term objectives. Therefore they would be likely to stand with Trump against Rauner. After all they’re already standing with the RGA and “the worst…”
In the inverse - Trump praising Rauner will be a non-event, he’s not going to convince the anyone who opposes Rauner to now support him.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:33 pm:
Backporch Bruce maybe?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:33 pm:
–President Obama and Governor Quinn publically endorsed each other.–
Gov. Rauner went down to Pullman to share the stage with Pres. Obama, back in the day.
- Name Withheld - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:34 pm:
I like the Alternate Nickname’s games
Rauner the Downer
Voted for Unflattering Nickname because, as others said, that gets stuck in your head like an earworm.
- INI - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:34 pm:
Without the Republican base’s support, Rauner has no chance. Rauner is struggling mightily to regain votes from a large base on the right who think he is too far to the left. An unflattering nickname certainly does the most damage.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 12:51 pm:
I voted “supportive shout out” because that would work well into Pritzker’s campaign theme. I’d have voted “unflattering nickname” if it were going to be something like “bad Governor who’s not pro-life like McCann.”
- DeseDemDose - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 1:10 pm:
Babbling Bruce. Bumbling Bruce. Buffoon Bruce.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 1:34 pm:
Donald Trump probably doesn’t know who the IL governor is. I’d be surprised if he could find us on a map.
- Regular democrat - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
Trump doesnt seem to appreciate spineless guys like rauner very much. An unflattering name should be forthcoming
- Archpundit - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
—Babbling Bruce. Bumbling Bruce
Small correction to any ing nicknames
Babblin’ Bruce
Bumblin’ Bruce
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 2:21 pm:
I voted shout-out for the commercials, but the nickname is growing on me, especially if the Donald ran a few Tweets with it.
So-
Costume Man?
Governor Chameleon?
Mr. Popularity?
Harley Boy?
26?
- ZC - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 2:52 pm:
I guess the best-case scenario is Trump goes there and just bashes McCann endlessly, omitting whom people should vote for instead.
- Just an fyi - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
“Bruce who?” — The President
- the Patriot - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
If you hate Trump, you are not voting for Rauner. His best bet is to ride the Trump waive.
I was thinking what did Quinn do when Obama came downstate to reopen a plant and remembered Obama never came down state and no plants were re-opened.
Not in jest, but if Rauner wants to increase the margin downstate, Trump is the answer, If he is all in in Chicago, stay away.
- Contract disputin’ - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
Shoutout would be much worse. Bet JB’s folks are out in force capturing footage of both Trump AND various attendees as they seek those precious sound bites.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 3:54 pm:
==If you hate Trump, you are not voting for Rauner==
That’s not necessarily true. I know plenty of Republicans who despise the President and who will likely vote for Rauner.
- Guzzlepot - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
How about both. Trump gets up and says something like “my good friend Battling Brucie is a very very good governor. My only knock on him is that he is a bit too close with Rahm Emmanuel. If he’d stop being such good pals with Rahm he would be a very very strong governor.”
- the Patriot - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
Demoralized,
agreed, but he is not losing them for an appearance with Trump. Those people are voting republican regardless, but how does he get the people in the middle?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 4:19 pm:
==If you hate Trump, you are not voting for Rauner==
Tell Bruce to put his money away then. Because that’s his only chance.
–His best bet is to ride the Trump waive.–
Clinton beat Trump by 944K votes in Illinois, 56% to 39%.
Dude, this happened less than two years ago. It ain’t ancient history, just discovered. It was in all the papers.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 4:31 pm:
Trump - “This guy, Bruce Rauner… I mean, have you seen him? He looks like a scarecrow… Scarecrow Bruce!”
- Cocoa Dave - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 4:48 pm:
Trump should announce the pardon of Rod Blagojevich and credit Governor Junk for endorsing the move.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 5:45 pm:
How about neither: Trump does the unthinkable and endorses Sam McCann.
- Mama - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 5:49 pm:
Supportive because Rauner supported his Supreme Court Justice.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 7:18 pm:
Trump will leave him alone, as long as he doesn’t go on the attack. Rauner’s reelection is doomed anyway, with or without Trumpy.