Rauner exceeds patch limit at MAGA rally
Sunday, Oct 28, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
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* Um…
* Tribune…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner showed up at the rally despite years of actively distancing himself from the controversial president — at least until recently when the governor sought to try to unify core social conservatives angry with his signature on laws expanding abortion, immigration and transgender rights.
Trump made no mention of Rauner, who sat off to the side in bleachers far behind the main podium. Wearing a motorcycle vest and a baseball cap affirming the pro-police message “Back the Blue,” Rauner did not address the audience.
While Rauner was Downstate, Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker was campaigning in the west and northwest suburbs while adding $10 million to his own already record-shattering self-funding mark, bringing it to more than $171.5 million since he launched his campaign fund in March of last year.
* Lynn Sweet…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who must reclaim the GOP base to win re-election, showed up in the audience at President Donald Trump’s southern Illinois rally on Saturday, though Trump never mentioned the governor in his remarks nor invited him to the stage.
If it was a deliberate snub, it was was a remarkable rebuff — a Republican president ignoring a GOP governor who is struggling to win a second term against Democrat J.B. Pritzker. Or Rauner’s team may have said it’s OK to ignore him as he continues to try to have it both ways when it comes to Trump. […]
I heard that Rauner’s team was trying to arrange a last-minute private meeting with Trump, a move calculated to try to appease the GOP base he has alienated so much that he barely won re-nomination in the March Illinois GOP primary.
I’m not sure that private meeting ever took place.
Still trying to win the March primary in October.
* Sun-Times…
It wasn’t clear if Rauner had any interaction with Trump during the visit. A spokeswoman for the governor’s office referred questions to campaign representatives who did not return messages seeking comment.
* React…
Several goofy tweeters accused the Tribune of photoshopping Rauner into the pic because, well, it just looked so bizarre.
Also, the governor didn’t post anything on his own Twitter page about the event.
