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* Sen. Kirk Dillard told the Daily Herald that he may wait until after the spring session is over to formally kick off his gubernatorial campaign. Asked about potential GOP rival Bruce Rauner, Dillard called him a friend and gave him some unsoliciated advice…

“I think there’s an important role for Bruce Rauner in state government. We need him,” Dillard said. “But it might not be the actual governorship where he can best serve the people of Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:14 pm

Comments

A Dillard-Rauner ticket is the fastest way for Kirk to erase his campaign debt and become the front runner for the GOP nomination.

And it will never happen.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:19 pm
“I think there’s an important role for Bruce Rauner in state government. We need him,” Dillard said. “But it might not be the actual governorship where he can best serve the people of Illinois.”

“It would be blowing millions pounding lumps on Schock, Rutherford, Brady, and everyone but me. Just not me, okay?”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:21 pm
Senator Dillard,
Your friends won’t tell you, but I will. Being an “insider” to the political game is no longer an asset. The “insiders” have gotten us where we are today.
We need someone that will shake things up. Until you can prove otherwise, Rauner looks to have a much better resume for that type of heavy lifting.

Comment by Downstate Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:23 pm
Heh, “Oh please please please don’t spend all that money in a primary, pretty please!”

Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:36 pm
Dillard is a nice guy, but I believe his train has left the station.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:37 pm
Boy, I wish the follow-up was…

“Sen. Dillard, exactly WHERE is it that he can best serve the people of Illinois?”

I’d like to hear that answwer, since dillard knows a “Governorship” is NOT best.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:38 pm
He’s trying to say, as nicely as he can re. a job he’s longed for probably ever since Jim Edgar left Springfield, to “why don’t ya, or do ya think maybe ya might reconsider and could…”–since we all know that the only REAL reason you could even run for Gov. is due to the GLOB$ of mula you have–”…just maybe BUD out” of this one, and run for the U.S. Senate or Congress or somethin’???!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:46 pm
“Actual governorship”

I like it!

Comment by phocion Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:46 pm
=== “But it might not be the actual governorship where he can best serve the people of Illinois.”===

For example, Rauner could take that $50 million he has and buy every Illinoisan a pack of cigarettes. Think of the tax revenue windfall we’d have!

It’s all going up in smoke either way.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:49 pm
“I waited for my turn, now you wait yours”

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 3:55 pm
Dillard could be elected seretary of state if jesse doesn’t run, but the actual governorship….well you gotta win the actual primary first

Comment by Publius Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:01 pm
Do you really believe that the Rauners who have contributed TONS of dough to politicians like Jan Schakowsky, Bill Foster, $70k to the Democratic National Committee, Dick Durbin, Barack Obama, Dan Seals, over $200k to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and serve on the “kitchen cabinet” of and contributor to Rahm Emanuel are not insiders?

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:04 pm
-Cincinnatus -,

No snark.

Will someone in the GOP Primary be able to “define” Rauner, given the money disadvantage in the media, and further, will Dillard have the sufficinet ground game to defeat Rauner if you get close enough to make it a horse race on Election Day (GOTV).

Those are Dillard’s “challenges” … today.

1) Money, and 2) Organization to defeat the “air assult” on Election Day.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:09 pm
- are not insiders? -

Who cares? Is Dillard not an insider?

And to your guilt by association list, Dillard is the one that called Rauner a friend, and Obama.

Better find a new line of attack, and a big pot of money.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:13 pm
Rauner is going to try and knock everyone out months before the primary so the only ones left standing are ideological candidates with name rec like Brady and Rauner.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:16 pm
Chicago Cynic,
Brady likely got a wake up call after seeing the members of Rauner’s committee. Many of those were BIG donors to the Brady campaign last time around.

Comment by Downstate Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:28 pm
If Lisa Madigan runs all of these white guys should save us all a lot of time and stop pretending.

Comment by just sayin' Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 4:39 pm
Damned by faint praise.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 5:19 pm
Perhaps the Second Life Governorship is more fitting?

Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 5:48 pm
Dillard and Rauner despise each other.

Dillard has the know-how, Rauner has money. If Rauner was smart, he’d fund Dillard and enjoy having a say as a “silent partner” down the road. But that’s not going to happen because of Rauner’s ego.

Comment by Newsclown Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 5:49 pm
If I’m a GOP candidate’s manager, I tie Rauner to Rahm as much as I can during the primary. With an electorate that gave us Bill Brady (over the better-funded McKenna) in 2010, Rauner could be in trouble with such a campaign.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 5:51 pm
If Rauner actually has any management/operational skills — and that remains to be seen because some successful hedge funders do not — then he would be most helpful to the state in a supporting complementary role to the Governor. I’ve been asking for this for years, and supported a joint ticket for the two top executive jobs to allow this possibility. (e.g. CEO/COO structure).

I am glad Dillard picked up on the idea, snark or not.

Egos and tradition get in the way.

Comment by walkinfool Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 7:08 pm