* Brenden Moore talked to Gov. JB Pritzker about his big spending in the Republican primary…
“I’m running a general election campaign,” the governor told me in an interview Monday afternoon. “I mean, I’m focused on beating the Republicans. And these are the messages that people will hear in a general election and I’m running those now. I mean, I have no reason not to do that.”
“It’s very important for people to understand who these Republicans are and what it is that they stand for,” Pritzker added. “Whatever may work in a Republican primary about taking away people’s rights or being far right and pro-Trump will not work in a general election. And once again, I’m just making that clear because I think that’s an important part of our strategy for winning in the general election.”
Yeah, OK. That’s the sole reason. Right.
* ILGOP response…
“Pritzker and the Democrats are hoping, and spending money on in support of that hope, that we’ll emerge from our primary so bloodied, bruised, and divided that there won’t be enough time in the short time between now and Nov. 8 to pull ourselves together and unite to defeat Pritzker and his fellow Democrats,” said Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy on Monday.
Accurate.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:12 am:
The ILGOP is already divided. Pritzker is just exploiting the divisions. If they already were not divided, then this process would not work.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:16 am:
-The ILGOP is already divided. Pritzker is just exploiting the divisions.-
Yep. He’s just helping them get stocked up on unelectable crazies - and they are well on their way to doing it.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:20 am:
It’s not that the GOP is divided.
The GOP primary voters are pretty unified behind a discernible platform:
1. Trump won.
2. Roe v Wade should be overturned
3. Mass shootings are the price we must for freedom
4. Most of America’s problems are caused by Black/Immigrant/Hispanic/Gay/Trans/Lesbian/Socialist people.
The problem the GOP faces is that their platform does not jive with the majority of Illinois voters, and JB is highlighting this.
At the same time, JB is actually unifying the GOP. That’s why you see a clear front runner emerging, and I expect that Bailey will continue to unify the GOP into the fall, because a massive Turnout of folks who believe in 1-4 is really his only path. Bailey must super-energize his base, and it seems JB is going to do most of that work for him.
- MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:20 am:
If the IL-GOP goes into November “bloodied, bruised, and divided” it will be precisely because voters “understand who these Republicans are and what it is that they stand for.”
Republicans are who they are — if voters find that repellent, it’s not JB’s fault.
– MrJM
- Roadrager - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:21 am:
Don’t think of it as “bloodied, bruised, and divided,” think of it as “leaner and meaner.” Especially that last part.
- Leo Dorocher - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:22 am:
Il GOP should not spend a cent , better to use funds to supplement moving expenses for those smart or able to leave the state
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:22 am:
So everything is sea shells and balloons for Democrats who are not divided at all?
You must not ever speak with everyday voters, just party activists
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:22 am:
4. I should add “non-Christian” obviously. Where would the party’s base be without islamophobia and antisemitism?
- TheNotVisibleMan - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:25 am:
It already is. He’s just worried about when it’s going to be obvious to everyone else.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:25 am:
Welp, I’m revisiting my own thoughts when Tracy was made chair…
=== - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:20 pm===
Edited for brevity.
=== How can I say that right now, welcoming racists, insurrectionist, conspiracy theorists? Let’s look at words.
Words.
===So, whatever your political leanings, wherever you live - if you want to fight corruption, restore fiscal sanity, grow our economy, and stand for law and order - you’re on our team. It’s time to suit up, work together, and bring home some wins for the people of Illinois.”===
“So”… let’s be clear; the phonies like Bost, LaHood, Miller… Rodney Davis… they *need* racists, insurrectionists, and conspiracy theorists… they and Don Tracy have NO intention of rooting out the bad. It’s says… right… here.
The Raunerite Tracy is letting it be known…
“Don’t ask, don’t tell”… but agree with us here… we’ll ignore the racism… look past the insurrection… and conspiracy theorists, “welcome home”.
There’s no separation, it’s a call home…===
Tracy is part of this problem, Tracy welcomed the bad, embraced the bad, *wanted* the bad… it’s a fight and struggle to eradicate the bad… Tracy has no one to blame but himself.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:27 am:
==“Pritzker and the Democrats are hoping, and spending money on in support of that hope, that we’ll emerge from our primary so bloodied, bruised, and divided that there won’t be enough time in the short time between now and Nov. 8 to pull ourselves together and unite to defeat Pritzker and his fellow Democrats,” ==
And with 6* days to go, it looks like they got a good chance to pull that off.
*- I said 6 yesterday, too, but I wasn’t counting Election Day itself, and for a primary, I really should.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:29 am:
Perhaps the GOP chair should invite all survivors…heck invite everyone…to Tracy Park in SPI for an ice cream social post 6-28 and hand out goodie bags with bandages and all the fixins’
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:29 am:
Thought Brenden Moore did a good job in the interview. It is certainly worth checking out.
Frankly did not buy Pritzker’s comments on defending the right to privacy.
Basically his dog whistle and sneaky ads highlight his moral compass issues. He knows what he is doing and is not only open about it but is actually proud of his approach to politics.
- King Louis XVI - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:30 am:
Griffin’s $50 million to Irvin contributed to the bloodiness, bruising of the IL GOP.
- Jocko - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:31 am:
==to supplement moving expenses==
To a state that fails to recognize biden as president, wants to repeal voting rights, and secede?
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:31 am:
- we’ll emerge from our primary so bloodied, bruised, and divided -
Cry me a river, Don. When you lend credibility to conspiracy theories and gutter politics, don’t be surprised when the nutters in your party take over.
- Now What? - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:32 am:
The ILGOP has been handing this strategy to the ILDEM’s for years. First, it was the party of “no” under Rauner, now it’s become an extremist organization of election deniers and Trump sycophants. The ILGOP still has no message, no plan, no strategy and simply hope that their voters still think they’re the party of Reagan.
- Nazgul - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:36 am:
JB is more concerned about controlling the Republican Party Nomination Process (control freak and power hungry) and running for President, than he is doing his actual job. Illinois is the least equip state to handle a recession, if it comes in the next five years.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:37 am:
Mehmet Oz (R-NJ) is already trying to downplay the Trump endorsement that won him the primary in Pennsylvania. People like him really do believe voters are stupid.
Pritzker isn’t going to let that happen here. If Bailey wants to be Trump’s candidate, JB is only too happy to help him get the word out.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:38 am:
JB learned from getting beat early on the Fair Tax, so, he’s the one doing the defining now. Keep on fighting these goofs every step of the way, JB. Good on ya.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:38 am:
===..,if it comes in the next five years.===
So.. you don’t know if a recession is coming.
(Sigh)
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:40 am:
I wanted to make a snarky comment about the Republican Party.
But they have descended so far into the lunatic fringe, it’s impossible to top the reality of it all.
- Leap Day William - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:42 am:
== Basically his dog whistle and sneaky ads highlight his moral compass issues. ==
“Dog whistle”. I do not think that means what you think it means. Is it really sneaky when the ads all clearly end with “Paid for by Pritzker/DGA”, as opposed to the shadowy PACs we usually see on the Republican side?
- Nazgul - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:43 am:
Ok kiddo….. Illinois is done for when the economy tanks, we both know this….. Whose fault is that?
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:46 am:
==Whose fault is that? ==
Yours and yours alone.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:46 am:
===Ok kiddo===
Sure Jan.
You are worried about something but it’s disguised as smart political thought… and it’s something you have no idea it will happen?
Kiddos speculate about what is under their bed.
Heck, bonding agencies see the state of Illinois “turning a corner”…
- Jocko - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:48 am:
==llinois is done for when the economy tanks, we both know==
How was that trip in the DeLorean with Dr. Brown?
- Roadrager - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:49 am:
==(control freak and power hungry)==
You seem to have confused a governor with a mayor here. Let me go round up a picture of them standing next to each other, that should clear it up right quick.
- TheNotVisibleMan - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:52 am:
“Illinois is done for when the economy tanks”
Make sure to tell all your friend to never come here, so they can avoid this terrible fate.
Also, my favorite fishing spot is just horrible. You should never waste your time and try to go fishing there.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 10:09 am:
LOL. Are we getting mad at Pritzker for trying to win an election?
I get it, media doesn’t like it when democrats tell the truth about what republicans want for the state and the country. Makes reporters look bad, because they are unable or unwilling to do it.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 10:28 am:
Again, Durkin should show up on payday with a mask and a gun.
Thompson and Edgar handed you mooks a dynasty.
Look what you did with it.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 10:36 am:
===And these are the messages that people will hear in a general election and I’m running those now. I mean, I have no reason not to do that.”===
There are much better ways for this to happen that doesn’t involve direct campaign expenditures on things that look a whole lot like positive mailers. Those better ways are also cheaper in the long run.
One of the things that I will always appreciate and respect about Governor Pritzker, though, is his willingness and ability to take ownership for where the buck stops. I hope our state sees many more public servants like him.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 10:52 am:
===So everything is sea shells and balloons for Democrats===
You argue like a child.
- Laketrail Runner - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 11:00 am:
This country is at its most dire moment of the last 100 years - entirely due to what the GOP is doing to weaponize racism, sexism and homophobia. I am tired of pretending we can tip toe around that in the quest to claim our soul and protect our citizens. I want JB doing everything reasonable to win and I’m glad he spent zero minutes worried about some Pollyanna-ish thought that Dems need to apologize for weaponizing the GOP’s fetid moral compass against itself. It makes me respect him more in every possible way and let’s be honest - if he had sat back and let it unfold a lot of folks who comment on this blog would have been howling at his amateurism campaign strategy.
- Blake - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 11:01 am:
It really bothers me to see a party elevating the worst candidates of the other. They are playing with fire because those worst candidates aren’t guaranteed to lose if they think the party is capable of winning, makes it look like they see those candidates in lights too similar to ordinary disagreement between the parties, and rewards bad behavior.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 11:16 am:
Let’s face the reality Don. Enough crazies get on the ticket and they’re coming for your job. Make no mistake about it.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 11:22 am:
==You must not ever speak with everyday voters==
I mean, you didn’t even count 500,000 everyday voters when you said that Rick Caruso got the most votes in the primary for mayor of LA, so I guess you’d know about being out of touch with them.
Or maybe it’s just a counting thing, since you also think 0 was 5.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 11:24 am:
===You must not ever speak with everyday voters===
Speak for yourself or cite actual data from, say, polling.
Thanks.
- SOIL M - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
The IL GOP has been Bloodied, Bruised and Broken since Ryan destroyed it. What we are still seeing today is that there still is no viable Statewide GOP Candidate, or anyone who would be willing to step up and run. We are still getting JV Candidates trying to play Varsity.
- walker - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 12:59 pm:
Primary voters do not perfectly reflect the general election voters of either party. The current gap for ILGOP is anybody’s guess
- Pundent - Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 4:21 pm:
=ILGOP chair worries his party will be “bloodied, bruised, and divided” after primary=
After the primary? Seems like they’re already there.