* The spot begins with county sheriffs complaining about “anti-police rhetoric,” career politicians, etc. and then talking up Jesse Sullivan, who says, “I’m an outsider and a man of faith called to protect and serve. They’ve got our backs. They deserve a leader who has theirs. Let’s go save Illinois”…

…Adding… Welp, they removed the ad. I’ll look around to see if it’s elsewhere. Sorry.

…Adding… Found a copy…

…Adding… Sullivan’s consultant firm worked for Glenn Youngkin’s gubernatorial campaign and they ran a very similar TV ad during that race.

…Adding… Check out the front license plate on the car on the far left. That sure looks like an official police plate to me. This pro-law enforcement ad might not be so, um, pro-legal…

…Adding… The final version of the TV spot is here. I’ve asked the campaign about the use of law enforcement vehicles in the campaign ad.

       

40 Comments - Henry Francis - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:07 am: It sure is dark. Literally. A man of faith, called to serve and protect. Huh? Other than showing that 6 sheriffs from counties most Illinoisans have never heard of support him, don’t know what the point of this commercial is. D. - here we go - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:09 am: Sounds a lot like the Irvin Campaign commercials. So what sets these two apart on crime? They need to distinguish themselves, otherwise the campaign messages blend into each other for the GOP primary voter. - H-W - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:12 am: There is a saying in the Theater, “Will it play in Peoria?” This ad will play well in Peoria County and south. I would give it a A, in that if is very focused on a key element of Republican Politics, and tugs at the hearts of the fearful. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:12 am: Rated A- Very good ad for stoking GOP base obsession with police and crime. A small amount of competition for Irvin, who has the advantage of Griffin’s millions, at least on paper. - DuPage Dad - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:13 am: You know you’re watching a Republican primary when you tout the Piatt County Sheriff as a feature of a television spot. I feel like Bailey/Irvin/etc. will run this same ad with different faces. The only differentiation is “outsider”. But, how much will that really matter? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:14 am: It’s a solid D It’s again pinging the stolen valor want, someone who has this idea he’s been “called” to protect and serve, when in actuality a commercial with a highlighting a candidate “at night” with police vehicles, Sullivan should run for sheriff somewhere or ask Bailey, Irvin, Rabine, or Schimpf to appoint him director of ISP. It’s a D, Sullivan is a phony to his want. - Buford - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:14 am: Seeing as they already removed it, must of not been great. - Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:17 am: C. It’s hard to spice up bland. Even the “man of faith” bit seemed forced. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:17 am: ===Let’s go save Illinois=== Thanks bros, but I don’t need to be saved especially by someone of Jesse Sullivan’s ilk. - Huh? - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:19 am: “I’m … a man of faith” Yeah, sure. If you insist. - Huh? - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:20 am: “Welp, they removed the ad.” LOL. They probably say it was posted as a CapFax “rate the ad”. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:21 am: ===This ad will play well in Peoria County and south.=== Welp, if you’re pulling it, that’s not playing… anywhere? - Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:22 am: Okay, time for a meeting. Only one of you guys get to play Clint Eastwood. - Pundent - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:31 am: From stolen valor to stolen ad. They’ve got your back, but who’s got your video? - Chambananon - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:42 am: This may be a dumb question but… State law prohibits State employees from using State resources for political purposes. Do County Sheriffs’ police vehicles not count for some reason? - oops - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:46 am: Misspelled Politician - Poltician - well... - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:48 am: D- It’s a decent message for the primary, but it loses a lot of points because of how illegal the ad is. You can’t use law enforcement officers in their uniforms, in their cars, in a political campaign ad. - The Fellow Edgar - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:48 am: What is Sullivan doing in this race exactly? At least Paul Schimpf knows he is running for an agency directors job. - Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:55 am: =Other than showing that 6 sheriffs from counties most Illinoisans have never heard of= I’m no fan of Sullivan, or any of the Rs running, but there’s no need to be dismissive. I’m from a rural county in central Illinois, and it is this kind of talk that makes rural Illinoisans dislike anything north of I-80. And I wouldn’t call McLean a county nobody has ever heard of. It is the 13th largest county in the state. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 9:55 am: ===You can’t use law enforcement officers in their uniforms, in their cars, in a political campaign ad.=== Yeah, I was wondering about that. I’d have to check the laws, but it certainly seems like Mr. Government Ethics is using local government resources for political purposes. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:06 am: ==Sounds a lot like the Irvin Campaign commercials. So what sets these two apart on crime? They need to distinguish themselves, otherwise the campaign messages blend into each other for the GOP primary voter. == There’s been some CW that Sullivan in the race hurts Bailey had helps Irvin, but I think you’re right that it threatens to go the other way. This ad, tho, this ad is definitely better than the Irvin ad, if only because it actually does capture your attention. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:08 am: It always creeps me out when evangelicals go into to politics to “save” us. Join the priesthood, or start a church if you’re a person of deep faith, just don’t push your faith on me and tell me its to save me. Also, ibid on the whole ethics of cops play-acting in uniform in a political ad. Stupid and illegal. Heck of a job Sully. - Downstate Dem - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:14 am: From the 2022 Illinois Candidates Guide: INFLUENCING VOTERS WITH PUBLIC FUNDS No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization… (10 ILCS 5/9-25.1(b)) - Langhorne - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:15 am: === “I’m an outsider and a man of faith called to protect and serve.“=== Fire up the bluesmobile, Jake. We’re on a mission from God. - DuPage - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:15 am: Maybe all he could afford to pay for was one ad. - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:15 am: I’ll give it a C-. I am pretty confident that Sullivan will carry Menard County. - Fayette County - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:20 am: The ad will play well in this part of Illinois but Bailey has a lot of support locked up already around here. I don’t like the man of faith being called to serve. Sounds to me like he needs to be a minister and not Governor. I’d give it a B for the target audience that won’t see it if it’s been pulled. - Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:27 am: Spot must have been QC checked by the guys that made the wraps for the back of the semi trailers. Spot pulled for typos because only the best people are working on this campaign. - Red Ketcher - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 10:56 am: 47th Ward at 10:08 above Says It All,Says it Well - Big Mike - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 11:02 am: great comment from Longhorne - Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 11:05 am: I’m a white person in my mid 60s and I don’t 2ant to see cops in political ads. All that does is make me think the candidate wants me to be afraid. - Henry Francis - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 11:07 am: Steve Rodgers: I was not dismissing those 6 counties. I was dismissing how persuasive it is to cite them in trying to move the needle state wide. I mean when PQ won his election, didn’t he lose just about all the state’s counties (except for a couple)? - Proud Sucker - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 11:11 am: “INFLUENCING VOTERS WITH PUBLIC FUNDS” Not sure it directly applies to Sheriffs who are elected. I could be misreading the Statute though. However, they are answerable to their constituents. - WhiteHat24 - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 11:11 am: Is this not an ethics violation to use county vehicles and taxpayer resources out of your jurisdiction for political purposes? - Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 11:26 am: Sullivan, as an outsider and a man of faith who wishes to protect and serve, is running for the wrong office. Illinois needs a new Director at DCFS. Sullivan would be a great choice as his experience lends itself to faith, protection and service to those in need. - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 12:13 pm: On the use of public resources (uniforms and marked vehicles) in the ad, I too find it distasteful and wonder if it might be unlawful. I note that several of the sheriffs do appear in street clothes, so maybe they checked it out and were warned beforehand. - Ryan - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 12:16 pm: Campaigning in a publicly funded police car? Doesn’t seem legal to me… - City Guy - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 12:16 pm: F for the potential fall out. One issue mentioned by others is the ethics of using uniformed police with their government funded vehicles in the ad. I also view the ad as reinforcing the “stolen valor” issue. Saying he was called to “protect and serve” in this context implies that he is/was a police officer. I can’t think of anyone using that phrase other than in context of being a police officer. - Amalia - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 1:09 pm: C. faith and badges. wow. - Carlos Danger - Tuesday, Mar 29, 22 @ 2:08 pm: Lots of Chief Wiggums here Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.