* Meanwhile, the Democratic Attorneys General Association reported yesterday that it had received $1 million from JB Pritzker’s campaign, so expect something there as well.
* Related…
* Last go for AG candidates: The two major party candidates to replace Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan will have their only televised forum on Monday. Democratic state Sen. Kwame Raoul and Republican attorney Erika Harold will meet on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” for a forum that airs at 7 p.m. The meeting also will stream on the station’s Facebook page and at wttw.com/news. The segment will be taped a few hours in advance.
* Mark Brown: Raoul, Harold, Harsy make closing arguments in battle to be state’s top lawyer: Appearing recently before an African-American audience recently on the West Side, Harold was asked if black people can trust her. “I know that as a black woman running for office as a Republican the first thing that people look to see is: Are you crazy? The second thing people look to see is: Are you a sellout?” Harold said. “I can tell you that you can absolutely trust me because one thing I can tell you is I am very proud to be a black woman.”
* Tribune Editorial: The case for Erika Harold: Don’t be ‘undecided’ on Illinois corruption
This is a great ad in Chicago. It likely won’t matter, because I think he has a comfortable lead, but he is running these same ads in Southern Illinois. Every time I see it on television I wonder what he is thinking. Everytime this airs south of Springfield it helps Harold’s chances.
Raoul’s campaign as been underwhelming. Those “you won’t believe what Erika Harold believes” ads were more effective than his “just getting started” spots.
Agree that Raoul’s campaign can generously be described as “Workman-like”. As to Southern Illinois seeing these ads, I think his strategy is “I want to make sure that everyone that votes for Londrigan, for example, votes for me.” Which maybe he can get by emphasizing “standard issue Democrat”.
For those who haven’t seen it, the video he posted on his Twitter today is terrific. He could and should run that everywhere.
Sorry to rant on this, but the Trib editorial got me going. The attorney general as a “corruption fighter” in Illinois is a tired and phony political trope. Read the Illinois Constitution. Read the applicable state laws. The Attorney General’s office is a civil action bureau. It can only act as a prosecutor when a local state’s attorney has a conflict (like if one of it’s lawyers gets charged with a DUI,) or if it is specifically authorized to empanel a special grand jury by the state supreme court — and that is only possible for a certain list of crimes, which does not include public corruption. The secretary of state’s office, which has it’s own police force, might be better positioned to investigate corruption than the AG.
One expects politicians to perpetuate this nonsense (and most candidates for AG from both parties have, including Lisa Madigan,) but you’d like to think an editorial board would be above such ignorance and demagoguery. Of course, the Trib is no ordinary editorial board.
Part two: candidates often run ads, in my view, with the secondary but real goal of messing with their opponent’s head. Harold clearly admires Obama, from what she said at City Club and elsewhere, and it must get her goat when she’s reminded that Obama endorsed Raoul. Ditto all the newspaper endorsements.
It seems he thinks his best qualification is being picked to fill Obama’s old seat. I’m sick of hearing it, a longtime ago I thought if that’s something he is really hoping voters will latch on then I’m voting for Harold.
ok, we get it. you were appointed to fill Obama’s seat and he’s endorsed you. get some new material to convince us that you will be better than the Republican candidate. the work of your life is not being endorsed, or appointed or losing your father. the work of your life should be fighting corruption, being a check on bad financial institutions, protecting our environment, making sure people have the right to vote… you know, actual work.
Let’s see, Patrick Fitzgerald whose Office was actually equipped to uncover corruption never had grounds for indicting Madigan, but Harold who has neither the resources or experience of Fitzgerald will get the guy.?
If that’s her only argument, she doesn’t have one.
He doesn’t have a comfortable lead. This is a tight race. These ads are fine, but not particularly interesting. And “this is the work of my life” is a slogan all about him, not about the voters. The election is about the voters.
- Saluki - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:22 pm:
This is a great ad in Chicago. It likely won’t matter, because I think he has a comfortable lead, but he is running these same ads in Southern Illinois. Every time I see it on television I wonder what he is thinking. Everytime this airs south of Springfield it helps Harold’s chances.
- Arsenal - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:25 pm:
I feel like Raoul filmed 4 shots and has just been cycling through them over and over in his ads.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:29 pm:
Raoul’s campaign as been underwhelming. Those “you won’t believe what Erika Harold believes” ads were more effective than his “just getting started” spots.
When was the last public poll in this race?
- DarkHorse - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:35 pm:
Agree that Raoul’s campaign can generously be described as “Workman-like”. As to Southern Illinois seeing these ads, I think his strategy is “I want to make sure that everyone that votes for Londrigan, for example, votes for me.” Which maybe he can get by emphasizing “standard issue Democrat”.
For those who haven’t seen it, the video he posted on his Twitter today is terrific. He could and should run that everywhere.
- Roman - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
Sorry to rant on this, but the Trib editorial got me going. The attorney general as a “corruption fighter” in Illinois is a tired and phony political trope. Read the Illinois Constitution. Read the applicable state laws. The Attorney General’s office is a civil action bureau. It can only act as a prosecutor when a local state’s attorney has a conflict (like if one of it’s lawyers gets charged with a DUI,) or if it is specifically authorized to empanel a special grand jury by the state supreme court — and that is only possible for a certain list of crimes, which does not include public corruption. The secretary of state’s office, which has it’s own police force, might be better positioned to investigate corruption than the AG.
One expects politicians to perpetuate this nonsense (and most candidates for AG from both parties have, including Lisa Madigan,) but you’d like to think an editorial board would be above such ignorance and demagoguery. Of course, the Trib is no ordinary editorial board.
- DarkHorse - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:40 pm:
Part two: candidates often run ads, in my view, with the secondary but real goal of messing with their opponent’s head. Harold clearly admires Obama, from what she said at City Club and elsewhere, and it must get her goat when she’s reminded that Obama endorsed Raoul. Ditto all the newspaper endorsements.
- Buford - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
Does Kwame just have one picture of him with Obama? I feel like it is always that same one.
- Annonin' - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:59 pm:
Katrina’s list of missed prosecutions peetty flimsy…GovJunk wants to go law firms too. Seems like GOPie AG trade in her crediblity for GovJunk $$$
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
It seems he thinks his best qualification is being picked to fill Obama’s old seat. I’m sick of hearing it, a longtime ago I thought if that’s something he is really hoping voters will latch on then I’m voting for Harold.
- BigLou - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 2:08 pm:
I get it, the work of his life is letting everyone know he was annointed to fill Obama’s seat. For that I’m voting for Harold.
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
ok, we get it. you were appointed to fill Obama’s seat and he’s endorsed you. get some new material to convince us that you will be better than the Republican candidate. the work of your life is not being endorsed, or appointed or losing your father. the work of your life should be fighting corruption, being a check on bad financial institutions, protecting our environment, making sure people have the right to vote… you know, actual work.
- Truthteller - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
Let’s see, Patrick Fitzgerald whose Office was actually equipped to uncover corruption never had grounds for indicting Madigan, but Harold who has neither the resources or experience of Fitzgerald will get the guy.?
If that’s her only argument, she doesn’t have one.
- The Professor - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
The Raoul ads are nice for the Chicagoland DMA, but he shouldn’t be running those downstate.
- Yup! - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
Solid ads, but the language makes me think he is running for U.S. Senate.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 3:13 pm:
These are both very good ads, but it’s late. Hope they can break through the clutter and be seen by enough undecideds (who haven’t already voted).
The message and production are top notch in both of these though. Well done.
- Anonny - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
I would LOVE to see Kwame get through a sentence without mentioning Barack Obama, just once. It’s embarrassing.
I’m as democratic as they come, and left that box blank on my ballot. I can’t bring myself to vote for this guy.
- Board Watcher - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
-SALUKI- Not so sure about that comfortable lead your talking about. Do you mind sharing the poll
- Anon0091 - Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 4:19 pm:
He doesn’t have a comfortable lead. This is a tight race. These ads are fine, but not particularly interesting. And “this is the work of my life” is a slogan all about him, not about the voters. The election is about the voters.
- Southfarmllama - Tuesday, Oct 30, 18 @ 9:24 am:
I don’t think the lead is as big as you think. I think it will be close, but he will win in the end thanks to Cook Co.