As candidates take the stage this week for two U.S. Senate debates, Illinois Future PAC will launch a new targeted digital ad designed specifically for debate night — reaching voters where the debate is happening and when it matters most.
The spot, titled “Debate Hall,” will run the night of the debates using precision digital tactics. With highly targeted YouTube and programmatic advertising, the ad turns the debate into a surround-sound moment for viewers on their phones and devices.
The ad highlights Juliana’s commitment to standing up to Donald Trump and ICE to defend our communities. As ICE terrorizes cities across the nation, Juliana has made it clear that she will abolish ICE, marking a clear contrast in the race.
Using advanced targeting tools, the campaign will geo-fence the debate venue itself, serving the ad to devices inside the debate hall before, during, and after the event. The buy will also extend around the venue, reaching nearby attendees, political insiders, and highly engaged voters in the immediate area.
The approach reflects a modern, efficient use of digital media, concentrating resources on a high-value audience. By aligning message, moment, and medium, the campaign is maximizing impact while signaling a sophisticated understanding of how voters consume political content today.
The “Debate Hall” ad will begin running the evening of each debate and continue through the surrounding hours.
The Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ and University of Chicago will quiz the top Democratic candidates vying for retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat Monday evening in a debate co-hosted by UChicago’s Institute of Politics and International House.
It marks the first live-broadcast showdown of the front-running contenders in the marquee race of the state’s March 17 primary election: U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois; U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois; and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
The debate will be moderated by Sun-Times national political reporter Tina Sfondeles and Jennifer Steinhauer, senior director of the Institute of Politics, and hosted by WBEZ’s “In the Loop” host Sasha-Ann Simons.
The on-campus debate airs live from 6-7 p.m. on WBEZ 91.5 FM, with YouTube livestreams from the Sun-Times and the Institute of Politics, in addition to the radio station.
Heading Into the First ILSEN Debate, Raja Krishnamoorthi Has Momentum At His Back
50 days from Election Day, Raja holds a massive lead and an unmatched coalition of support
SCHAUMBURG, IL — As Illinois voters tune in for the first U.S. Senate primary debate tonight, Raja Krishnamoorthi enters the stage as the dominant frontrunner with the momentum, coalition, and resources to win in just fifty days.
Between his “commanding lead” in the polls, “broad coalition of supporters,” unmatched operation, and statewide recognition as the candidate fighting to lower costs for working families, Raja’s month of momentum will continue to propel him to success tonight.
It’s fine if it’s a set up piece. Is Raja being set up because he hasn’t taken strong enough stances on the issue? I assume so but haven’t hear that directly.
Her ads have come out swinging and have drawn a contrast with Raja’s. For example, having a narrator hype her up is more effective than Raja talking about himself. Her policy positions are much more “bite-sized” than the consultant-speak of the “Raja has a plan for that” positions.
He might have hit his ceiling unless he can change up his message, but the ads are so omnipresent that people might be zoning out whenever they see his logo show up on screen. If she can keep her ads on the air, she might have a shot at those undecided voters that he hasn’t won over yet.
How much money could this PAC supposedly have if their big announcement is tiny targeted ad buy? And what’s the point of serving ads to people who will be in the auditorium, phones away, watching the debate?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
As an issue ad, okay she’s hitting on current events and establishing herself in a position where she’s almost daring the other candidates to either match her or be accused of being wishy-washy. But here’s the real question; can she sustain the attack in such a way that voters will come away believing that a freshman Senator with no DC experience can actually pull something off? Moreover, over the course of the Primary, where does her rhetoric go?
it’s a press pop that forces all the stories to include the differences they have on ICE/immigration. The ads are also around the debate, not just the room itself, which in case you forgot is on a college campus.
- New Day - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
It’s fine if it’s a set up piece. Is Raja being set up because he hasn’t taken strong enough stances on the issue? I assume so but haven’t hear that directly.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:10 pm:
Her ads have come out swinging and have drawn a contrast with Raja’s. For example, having a narrator hype her up is more effective than Raja talking about himself. Her policy positions are much more “bite-sized” than the consultant-speak of the “Raja has a plan for that” positions.
He might have hit his ceiling unless he can change up his message, but the ads are so omnipresent that people might be zoning out whenever they see his logo show up on screen. If she can keep her ads on the air, she might have a shot at those undecided voters that he hasn’t won over yet.
- SkepticalSam - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:13 pm:
How much money could this PAC supposedly have if their big announcement is tiny targeted ad buy? And what’s the point of serving ads to people who will be in the auditorium, phones away, watching the debate?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
As an issue ad, okay she’s hitting on current events and establishing herself in a position where she’s almost daring the other candidates to either match her or be accused of being wishy-washy. But here’s the real question; can she sustain the attack in such a way that voters will come away believing that a freshman Senator with no DC experience can actually pull something off? Moreover, over the course of the Primary, where does her rhetoric go?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:25 pm:
===who will be in the auditorium, phones away, watching the debate? ===
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
===no DC experience===
Right now, that can be viewed as a strong positive. Have you looked at congressional Dem approval numbers lately?
- lurker - Monday, Jan 26, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
it’s a press pop that forces all the stories to include the differences they have on ICE/immigration. The ads are also around the debate, not just the room itself, which in case you forgot is on a college campus.