Another self-own
Friday, Mar 22, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* So, the Preckwinkle campaign itself ginned up the possibility of an Obama endorsement without knowing for sure it was going to happen? Oh, man, that’s silly…
After pulling one rabbit out of the hat — from Chance the Rapper — Toni Preckwinkle was trying desperately to secure two more endorsements that could have been game-changers: Barack and Michelle Obama.
But the former president and first lady decided to remain on the sidelines and avoid alienating a mayor whose support they need to deliver the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.
Thursday’s announcement by Obama’s office is another blow to Preckwinkle, who yanked her television commercials off the air for at least part of the crucial home stretch. […]
On Thursday, before the Obamas declared their intention to stay out of it, a Preckwinkle strategist was asked whether he considered the Chance the Rapper endorsement to be a game-changer.
“No. But the next two will be.” Asked if he was referring to the Obamas, the strategist said: “I hope so.”
* The “nope” from the former president was just one story counteracting the Chance the Rapper endorsement…
For her part, Preckwinkle used Chance’s endorsement to deflect questions about her campaign’s viability as it has stopped airing television ads during the final two weeks before the April 2 runoff election.
Moderator Phil Ponce opened the debate by asking Preckwinkle about her lack of presence on the airwaves.
“This has been a really good day,” Preckwinkle said, immediately changing the subject. “I’m grateful for the support that I received from Chance this morning.”
Preckwinkle ducked the question when Ponce asked it once more, noting she’s received endorsements from West Side aldermen, including Walter Burnett and Jason Ervin. Asked about it a third time, she said, “TV ads aren’t all there are to campaigns. We’re working hard to meet voters at their doors and in their homes” to talk about important issues.
When Phil decides to press a topic, Phil does not easily give up.
…Adding… I didn’t realize that Preckwinkle wasn’t even at the Chance presser. How does that even happen?…
* Meanwhile…
The campaign has spent less than $100 on that FB ad.
* Related…
* Meet Chicago’s next mayor: In-depth profiles of Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle
* Lightfoot, Preckwinkle Clash on Campaign Cash: The back-and-forth was the latest in a series of contentious public appearances between the two runoff candidates, though the tone Thursday was more civil. Both candidates agreed on many policy points, including a push to create a civilian police oversight agency that would have the power to hire and fire the police superintendent. Both said they support a version of the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) ordinance that would create such a commission.
* Lightfoot to Preckwinkle: Put donors’ money where your mouth is: “President Preckwinkle, I’m really surprised you keep going down this path,” Lightfoot said on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” program, noting that Preckwinkle’s campaign has accepted $19,000 in donations from Lightfoot’s law partners, as well as $1,000 from Lightfoot herself. “If you’re so offended by that, give the money back. Give it back. I’ll give you the address,” said Lightfoot, then gave an address as the two candidates started shouting over each other. “Give the money back.”
* How mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle have ducked details on Chicago’s financial woes: As a result, when Preckwinkle and Lightfoot are asked about what they’d do to tackle the city’s financial challenges, they mostly speak in generalities.
- sewer thoughts - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 8:42 am:
Rampant speculation on my part, but did the Preckwinkle camp make an Obama closer ad…with no alternative, hence the going quiet?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 8:51 am:
I wonder if Preckwinkle’s criticism that Obama didn’t do enough to support Chicago as President had anything to do with the non-endorsement.
- Southfarmllama - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 8:54 am:
The Obamas are not fools like Chance. They will only back a winner. Toni ain’t that.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 8:56 am:
How does the old saying go…
Don’t make no waves, don’t back no losers.
- Montrose - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 8:57 am:
“Rampant speculation on my part”
That is correct.
As others have said before, Lori was the worst match-up Toni could have had. Everything she is trying to throw at Lightfoot isn’t sticking. Folks are seeing the inevitable and lining up behind who they know will be the next mayor. The silence from the Obamas is part of that calculation.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 8:57 am:
Southfarmllama, I agree. Prekwinkle is the worst of Chicago politics in a single package.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:08 am:
It has to be eating Toni up inside having gotten so close to being mayor only to see another African American women snatch it away, as well as the history making accolades, praise she will receive for her accomplishment.
It has to be the most bitter pill to swallow.
This heaping dose of humble pie being served up by the resident’s of Chicago was much needed though, and Toni is only reaping what she sowed.
- Fuel For the Fire - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:10 am:
If the highlight of your campaign is an endorsement from a popular rap artist, you’re in trouble.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:15 am:
Does anyone from the Preckwinkle campaign understand how to talk to the media?
- SaulGoodman - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:15 am:
**Rampant speculation on my part, but did the Preckwinkle camp make an Obama closer ad…with no alternative, hence the going quiet?((
No. That’s not how it works.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:23 am:
===It has to be the most bitter pill to swallow===
If she challenged Rahm four years ago, she’d already be mayor.
- Here we go again - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:31 am:
Agree with the post above. To think that just four years ago, she had a strong chance of being Chicago’s mayor. Though I was strongly on the Toni camp just a few years ago, these past four years have shown us how “power” can truly corrupt an individual. I’m not sure if there is an alternative to climbing the ranks of a machine and not be engulfed by it.
Let this be a lesson for the young elected ‘progressive’ electeds, like Ramirez-Rosa.
- NIU Grad - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:33 am:
-If she challenged Rahm four years ago, she’d already be mayor.-
Exactly. I am getting so annoyed at progressive activists claiming that Lightfoot is some kind of Rahm loyalist when she has been actively standing up to him for years. When the history of all this is written, I think the top takeaway is that Toni has been “playing it safe” for years and it has not worked out.
- Wensicia - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:38 am:
Preckwinkle think’s her current position entitles her to the office of Chicago’s mayor over any other opponent, especially Lightfoot, No other consideration necessary.
- Wensicia - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:40 am:
Sorry, thinks.
- Independent - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:41 am:
I’m almost certain she would have taken Rahm down in ‘15, and maybe even in ‘11. I even think she would have had a real chance of beating Daley in ‘07 as people were tiring of him. Sometimes you have to take a leap. Preckwinkle with her extreme pragmatism waited too long.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:41 am:
There is no good reason for the Obamas to jump into this. I’m sure they can see which way the tide is going, and they are very popular with supporters on both sides. Wishful thinking by Toni’s camp.
- lakeside - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:42 am:
==If she challenged Rahm four years ago, she’d already be mayor.==
Yep.
Man, that opener last night was painful to watch.
- Roman - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:44 am:
Am I the only one who senses the Chicago media is taking some pleasure in reporting Preckwinkle’s political misfortune? Likely fallout from her lies to them about her chief of security’s auto accident and her chief of staff’s sexual harrassment issues.
- sewer thoughts - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:53 am:
@Saul - to be fair, outside of the CTU & SEIU endorsements, is ANY of this Preckwinkle campaign “how this works?”
- Glass half full - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 9:59 am:
What bizarre times we’re living in…to think 2 Dem Party chairs could lose an election to 2 virtual unknowns ((at the time) is mindbending….there’s no truer statement that the machine is gone than this
- A guy - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:01 am:
The political sand shifts swiftly under the feet of the Obamas. Always has.
- NIU Grad - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:15 am:
“Am I the only one who senses the Chicago media is taking some pleasure in reporting Preckwinkle’s political misfortune?”
Can you blame them? She went into the first election barely engaging with them because she thought she had nothing to lose. It’s an example of her entire career path: burn every bridge possible to get to a position of power, then act surprised when no one wants to stand with her.
I used to be worried that a Mayor Lightfoot would find it impossible to get things done because of Preckwinkle operating a political revenge campaign inside and outside of city government. After seeing this campaign, I’m thinking she’ll be too politically irrelevant to pull that off…
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:15 am:
===Likely fallout from her lies to them about her chief of security’s auto accident and her chief of staff’s sexual harrassment issues===
Among other things.
- wordslinger - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:28 am:
–The political sand shifts swiftly under the feet of the Obamas. Always has.–
So, the sand shifts underneath their feet (always has), so… what? They fall down a lot or something?
I bet you thought your metaphor was wise-sounding insight into something other than your personal antipathy.
As for Team Toni, there was no upside to hinting at an Obamas’ endorsement unless it was banked. It just guaranteed another negative news cycle when it didn’t happen.
- Anon E Moose - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:40 am:
Notice that Obama endorsed Rahm (who was his chief of staff at the White House) back in the day, but did not endorse Bill Daley (also his chief of staff at the White House) at all.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:41 am:
===I used to be worried that a Mayor Lightfoot would find it impossible to get things done because of Preckwinkle operating a political revenge campaign inside and outside of city government.===
Yeah, I was predicting some sort of Council Wars under a Mayor Lightfoot. Now I’m not so sure - maybe they’ll remain sheep.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 10:42 am:
===also his chief of staff at the White House===
Because Daley was run out of town.
- Head Scratchers - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 11:53 am:
Lots of head scratchers that will make things difficult for some folks.
“Progressive” Will Guzzardi going all in with Toni. His district has wards swinging HARD away from machinists like TP and Mell, why would he do that?
Bridget Gainer standing with TP. Why do that when her home ward went so hard against TP in round 1?
Chicago dodged a bullet that would have been a TP administration *at this point in time*.
I agree that she would’ve beaten Rahm in ‘15 and maybe ‘11. Daley in ‘07? Not a chance.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
Guzzardi is a DSA type like Ramirez Rosa, so it makes sense that wants Taxin’ Toni.
- Albany Park Patriot - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
Maybe she’s a good person, but Preckwinkle has run one of the most terrible campaigns Chicago has seen in generations. I mean it makes Blair Hull look like Bobby Kennedy.
- Practical Politics - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:02 pm:
I was not surprised by this development. The relationship between Preckwinkle and Obama has been cool at best for a long time. Alderman Preckwinkle (4th Ward) knew Obama in the early days of his political career and was one of the few who did not carry on as if he walked on water. She was one of the few who voiced doubts and occasional mild criticisms while other pols were fawning over Obama.
- Practical Politics - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:21 pm:
@Rich Miller:
The same rumors swirled about Rahm being ushered to the WH door and wearing the jacket for the Congress going Republican in the Midterms. Richard M. Daley’s retirement (due in part to Chicago being embarrassed in its bid to host the Olympics) provided Emanuel with a parachute and he orchestrated his exit as being motivated by a desire to become Chicago’s next mayor.
- Boone's is Back - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:02 pm:
Best. Campaign. Ever.
- Shytown - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
The Team Toni campaign will be referred to in future poli sci classes as a case study in how to lose elections.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 4:08 pm:
==If the highlight of your campaign is an endorsement from a popular rap artist, you’re in trouble.==
A popular rap artist [whose father, Ken Bennett, happens to be your campaign chair].