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Wrong, wrong, wrong

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Illinois

Pretty much every story I’ve read so far claims that the governor’s fundraising slowed way down during the last filing period (July 1 through December 31), and some suggest that this was due to all the ongoing federal and state investigations.

Absolutely, positively not true.

You have to compare apples to apples. Blagojevich does his big fundraiser in the first half of the year (except for 2003) and then doesn’t raise much the second half. If you don’t believe me, here are the numbers:

Last six months of 2005: $1.9 million

Last six months of 2004: $934,000

First six months of 2003 (his big fundraiser was in, I think, July that year): $257,000

I’m as tough on the guv as the next guy, but to suggest that his fundraising is slowing because of all the investigations is just not right, and totally unfair.

In reality, he doubled his fundraising over the last similar filing period.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 5:36 am

Comments

Who the heck is giving this clown more money? Don’t they read the newspapers, see the news, hear people talking about his administration and their constant missteps and ethics problems? They’ve already bought off the legislators with their money, why give this failed administrator any more to play with. The state of the state and the state of the union are both abysmal.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 6:52 am
Obviously not everyone thinks itâ€™s a failed administration, genius. Itâ€™s very apparent that the Governor still has VERY strong support.

Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 7:04 am
b hicks- They are giving money to get the “spoils”. It has nothing to do with believing in good government. It’s just business- unfortunately, the Roddog is rewarding them with taxpayer dollars- which makes it suspect at best- and possibly criminal at worst.
Please don’t confuse the two- genius.

Comment by roy slade Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 8:35 am
Rich, Good catch. Very astute. In the business world you compare the same month [period] last year. You wouldn’t compare December numbers at Macy’s with July numbers would you? Why would do the same in the political world? Giving patterns exist there, too.

Comment by Greg Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 9:22 am
I wonder if Rod knows the job doesn’t go to the person with the most money. GO JUDY!

Comment by Union Girl Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 4:28 pm
The $250,000 campaign donation to the Governor from the SEIU has cost the state millions of dollars. Homemaker providers have received a couple of rate increases for this donation.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 5:08 pm
If you don’t think the home healthcare workers deserved a dollar an hour raise you need help yourself. They are the lowest paid employees you trust to take care of your aged parents.

Comment by Just a thought Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 7:15 pm
I just don’t get it. He raised fees on most citizens, bashed all state workers, torqued off most communities by holding back lots of capital improvement projects; road improvements etc. His disapproval % puts him in the bottom 5 or 6 states. WHO supports him enough to throw $$ at him??

Comment by North of I-80 Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 9:03 pm
The unfortunate thing is many of the state’s voters are oblivious to all of this.. . the same facts that send us insiders over the edge barely get a sound bite at 10pm. Blago will buy tons of television ads, glossing over the highlights of programs that aren’t funded but sound good. Candidates are already quaking over the $15 million war chest…. why wouldn’t you donate.. he is looking like a shoo-in

Comment by inish Wednesday, Feb 1, 06 @ 9:50 pm
Democrats should think about what they stand for and whether that is in line with what the current governor is all about (raising money and passing out favors to his buddies). We can do better! I think Edwin Eisendrath offers a true committment to helping improve our state’s schools, businesses (both small and large), and also make a positive impact on the lives of the working poor and middle class populations that are being ignored by the cash register who is currently occupying the governor’s seat. What do you stand for, democrats? Make the right choice on March 21!

Comment by Illiniforever Thursday, Feb 2, 06 @ 12:31 pm