Rabine picks up Charlie Kirk endorsement
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yes, it’s a very slow news day today so far. Press release…
Radio talk show host and Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk is endorsing Gary Rabine for Governor and is urging Illinois Republicans to rally around the candidate he says has the best chance of beating JB Pritzker in 2022.
“Gary Rabine has been there from the very beginning in helping me to build Turning Point into what it is today,” Kirk said. “He is a business builder and a true conservative who will stand up for the values we embrace. He is a true outsider who will help Illinois comeback from decades of poor policies that have put a once great state into decline. I care about Illinois, and I want to see my home state thrive. I am tired of seeing people leave Illinois for other states. I am supporting Gary Rabine for Governor because he is the best candidate and the one I know can beat JB Pritzker and as importantly, turn our state around. Gary is a dear friend who has always been there to help me, and I believe firmly in backing my friends. Gary will be a terrific Governor and has my total endorsement.”
…Adding… Kelli Duncan in February…
Rabine said he was an early supporter of Turning Point – a right-wing political advocacy group geared towards young people – and did fundraising work for the organization in 2013 and 2014. He currently serves as an advisory council member.
Turning Point’s mission is to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote freedom,” according to their website, but the organization has been embroiled in various controversies and its leader came under fire last spring for his invention of the term “china virus.”
“What I saw this as was an opportunity to educate on free enterprise and why it’s important to the future of our country,” Rabine said of his decision to support the organization. “I’m not represented by Charlie Kirk or anybody that represents Turning Point USA. The things they say, I’m not in control of and I don’t know how they’re looked upon at all when it comes to left, right, center or whatever.”
- John Lopez - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:11 am:
Glad Charlie Kirk mentioned the history with Gary Rabine and Turning Point.
This is no surprise, and shows a millennial leader like Kirk will back a baby boomer like Rabine over a fellow millennial like Jesse Sullivan.
As Rich said…slow news day.
- Annie - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:15 am:
What about the Crain’s item that the Sun Times and WBEZ may merge?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:16 am:
===the Sun Times and WBEZ may merge? ===
Under review
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:18 am:
== I am tired of seeing people leave Illinois for other states. ==
Maybe he should just take a nap if he’s so tired.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:21 am:
Lol, good luck running as a right winger in Illinois. Will need plenty of popcorn.
“He is a true outsider who will help Illinois comeback from decades of poor policies that have put a once great state into decline”
Same old tripe always served up. Let’s see the policies that will win in Illinois.
- MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:24 am:
“Maybe he should just take a nap if he’s so tired.”
Literal lol.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:26 am:
All Rabine needs is Trump’s nod… then the implosion on the launch pad will be complete.
I mean, Kirk is exactly what a candidate doesn’t need come General Election time, a gift to Pritzker, lol
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:30 am:
“I am tired of seeing people leave Illinois for other states.”
Anybody tired of people leaving Illinois should vote Democratic. Certain blue parts of the state gained population, Chicago and Cook County in particular (the heart of DPI).
- Al - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:31 am:
Translation; Rabine has signed the Repeal Estate Tax pledge. That is little Charlie’s religion.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:35 am:
The same Charlie Kirk that paid for buses and hotel rooms on January 6th? That’ll help Rabine for sure. /S
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:44 am:
The racist thinking is on brand for Trumpkins.
Thing is… what seemingly is a “good” move for a primary, in typical Oberweis fashion, it’s not what wins general elections.
Isn’t the goal of the exercise to win in November?
- SWIL_Voter - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:52 am:
Perfect timing. One of TPUSA’s Illinois organizers and SIUE grad was just arrested for child porn. Great group
- AVoter - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:56 am:
What does this mean for Rodney Davis? Is he the automatic front runner assuming he jumps into the nomination…
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 10:58 am:
Back in reality, ask the Hispanic caucus how on earth they could pick up 300,000 in population and have the Democrats draw racist map to disenfranchise them?
On brand for hypocritical Democrats who cavalierly call their political opponents racists.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 11:05 am:
==true conservative who will stand up for the values we embrace==
Which is why he has no chance of winning. Those “values” aren’t shared by the majority of the electorate. But, as per usual in Illinois, some Republicans are willing to not win an election so they can get their purity candidate on the ballot.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 11:14 am:
The margin of victory that Pritzker had over Rauner and Biden showed over Trump provides the delta that the IGOP has to overcome. That looks to be about +/- 15 points. I can’t see how you do that by tacking further to the right.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 11:33 am:
LP
What does that have to do with anything here? Answer: it doesn’t. It’s just more nonsense from our Chief Nonsense Officer.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 11:53 am:
-What does this mean for Rodney Davis? Is he the automatic front runner assuming he jumps into the nomination…-
Not necessarily. He probably has the most name recognition but even his isn’t great statewide. In terms of his positions, he may not be considered MAGA enough for the primary voters. Then there’s cash. Rabine brings his own, and Sullivan has already anted up $11 million.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
=fascist map=
We all know you don’t believe that or even care.
The ONLY party disenfranchising people right now is the GOP. The map does not reduce representation or their right/ability to vote.
Illinois has proven that the ethnicity, religion, or race of a candidate is not a hinderance to being elected unless you look down south. A candidate that is not racially homogenous to a district can also represent the district equally as good or bad as someone that is of the majority race in the district.
Truly an obtuse post LP.
- Hard D - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
You need to win a primary before you worry about defeating JB. If memory serves me right in a crowded primary the winning margin will come from Suburban Cook County. I mention this because Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is telling people that he will have a gigantic say in who the Cook GOP endorses. He’s been traveling all around Cook County speaking to school boards about Mask Mandates. Just a little FYI people and how scary is that?
- CubsFan16 - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:00 pm:
Would die to see Darren Bailey and Gary Rabine in a room fighting over Trump’s endorsement.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:11 pm:
This is a huge get for the adults wearing diapers crowd.
- John Lopez - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:11 pm:
=== Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is telling people that he will have a gigantic say in who the Cook GOP endorses. ===
Keith who? Cook GOP who?
This isn’t the 20th Century any more, and you have to go back to the early 1990s when the Cook County GOP, or any of its fabled Township organizations (ROOST, THOR) had any influence in a primary or general election.
The Big 4 GOP gov candidates (Sully, Rabine, Bailey, and Davis) will fight for the nomination with high dollar TV ads and paid precinct walkers.
Unless Schimpf has huge fundraising quarter, IMHO he’ll run for something else, or be someone else’s lt gov running mate.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:14 pm:
Rodney Davis has very limited name recognition in the Chicago area, and lacks money to compete with the wealthy candidates.
Who exactly is wanting him to be governor?
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:21 pm:
==Rodney Davis has very limited name recognition in the Chicago area, and lacks money to compete with the wealthy candidates. ==
OTOH, he’s probably best positioned to get ‘dat Griffin money.
Plus, I’m not so sure there’s all that many wealthy candidates to worry about. Rabine isn’t posting big numbers, and we’ll have to see if Sullivan has a second round.
That being said, I don’t want to overstate Davis’ chances. He has a problem in that he is by no means moderate, but also not really a dyed-in-the-wool Trumper. That could lead to him scrambling to cobble together a constituency. But in a crowded field, maybe that’s enough.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:33 pm:
-Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is telling people that he will have a gigantic say in who the Cook GOP endorses.-
The same blowhard who just squeaked out re-election with 52%. OK.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 1:48 pm:
I wish all these “true outsiders” would run for office outside Illinois.
- ThereisNoILGOP - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 2:22 pm:
Did Rabine just purchase guns Recently to say he is a Gun Owner? When asked will Rabine sign Prolife Legislation if it comes to his desk, His Staff said “Don’t you see the need to be Ambiguous? Of course he ties himself to Trump, but what was Trump EVER AMBIGUOUS about? Rabine staff are all Mark Kirks former staff, thus, Ambiguous is The Word.
- ThereisNoILGOP - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 2:30 pm:
Rabine was an ardent supporter of Bruce Rauner, Thus Illinois is a Sanctuary state and an Abortion Haven for anyone who lives here and a go to for abortion for woman from all the surrounding states. Illinois taxpayers get to pay for EVERYONES ABORTIONS, thanks Bruce and Gary Rabine.
- Lake Villa Township - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 3:04 pm:
Charlie Kirk also just endorsed jd vance in Ohio, interesting.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 4:58 pm:
Meh. Don’t care. Won’t vote for him. Will toss his campaign literature in the recycling.
- Farm boy - Wednesday, Sep 29, 21 @ 5:15 pm:
It looks to name like the fix was in for this endorsement. Heck, we don’t even know if more candidates will enter the race,