* Gov. Pritzker was asked at an unrelated press conference today about the recent New York Times story claiming he’d talked privately about running for president…
I have never spoken privately with anybody or publicly about that. I, first of all, and second, I love my job as governor of Illinois. And I intend to keep doing it on behalf of the working families of Illinois, making sure that we’re lifting up our children making sure they get the education that they deserve, that families get the health care that they need, and that we’re growing our economy and of course, working our way out of this pandemic. So I’m going to continue doing the job.
* Reporters persisted, peppering him with more questions…
I have no intention of running for anything except reelection as governor. […]
Of course, people have mentioned this to me on occasion, but I’ve never had a conversation with anybody about it. […]
I am focused on this job. I love this job. I really love the job of being governor and I’m going to continue doing it as long as I can. […]
I think I’ve been pretty clear about this. I want to be governor of Illinois. I want to continue to be governor of Illinois. I’m doing the job that I love.
And that’s just some of the responses.
* My “favorite” question was whether he’d consider running for president if he lost reelection next year. I did not make that up. His response was that he’d have more time to spend with his family.
…Adding… ILGOP…
“Governor Pritzker and his team should focus more on fixing the problems that ail our struggling state instead of dreaming of the White House. JB has surrounded himself with a bunch of depressed Clinton 2016 alums who still believe the right to lead the country is theirs. Now they’ve found a billionaire benefactor to make another go of it and Pritzker, it seems, is happy to indulge in the fantasy.
Newsflash to team Pritzker, our economy lags behind all our neighbors, violent crime is destroying communities, rampant inflation is busting the budgets of already overtaxed Illinoisans, and public corruption still defines our political system. Get to work, Governor, and stop dreaming.” - ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:09 am:
Never is a very strong statement, but I don’t think we should be held accountable to the aspirations we had as 5 year olds.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:14 am:
“His response …”
… is password protected.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:15 am:
It’s the NYT. This article has less to do with Pritzker and more to do with sending a message to Kamala not to be measuring drapes because she is not the heiress apparent for the presidency.
- Leigh John-Ella - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:24 am:
The general public claims to hate non-stop campaigns.
So what does the media give them, non-stop campaign coverage.
Why focus on some boring policy decision at the state of local level when you can make up a presidential race to cover in 2 years?
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:27 am:
Why in the world would he even want to run for President? He’s doing a fairly good job as gov, he’s got a slapstick comedy act as the competition, a (mostly) compliant legislature, and an incompetent Chicago mayor that can’t effectively pass blame to him. Trade all that so that he can go deal with the cultish muppets that make up the US house and senate gop? Also, the collective heads of woke Twitter would explode if a straight white billionaire tried to leap-frog VP Harris. If I were JB, I wouldn’t get anywhere near a presidential run
- The Real Downstate - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:28 am:
I think JB and his team are smart to keep his name in the conversation while denying any interest, especially as he gears up for re-election. If Biden or Harris runs in 2024, and odds are that one of them does, I doubt Prtizker would want to jump into that fray. He should take his time, serve his second term as Gov, and then run for Senate in 2026 and then President in 2028 or 2032. JB has the money to keep himself relevant and in elected office until the right opportunity presents itself.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:29 am:
The best exchange was with Amy Jacobson on masks…
“Lets keep moving, I would like to talk with reporters”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:31 am:
===The best exchange===
It’s coming up soonish.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:32 am:
Leigh John-Ella just made an award-worthy comment.
- levivotedforjudy - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:38 am:
I remember when Obama was running the 1st time and there was a “thing” about how he had been planning a POTUS run since he entered politics. He denied it and someone found sort of a grade school essay where he did talk about being POTUs. So AHA! Don’t even high school senior class presidents dream or think about being POTUS? The search for an AHA moment continues.
- Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:49 am:
Feel bad for JB, I believe him and this is clearly the HC2016 Posse who blame that campaign cycle on Bernie Sanders, Russia, or anything not affiliated with their own performance. If there was ever a campaign measuring the drapes it was that one.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 11:51 am:
ooh, I like Responsa’s comment. Biden remembers what happened with him, Obama not supporting him for VP. He knows that Harris is both a liability and an asset and that she is not first choice Presidential material.
- New Day - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 12:05 pm:
“Also, the collective heads of woke Twitter would explode if a straight white billionaire tried to leap-frog VP Harris. If I were JB, I wouldn’t get anywhere near a presidential run.”
Ding ding ding. Exactly right.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 12:20 pm:
=== My “favorite” question was whether he’d consider running for president if he lost reelection next year. I did not make that up. His response was that he’d have more time to spend with his family.===
One race at a time. One job at a time.
Who exactly sees losing re-election as a strong presidential jump point?
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
Imagining the scenario where he loses to Bailey and then decides the logical next step is running for President - Do they think Pritzker is Blago?
- Pundent - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 12:29 pm:
Who knows what future plans Pritzker may or may not have. But speculation about higher office is usually a sign of effectiveness in your current role. I don’t recall similar speculation about any of our recent past governors.
- regular democrat - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 12:33 pm:
That sure appeared to be a classic trial ballon. These things dont happen by accident. When i saw him trying to raise his profile by going overseas then this blurb in nyt its probably not coincidence. Why not run for president. I say go for it
- here we go - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 12:46 pm:
Trial balloon accomplished what the balloon experts wanted - to get his name into the mix as a potentially viable candidate. Keep being a good governor and find new ways to show that a progressive Democrat CEO can be for social justice and economic justice and job growth at the same time and doors will open.
- Highland, IL - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 1:09 pm:
Please ask Bailey if he loses will he run for President.
- Leigh John-Ella - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 2:43 pm:
If he doesn’t run, will the NYT run a correction?
“Our Dec. 12, 2021, report speculating on 2024 Democratic presidential hopefuls turns out to have been inaccurate and was based on bad information from sources.”
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Dec 14, 21 @ 3:16 pm:
“Who exactly sees losing re-election as a strong presidential jump point?”
Donald Trump.