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*** UPDATED x1 - Kennedy responds *** Pritzker goes up with anti-Kennedy TV ad

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I told subscribers that a Pritzker his on Kennedy was coming. I didn’t know what it was, however. Turns out, it’s about college tuition…

* Script…

Five times. Five times Chris Kennedy voted to raise tuition as chair of the board at the University of Illinois. Kennedy’s votes drove up the cost of college nearly 30 percent for Illinois students and their families.

At the same time, Chris Kennedy voted for huge pay raises for administrators and coaches. [Overlay: Chris Kennedy approved $600,000 for university president, $1.6 million for football coach, $1.4 million for basketball coach.]

Pay raises for them, higher tuition for Illinois families. Chris Kennedy. Shouldn’t we judge him by his record?

Keep in mind that the idea here is not to knock Kennedy out, but rather to halt any surge.

*** UPDATE *** Kennedy campaign response…

According to the University of Illinois, Chris Kennedy’s leadership while Chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, “fixed tuition increases at or below the rate of inflation and precipitated a downward trend for the rate of tuition increases that continues.”

While the state failed to fully fund its obligation, leaving the University $500 million short of what it was owed from the state, Chris Kennedy’s leadership generated $100 million in new aid for students who couldn’t afford full tuition. This ad is a smear from a spiraling campaign with plummeting poll numbers that’s looking to stop Chris Kennedy’s surge among voters. JB Pritzker has opted to make false claims about Chris Kennedy to hide from his record of being caught on FBI tapes with Rod Blagojevich.

* Background info…

* It’s not true that Chris’s votes “drove up the cost of college nearly 30% for Illinois students and their families.” That 30% figure refers only to the tuition component of the cost of going to U of I. Room and board and fees are actually a bigger piece of the cost equation. The true total cost hike depends on which campus you look at. You can see his sleight of hand by comparing the language used in the narration versus the accurate “30% higher tuition” in the visual, which is what campaign do when they want to exaggerate but be able to claim they’re not lying.

* 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the compensation for the football and basketball coach was to be footed by corporate sponsors. It wasn’t coming out of kids’ tuitions or taxpayer dollars. (Moreover even the UIUC share was from athletic department “revenues.”)

* Finally, none of the votes was actually a “pay raise” in the sense of raising the pay of someone already on the job. The coaches and the president were new hires having their pay set for the first time.

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Campaign Workers Guild holds first Springfield meeting

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune…

Hours after Madigan released the abridged list of complaints, a group of Chicago Democrats opened discussions with campaign workers and a union group over how to prevent abuse and harassment in Illinois’ raucous political environment. About a half-dozen staff members and three lawmakers attended the meeting, which focused primarily on pay, long hours, troubles with temporary housing and sexual harassment.

Emma LaBounty, a member of the executive council of the fledgling Campaign Workers Guild, said the union is getting started by organizing individual campaigns throughout the country. So far, she said, the union has reached contracts with only a handful of campaigns but is working with dozens to organize at the local, state and federal levels. […]

[Alaina Hampton], a former foot soldier in Madigan’s political organization [who has complained about sexual harassment], attended the gathering and plans to meet with a legislative women’s caucus Wednesday. […]

“Now more than ever, campaign workers need protection and the kind of safe work environment I didn’t have access to,” Hampton told the Tribune late Tuesday. “The guild is a step in the right direction.”

A Chicago meeting is in the works.

* I took video of the press conference. It’s in two parts because I had to stop and quickly answer some urgent text messages. Part One…

* Part Two…

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Pritzker’s new ad touts his Sun-Times endorsement

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, the JB Pritzker campaign released a new TV ad, “Lead the Charge,” featuring the Chicago Sun-Times resounding endorsement of JB in the Democratic primary.

In the endorsement — which Capitol Fax called “one of the strongest I’ve ever seen for anyone” — the Chicago Sun-Times acknowledged that JB is best candidate to beat Bruce Rauner and praised his leadership and vision for Illinois.

“I’m so honored to receive the endorsement of the Chicago Sun-Times, and when I’m governor, I will lead the charge to put Springfield back on the side of working families,” said JB Pritzker. “Bruce Rauner has decimated this state’s future, but I’ll be a governor who works hard every day to create jobs across Illinois, expand healthcare, and invest in education so every community can thrive. This is a grassroots, statewide campaign ready to win this primary and beat Bruce Rauner in November.”

Man, do I ever hate being included in press releases like that, but I stand by my comment. That nod was super strong.

* The ad…

* Transcript…

The Chicago Sun-Times endorses JB Pritzker for governor, praising JB’s achievements in both the private and public sectors.

JB’s future-focused approach to economic development is precisely what Illinois needs.

He offers Democrats the best chance to defeat Bruce Rauner.

And JB has a plan to properly fund public education that would ease the pressure on property taxes.

JB Pritzker has what it takes to lead the charge.

Thoughts?

* Meanwhile, from yesterday…

Today, the JB Pritzker campaign released a new Spanish language TV ad, “Un Aliado.” The ad features Congressman Luis Gutiérrez highlighting how JB will be an ally for every community in Illinois by investing in education, expanding healthcare, and standing up to Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities and Dreamers.

“Congressman Luis Gutiérrez is a tireless fighter for Illinois’ families and I’m so honored to have his endorsement,” said JB Pritzker. “As governor, I will stand with Luis as an ally and a staunch advocate for every community in Illinois. Together, we will protect Dreamers from Donald Trump’s attacks, expand healthcare for Illinois families, and invest in the education that Illinois children need to thrive. It’s time for a governor who brings people together and lifts up our communities and that’s the leader I will be in Springfield.”

* The ad…

* And from Bloomberg…

In his run for Illinois governor, billionaire J.B. Pritzker is investing an average of about $171,000 a day from his fortune to try to win a job that pays $177,412 a year and comes with major headaches.

The same enormous wealth that has benefited Pritzker’s campaign is now complicating what until a few weeks ago looked like an easy victory for him in the March 20 Democratic primary.

Rivals are pointing to his fortune to suggest the Hyatt hotel heir is out of touch with average voters. One opponent, State Senator Daniel Biss, has created an online calculator that pictures Pritzker in a tuxedo and asks visitors to enter their salary to see how quickly his team would spend that amount.

It adds to a separate perception challenge for Pritzker, in a party primary where non-whites are likely to account for a third or more of the vote. A recently released audio recording from almost a decade ago captured Pritzker and then-Governor Rod Blagojevich, now serving a long prison sentence for corruption, making crass comments about several of the state’s prominent black politicians.

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Rauner launches another Pritzker-Blagojevich spot: “Least offensive”

Wednesday, Feb 28, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, the Rauner campaign launched the latest ad highlighting JB Pritzker’s ties to disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune released another set of wiretaps featuring Blagojevich and Pritzker discussing Barack Obama’s Senate seat with Pritzker calling Jesse White “the least offensive” African American. These tapes, as well as the Tribune’s first bombshell report, show Pritzker’s insider status and self-interested approach to public service.

Chris Kennedy said “J.B.’s conversations with Blagojevich are disqualifying and they’re a reflection of his integrity.” State Sen. Daniel Biss called the conversation “horse-trading for more power” and made clear that they “can’t afford to nominate JB Pritzker.”

His fellow Democrats have summed it up best - JB Pritzker is unelectable in Illinois.

That’s concern trolling at its finest, campers.

* The ad…

* Transcript of Pritzker speaking to Blagojevich…

If you’re forced to put an African-American in the spot, which I, my guess is, you’re not forced to do anything, but my guess is a lot of pressure to do it. Um, of all the African-Americans I can think that are sort of like qualified and vetted and people will say, ‘Oh, that’s, you know, that’s, that’s a pretty good pick,’ the one that I, you know, that’s least offensive and maybe gets you the most because it gets you that secretary of state appointment is Jesse White… the one that I, you know, that’s least offensive and maybe gets you the most.”

I’m told by a Democratic campaign that they believe there are 400 ratings points behind this ad for the week.

…Adding… Pritzker supporter…

Sorry, @GovRauner, you don’t get to do this. Your cabinet is virtually devoid of black folk. GTCR’s team looks like a sheet of computer paper. Your budgets decimate ppl. of color. Your commitment to black entrepreneurs is non-existent. This is laughable hypocrisy. #twill #ilgov

— Christian Mitchell (@cljmitchell) February 28, 2018

…Adding… It should be noted that three of Rauner’s cabinet members are black: Erica Jeffries, Felicia Norwood and Janice Glenn. His first Lottery director was an African-American.

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