Q: Will you be willing to meet with the Republican candidate for governor in Illinois when you’re in Illinois at the end of this month?
Trump: Well I like the candidate from Illinois. He’s a good man, he had a tragedy, a horrible tragedy. His family was partially wiped out in a terrible helicopter accident or plane accident.
Q: Has JB Pritzker reached out to you prior to the President’s Cup?
Trump: I think JB Pritzker is a disaster as a governor. You look at what’s happening with crime. If JB Pritzker can lose, but for some reason Democrats win there, I don’t know why. But Bailey is a very good candidate. He had a horrible tragedy. Amazing that he could go forward because a large portion of his family was wiped out.
[Crosstalk]
Trump: I’ve already endorsed him. I’m all for Bailey.
Harmony also spoke at Bailey’s campaign kickoff event last year.
* Pritzker campaign spokesperson Leah Hurwitz…
“Just a few days after Darren Bailey returned home from Trumpapalooza, Donald Trump endorsed Bailey and sang his praises. This won’t come as a surprise to Illinoisans who know all about Bailey’s intense admiration for Trump. Despite the damage the president has done to our state, Bailey still supports Trump’s tariffs, cheered on his invasion of federal agents in our streets, and vowed to ‘roll the red carpet out’ for him.
“Illinoisans deserve to know - will Donald Trump campaign with his endorsed candidate when he comes to Illinois next week?”
The President’s message to voters was clear, pretend I’m on the ballot. And Democratic candidates are embracing that sentiment. It would be ironic if Darren Bailey declines to do so.
I’m outside the election cycle, I’m retired and no longer taking part in the madness. Campaigns seem to work in a bubble, they just aren’t connected to the street level truth. Campaigns work on hope, and for close to 50% of the candidates, in any given election cycle, there’s a pretty slim chance, or very little hope at all. Campaigns deceive themselves as a cost of doing business.
- Google is Your Friend - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:42 am:
It’s always a puzzle why someone runs for a political office they know they can’t win. For Bailey it seems even more puzzling. I can’t think of anything he stands to gain from this.
Not the point and not new ground or information but he’s leaving Ireland, where he went to see a golf tournament, and answering questions about who he’ll meet with when he is in Illinois for another golf tournament.
Glad to see Beetle and TACO marchin’ together. Must make TonyMak and the Senate GOPies a little nervous. Wonder how they plan to bob and weave on this one. Next treat is to see who shows up at the President’s CUP next. Maybe IL GOPies will come after dark.
===Harmony also spoke at Bailey’s campaign kickoff event last year. ===
This is Illinois. You can be a grifter without fancy degrees from Yale & Harvard.
===will Donald Trump campaign with his endorsed candidate when he comes to Illinois next week?===
It’s sorta fun when the consideration is “will he lose by 35 points or 40 points?”
- here we go again - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 12:40 pm:
Has Bailey and/or Del Mar even acknowledged or said thank you to the President of the United States for his kind words? They’re going to get their clocks cleaned anyway, so why go out as a couple of ingrates on top of it? Worst. Campaign. Ever.
It’s hilarious that the MAGA folks are still delusional enough to think this will help Bailey in IL. Even Bailey was smart enough to try to dodge the Trump questions (as if we actually believed him, which is comical in itself) then his own people throw this his way.
Let’s face it, the only way for a Republican in Illinois to cash-in on the swamp corruption for the remainder of the term is to accept Trump’s endorsement and praise him in North Korean fashion. The fact that Bailey will lose by 20 points, instead of 18, for accepting the endorsement is of absolutely zero concern for him.
Darren Bailey is going to accept the endorsement, thankfully and willingly. The President of the United States endorsed him; he’s not going to run from it.
And would it matter if he did? Would Democrats really switch sides to vote for Bailey, but if for the Trump endorsement? No, they wouldn’t. There’s no point in switching lanes now.
I can’t speak for Bailey or his family, but I personally find Trump’s characterization of the tragedy they endured to be completely distasteful. I’m going to leave it at that.
My comment is meant to be playful, but Jesse White walloped Jason Helland by 39 points. (I had to look up his opponent.)
I think it’d be very unlikely to see that kind of performance for the Governor, but given the voting trends that the entire Democratic Party is relying on nationally, Trump’s overall approval rating, and factors that are going to impact the election that is is now just 50 days away with little or no time for things like domestic prices for fuel at the pump, much less anything else, to return to something that is not just beating consumers over the head, I don’t know if I would completely rule it out.
Plus — The Donald has decided that the midterms are his show and he’s going to make himself the front and center, even when he is unwelcome and unwanted.
With what is resting in the Illinois GOP’s war chest, I would not be surprised if their entire turn out operation was little more than “Oh yeah, I guess I should vote today” and a — very — targeted mailer about Mike Madigan being a convicted felon.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:15 am:
While other GOP candidates are avoiding Trump in droves, Bailey is doubling down on a losing message.
Darren, wakey, wakey, smell the bakee.
- Pundent - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:23 am:
The President’s message to voters was clear, pretend I’m on the ballot. And Democratic candidates are embracing that sentiment. It would be ironic if Darren Bailey declines to do so.
- Proud Papa Bear - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:29 am:
If this were a rate the ad post, it’d be an A+ for Pritzker.
- Steve - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:31 am:
I need a fainting couch: Donald Trump endorsed Bailey.
- Mr Monster - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:37 am:
I’m outside the election cycle, I’m retired and no longer taking part in the madness. Campaigns seem to work in a bubble, they just aren’t connected to the street level truth. Campaigns work on hope, and for close to 50% of the candidates, in any given election cycle, there’s a pretty slim chance, or very little hope at all. Campaigns deceive themselves as a cost of doing business.
- Google is Your Friend - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:42 am:
How long until JB has this in TV ads?
- Get Serious - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:44 am:
There is not a campaign for governor. The race was over before the primary. None of this matters.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:53 am:
It’s always a puzzle why someone runs for a political office they know they can’t win. For Bailey it seems even more puzzling. I can’t think of anything he stands to gain from this.
- 4th and Never - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 11:57 am:
note the reporter asks him in a follow up “He [Bailey] is only down 8 points.” I’d love to see that polling.
- LizPhairTax - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 12:12 pm:
Not the point and not new ground or information but he’s leaving Ireland, where he went to see a golf tournament, and answering questions about who he’ll meet with when he is in Illinois for another golf tournament.
- Annon'in - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 12:14 pm:
Glad to see Beetle and TACO marchin’ together. Must make TonyMak and the Senate GOPies a little nervous. Wonder how they plan to bob and weave on this one. Next treat is to see who shows up at the President’s CUP next. Maybe IL GOPies will come after dark.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 12:36 pm:
===Harmony also spoke at Bailey’s campaign kickoff event last year. ===
This is Illinois. You can be a grifter without fancy degrees from Yale & Harvard.
===will Donald Trump campaign with his endorsed candidate when he comes to Illinois next week?===
It’s sorta fun when the consideration is “will he lose by 35 points or 40 points?”
- here we go again - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 12:40 pm:
Has Bailey and/or Del Mar even acknowledged or said thank you to the President of the United States for his kind words? They’re going to get their clocks cleaned anyway, so why go out as a couple of ingrates on top of it? Worst. Campaign. Ever.
- BlueDog - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 12:41 pm:
It’s hilarious that the MAGA folks are still delusional enough to think this will help Bailey in IL. Even Bailey was smart enough to try to dodge the Trump questions (as if we actually believed him, which is comical in itself) then his own people throw this his way.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 1:06 pm:
Let’s face it, the only way for a Republican in Illinois to cash-in on the swamp corruption for the remainder of the term is to accept Trump’s endorsement and praise him in North Korean fashion. The fact that Bailey will lose by 20 points, instead of 18, for accepting the endorsement is of absolutely zero concern for him.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 1:18 pm:
===The fact that Bailey will lose by 20 points, instead of 18===
You do not know this is a “fact.”
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 2:18 pm:
It’s sorta fun when the consideration is “will he lose by 35 points or 40 points?”+
Will be interesting Post Election……Don’t think JB Pritzker is as popular with the voters that he, and you think he is.
Hard to find someone who he hasn’t signed a tax increase affecting them……
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
===It’s sorta fun when the consideration is “will he lose by 35 points or 40 points?”===
C’mon.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
===You do not know this is a “fact.”===
True. I will reign in my use of that colloquialism.
- low level - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 2:31 pm:
Cool. They just gave targeted Dem reps and senators enough material for 3-4 hit pieces on their GOP opponents.
Does anyone in the IL GOP know what they are doing?
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 4:12 pm:
Just for reference, Pritzker defeated Bailey last time (2022) by roughly 12 percentage points.
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 4:16 pm:
Darren Bailey is going to accept the endorsement, thankfully and willingly. The President of the United States endorsed him; he’s not going to run from it.
And would it matter if he did? Would Democrats really switch sides to vote for Bailey, but if for the Trump endorsement? No, they wouldn’t. There’s no point in switching lanes now.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 4:19 pm:
I can’t speak for Bailey or his family, but I personally find Trump’s characterization of the tragedy they endured to be completely distasteful. I’m going to leave it at that.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Sep 14, 26 @ 6:52 pm:
===C’mon.===
My comment is meant to be playful, but Jesse White walloped Jason Helland by 39 points. (I had to look up his opponent.)
I think it’d be very unlikely to see that kind of performance for the Governor, but given the voting trends that the entire Democratic Party is relying on nationally, Trump’s overall approval rating, and factors that are going to impact the election that is is now just 50 days away with little or no time for things like domestic prices for fuel at the pump, much less anything else, to return to something that is not just beating consumers over the head, I don’t know if I would completely rule it out.
Plus — The Donald has decided that the midterms are his show and he’s going to make himself the front and center, even when he is unwelcome and unwanted.
With what is resting in the Illinois GOP’s war chest, I would not be surprised if their entire turn out operation was little more than “Oh yeah, I guess I should vote today” and a — very — targeted mailer about Mike Madigan being a convicted felon.