Dillard hoping for Griffin coronation
Wednesday, Aug 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Politico in April…
Republican Kirk Dillard has been approached “by prominent business and Republican leaders” to run for governor, but he told Playbook he’s not interested.
* MAA in May…
I followed up with Dillard at the time…
Was in town but met with no Edgar people. Haven’t discussed with Gov. Edgar himself either. Rumors in Springfield never cease to amaze me.
* Greg Hinz today…
GOP moderates are wooing a well-known public official to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker for re-election, and he’s considering the offer.
In a phone interview, Kirk Dillard, who has held a variety of top jobs in state government and now serves as chair of the Regional Transportation Authority, confirmed that he’s been approached and is pondering his next move. […]
Asked to elaborate on “until I see how it shakes out,” Dillard said he was referring in part to whether big GOP funders would come to his aid, especially Chicago hedge fund mogul Ken Griffin.
Dillard and Griffin have not spoken, although there’s been some communication via associates.
I’m not yet seeing it, but a person’s entitled to dream, I suppose.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:26 pm:
He had his shot to stand up to the radical wing of his party and stayed on the political sidelines for the last few years. If he thinks he’ll be able to overtake them now…good luck.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:32 pm:
I could see Dillard running if he could clear the field and skip the primary. But he can’t so I’m doubtful. I’m guessing that he’s more concerned about his reputation than to allow himself to be dragged into the mud by Bailey and Rabine.
- levivotedforjudy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
With Griffin’s backing, Dillard could win the primary with the MAGA crowd canceling themselves. But, would they sit on the sidelines in the General? It’s not worth it for Dillard. Now Kinzinger, that’s another story. It could help him in the long run.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:38 pm:
Dillard was the last Republican I voted for. And at this rate, he may have been the last ever.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:45 pm:
I’ll take washed up has-beens for $200, Alex….
- Proud Papa Bear - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:50 pm:
Oh Dillard…the last Illinois Republican I voted for.
Those were the days.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:54 pm:
I think he was meeting with Sancho Panza, talking about attacking giant windmills or some other impossible dream.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:55 pm:
Dillard is an excellent choice if you want to lose by 5-8% rather than the 15-20% shellacking the other fellows would endure.
- Ok - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:56 pm:
Doesn’t want to give up the sweet RTA gig just yet, and definitely not if he has to build a campaign from scratch. That’s a lot of work.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:57 pm:
=== GOP moderates … ===
1. Do they exist anymore?
2. Last time, Kirk did his best hard right imitation to try and win the nomination.
3. Can a moderate even get into the line of ring kissers queuing up at Mar-a-Lago? (Remember soulless “P” Bush)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:02 pm:
This has my curiosity.
It doesn’t have my attention.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:04 pm:
He would be better than the current crop of folks so he has that going for him.
- Good Gravy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:16 pm:
Edgar? C’mon, man. Stop it already. Dillard would be a good candidate, but wake me when it’s more than just media inquiry footsie.
- park - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
Dillard lost to Brady by a few hundred votes because Jim Ryan made a late entry into the primary, draining away enough Du Page votes. He would have beaten Quinn IMO. Then he was ridiculously outspent by Rauner, with too many R’s drinking the Kool-Aid. As weak as the Party is in Illinois now, why would he want to??
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
Ken Griffin didn’t become a gazillionaire by making bad investments.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
If it is the Kirk Dillard that ran against Rauner- I would vote for that guy.
Not sure he can be that guy and have success anymore in the GQP.
But I did like DIllard,, as others have said- he was the last republican I voted for.
- Frank talks - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
Obama commercial 2008 never make it through primary.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
GOP “moderates”, understand one thing.
Your Dillard days are over. Raunerites, Trumpkins, whatever some want to labeling them, are. your. party. now.
Clinging to some never was from the past only proves your irrelevance.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:29 pm:
Although I am a Democrat, it would be good for the state if Republicans could have a decent candidate to head up their ticket.
Waiting for Ken Griffin to pick you as the Republican candidate is just not a good strategy. If you don’t believe in yourself and your plans enough to run for public office regardless of being supported by one person then you should not run.
It seems in the past Ken Griffin is primarily interested in improving educational programs in the State. If you have a record or ideas that indicate you want to get our schools going in a better direction that would put our children on a firm basis to compete domestically as well as on the international stage then I think lot’s of folks would jump on your bandwagon.
- Crash - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:30 pm:
The claim that the ILGOP would suddenly return to the small government/pro-business platform is just not credible.
The Trump fans have taken over for now. Maybe in four years the moderates are going to be back.
There was a comment about Kinzinger above. I don’t see how he ever makes it out of a GOP primary and he’s pretty conservative other than when it comes to Trump. An alleged moderate is just not going to do it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:49 pm:
Illinois a better state with a functioning two party state that can compromise and build on consensus.
When Rutherford sank Dillard by the Friday Fiasco and refusing to drop out to help Dillard beat Rauner… that was the true beginning of the end to where the party is now.
It can be taken back, I can see a path, but Tracy and his own Trumpkin ways and embracing racists, insurrectionists, and conspiracy theorists isn’t that way.
- Fav Human - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:50 pm:
Obama commercial 2008 never make it through primary.
You beat me to the punch.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:52 pm:
===Obama commercial 2008 never make it through primary.===
Depends.
Depends on how many Trumpkin, cultists are running to divide the “base”
Like a Kinzinger thought … get enough of the crazy to dilute itself, 35-38% wins a primary.
- Mike A. - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
No way he can get out of that radical primary.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:59 pm:
===No way he can get out of that radical primary.===
Until petitions are filed, we have no way of knowing who exactly will be in any primary.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:06 pm:
47th - I think the relevant lyric is “to fight the unbeatable foe,” followed immediately by “to bear the unbearable sorrow”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:08 pm:
If Griffin wanted a good return on investment…
$40 mil or so, 2 candidate, SoS, Treasurer…
Get two statewides, the SoS patronage, the treasurer’s office to budgets and economic platforning…
But… I’m not Griffin.
- Cosgrove - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:18 pm:
Dillard is some moderate: would criminalize abortion, opposes civil unions and equal marriage. Can’t see suburban voters swooning over that record.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:22 pm:
Doesn’t support my views, but Kirk Dillard is a nice guy.
- Flexible One - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:43 pm:
Dillard is a good man has had proven his competence throughout his career. He listens, has the necessary empathy to connect with most folks and knows what it takes to be a great Governor.
If the money arrives he will be a formidable candidate
- SaulGoodman - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
**$40 mil or so, 2 candidate, SoS, Treasurer…**
Griffin doesn’t care about those offices. Griffin cares about his bank account(s).
He doesn’t care about patronage jobs. He doesn’t care about how the state invests its money.
He wants the Governor’s Office.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:50 pm:
=== He doesn’t care about patronage jobs. He doesn’t care about how the state invests its money.
He wants the Governor’s Office.===
Money folks are a funny lot.
Long term investing in a party that doesn’t exist to wait out a billionaire means winning two winnable offices that can build an organization ready to take that Governor’s office in 6 years.
Griffin stopped the Fair Tax… now just wait out Pritzker.
In the meantime…
- low level - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 4:52 pm:
As Cosgrove alluded to, at one time Kirk Dillard was popular in the suburbs. And he still may be personally. Politically however, it’s Democratic territory now. If Kirk wins the primary, that’s nice, but JB defeats him while taking the suburbs.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 7:29 pm:
I have no doubt our state would be much better if Dillard had won that primary against Bill Brady, but I get this sense his time has passed.
However, I don’t see any of the current jokers running to stand a chance. They’re all fighting with themselves to be a Trumpy as possible.
- The Old Man - Thursday, Aug 5, 21 @ 8:23 am:
We need Rodney Davis.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 5, 21 @ 8:26 am:
===We need Rodney Davis.===
Rodney Davis, twice, voted not to impeach… twice.
We don’t need Rodney Davis.