* Tribune…
Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady said Sunday that voters are seeing state elections as being separate from a national referendum on President Donald Trump.
“What I see happening are people realizing that this is not a national agenda. There’s no question that the national scene and some of the president’s tweets and other things go south on people even though I think he’s done much in terms of policy,” Brady said on WGN AM-720.
“But as people realize this isn’t a national election, it’s a state election about the future of Illinois and it’s about whether or not you want to give control and another (redrawn legislative boundary) map to (House Speaker) Mike Madigan and (Senate President) John Cullerton, they realize how important this is,” he said.
The Bloomington Republican said he is seeing renewed enthusiasm among GOP voters, particularly among core social conservatives who have been divided over Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s tenure and his support of laws expanding abortion, immigration and gay rights.
The full interview is here.
…Adding… Ha!…
But, hey, Billy might be right. Who knows anymore?
* Related…
* Rauner falsely claims graduated income taxes always hurt the middle class: Rauner said that in “every state that has put in a graduated income tax, the middle class always pays more.” But 11 of the 32 states that tax income at graduated rates would tax an individual earning the national median at lower rates than Illinois. In some of those states, the rate would be significantly lower. What’s more, tax rates tell only part of the story. Many states, including some with much higher rates, also offer taxpayers generous exemptions and deductions, significantly reducing their actual tax burden.
* Obama, Pritzker sip tea at Urbana coffee shop, warn gov race not in the bag
* Former President Obama Makes Campaign Stop With JB Pritzker
* J.B. Pritzker is skipping the Tribune debate. Maybe he can have a live chicken take his place.
* Rogue billionaires are giving the GOP and Democrats a migraine: In Illinois, where Uihlein resides, he backed state Rep. Jeanne Ives to the tune of $2.5 million as she challenged GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner in the primary. Rauner survived, but is considered to be one the most vulnerable governors running for re-election this fall.
* Rauner lifts road-weight limit for market-bound crop-haulers
- Not Rich - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:57 am:
Too bad Gov Rauner’s money isn’t flowing into Brady’s bank account as quickly as the rainbows are floating thru the Leader’s head
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:01 am:
Considering Trump is more popular than Rauner, voters being willing to separate the two may not be a cause for optimism.
- Nacho - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:13 am:
A sure sign of a midterm wave is when members of the president’s party start to claim the election isn’t a referendum on the president.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:22 am:
Brady isn’t correct on any of his statements. There are few signs that spport for Rauner is increasing in his Central Illinois base. He’s toast, leaving conservatives willing to vote for McCann, or to not vote. There is a big difference between what I saw four years ago - and now.
Rauner was toast before Trump was even in the picture. Rauner was already a failure a full 15 months before. Rauner never supported the President until now. Trump builds, Rauner leaches - they’re like Walter Chrysler and a junk yard operator. They’re not friends.
Brady isn’t correct at all.
- Mann Horace - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:24 am:
Rex Huppke criticized a Democrat? It’s a miracle!
- RNUG - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:31 am:
Brady’s smoking some of that stuff that needs to be legalized.
I generally lean GOP, although I did vote for Quinn the last time. This time it will be GOP at the national congressional level, D at the State level except for McCann as Governor. Expect to split at the local precinct / city / county level.
- Leigh John-Ella - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:32 am:
There’s a reason Bill Brady is a super minority leader.
- Jocko - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:35 am:
As Senate minority leader, I guess he feels compelled to hold fast to minority opinions. /s
- Langhorne - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:36 am:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
- Juvenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:37 am:
NBC poll shows 35 percent support GOP control of Congress, 35 percent plan on voting GOP for Congress, but only 30 percent plan on voting for Rauner and only 26% approve of Rauner’s performance.
Brady’s problem isn’t separating his Senators from the Blue Wave bearing down on Congress.
Brady’s problem is separating his caucus from Rauner.
- TominChicago - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:42 am:
VM Trump builds???? Maybe with laundered Russian oligarch money.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:55 am:
–Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady said Sunday that voters are seeing state elections as being separate from a national referendum on President Donald Trump.–
I’m sure he hopes that. But history shows different.
Of course, Brady was an exception — he got beat by Quinn for governor in a national GOP wave year.
- Thoughts Matter - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:55 am:
It’s possible Brady may be correct about core social conservatives. It’s also possible the current self- identifying GOP members still approve of Trump. However, they fail to realize one thing: the moderates and the people who see Trump as a deplorable person have left the building. I will not vote GOP for a single race this fall. If they don’t start recognizing that character counts first, I probably won’t ever vote GOP in the future. Bill Brady doesn’t care because he hasn no opponent for me to vote for.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
–The Bloomington Republican said he is seeing renewed enthusiasm among GOP voters, particularly among core social conservatives…–
How many winners have they pushed over the finish line in statewide general elections?
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:12 pm:
Given Rauner’s poll numbers, shouldn’t the state GOP hope for a national referendum on President Donald Trump?
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:51 pm:
“He’s toast, leaving conservatives willing to vote for McCann, or to not vote.”
I sure hope so. I can’t help but empathize a little with social conservative voters who were betrayed on taxpayer-funded abortions. The key is to remind those voters of Medicaid abortions and sanctuary cities. McCann can hopefully get some bucks to run those ads. It should help also to show the video clip of Rauner recently running away when asked about Trump.
- Nick Name - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
===The Bloomington Republican said he is seeing renewed enthusiasm among GOP voters, particularly among core social conservatives…===
All twelve of them?
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
Run away from the President who’s polling better than the Governor. Great idea.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
Ha…and another Ha.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:09 pm:
Separating Republicans from their Republican President is like separating Jesus from Christianity?…I’m enthusiastic about Christianity…but don’t pay attention to the guy with The Halo??…Say Wha?…Say again??
- Texas Red - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:22 pm:
Many conservative voters I know plan to skip the gov race and focus on state rep/senate. Once Rauner signed HB40 there was no where for them to go. Let the Dems take control amidst the horrible financial climate. Look to 2022 to fight another day.
- a drop in - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
In tonight’s episode of “The Whistler”, Jim Brady is walking past a graveyard at night.
- a drop in - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:51 pm:
Oops! Bill Brady not Jim Brady. Too bad I can’t edit the post.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:26 pm:
–Many conservative voters I know plan to skip the gov race and focus on state rep/senate.–
LOL, and what’s your focus, Mr. Magoo? Be specific.
– Once Rauner signed HB40 there was no where for them to go. Let the Dems take control amidst the horrible financial climate. Look to 2022 to fight another day.–
What’s a “horrible financial climate?” Those are words, what do they mean?
You’re a lazier bot than LP. No game.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:39 pm:
Once Rauner signed HB40 there was no where for them to go.
Except to vote for Mike Madigan’s hand picked candidate JB Pritzker or his subterfuge special Sam Mc Cann?
Talk about no game