The home stretch
Sunday, Nov 2, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Quinn campaign sure has a lot of closing ads up right now…
* Governor Pat Quinn TV Ad - “Hoops” (in heavy rotation)
* Quinn for Illinois TV Ad - Bruce Rauner “No” (15 seconds)
* Governor Pat Quinn TV Ad - “Gloria” (Español)
* Governor Pat Quinn TV Ad - “Lots of Jobs”
They’re all over the map.
* Meanwhile, Tribune…
Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner on Saturday sought to tap into long-simmering regional rivalries as he urged Downstate supporters to “block that Chicago political machine” by voting for him over Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who in turn looked to first lady Michelle Obama for help in the final weekend of the campaign.
Launching a three-day statewide tour in Quincy, Rauner sought to reinforce a campaign theme that Illinois has had enough of Quinn and three other Chicago Democrats: his imprisoned predecessor Rod Blagojevich, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
“Those four guys are the Chicago political machine,” said Rauner, who was joined by wife Diana and running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti. “They’ve controlled our state government for decades and decades … and they’ve driven our state into the ground.”
Rauner made no mention of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a personal friend who nonetheless endorsed Quinn, though the governor has so far refused to return the favor.
* Daily Herald…
Quinn stopped Saturday evening in Waukegan, more than 100 miles from where he started the day with a rally with Michelle Obama in Moline, on the far western border of the state.
Just last week, Quinn dispatched a top state school official to Waukegan Unit District 60, where a teachers strike had worn on for nearly a month, and a tentative agreement was reached that day.
“I think the governor is well-respected in Waukegan right now,” said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat.
Rauner will come to north suburban Lincolnshire Monday for his final rally before Election Day. He’ll be joined by U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, suburban Republicans running for Congress and former Gov. Jim Edgar.
* Tribune…
On the final weekend before Election Day, U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis met with friends Saturday at a “soft opening” of a new Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy store in Bolingbrook, one of many stops on his campaign schedule. […]
Durbin, 69, appeared with first lady Michelle Obama at a get-out-the-vote rally in Moline, in western Illinois. The rally drew Gov. Pat Quinn, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos and other Democrats on the ballot Tuesday. […]
Oberweis launched his day with two stops in Wheaton: an American Legion pancake breakfast at the Cantigny Park Visitor Center and the French Market, an outdoor venue where bakery goods, fruits and vegetables, French tea towels and other trinkets are sold.
* Other stuff…
* Schilling Releases Final Ad: “Why I’m Running”
* Rauner campaigns downstate while volunteers phone bank
* Early voting ends Sunday for election
* Advocates push voting ahead of Election Day
* Schock wins in race to raise money
* Several issues await Quinn-Rauner winner