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* From the twitters…

I've always found this to be the hardest day of a campaign. Keep those candidates in tough races in your thoughts.

— Daniel Biss (@danielbiss) March 17, 2014

I tend to think more about the over-worked, under-paid, bone-tired staffers at times like this, but he has a good point, so…

* The Question: Who is in your thoughts on this day before the 2014 primary and why?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 11:56 am

Comments

The poor people who have to answer the phone and tell people where their polling place is.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 11:58 am
Who is in your thoughts on this day before the 2014 primary and why?

I am thinking of all the under paid bone tired staffers and if they will have a job after Tuesday. Goog luck to them all.

Comment by Job seeker or job keeper Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 11:59 am
The unwitting participants in the ugliest of the races…family, friends, staff, staff’s ex-girlfriends. Candidates sign up for the abuse and lack of privacy. The rest do not.

Comment by Ike Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:00 pm
The candidates - on both sides of the aisle- that are getting ravaged by the purity police. None of them deserve it and all of them are being unfairly singled out.

Comment by Lord Stanley's Cup Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:02 pm
Like you Rich, I’m thinking baout the grunts in the trenches. At the end of the day, the checklist is complete, whether everything on it has been done or not.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:02 pm
The Republican voters that later this year may regret their vote for Governor and U.S. Senate.

Comment by Mr. T Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:03 pm
The Coms Directors knocking doors. A respite from the press release, may you have sun and a coat to mitigate the windchill.

Comment by Dizzy Cow Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:07 pm
My poll workers. If you get there early enough, they have cookies.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:07 pm
Staffers, jeez. Consultants like me have nothing to do the closer e-day comes and the most useless person on the big day is the candidate.

Comment by Will Caskey Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:07 pm
I am thinking about the long day I will have tomorrow as an election judge. Turnout is predicted to be light in McLean County even with a home-grown candidate for gov in the mix.

It will be interesting to see if the turnout will be higher than 2010. Brady was in that race, too.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:08 pm
The voters of Illinois who have, in many cases, only a set of second rate candidates from which to select from. It often boils down to: do I pick the bad candidate or the worse candidate?

Comment by Hit or Miss Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:09 pm
The good candidates who never had a chance, and the young, underpaid or unpaid staffers who hitched their horses to the wrong wagons.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:10 pm
Dan Rutherford. I don’t know how his situation will ultimately shake out, which, if any, of the accusations are true and which are not, but it has been sad to see his campaign & career collapse in the way it has.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:11 pm
I’m rooting for Dillard and Guzzardi, because I like a shock from the underdog. Also for Sandack. Not much excitement in the races on my ballot this year, a D in 60625, so I’ve gotta get my jollies elsewhere around the city and state.

Comment by Levi Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:14 pm
My oldest daughter. If Dillard wins the primary and then is dumped by the unions in favor of Quinn in November, opportunity for Illinois private job sector growth will be pretty much dead for the forseeable future. Maybe then she’ll lose her sentimental attachment to Chicago and join us in Arizona.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:14 pm
The mail carries of the following districts, House- 39,40,48, and 81 Senate-24

Comment by Come on man! Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:14 pm
I’m not sure who to think of at this point. For this election it’s not clear who to think of. Like some of the comments here I probably should consider the workers who either are working campaigns or the people who have to work the polls as election judges.

Comment by Levois Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:15 pm
Tio Hardiman is my choice because, he’s not part of the corruption in Springfield, raised $50,000,000 for his former job from zero dollars, saved thousands of lives and hired over three hundred ex offenders with executive experience to heal this state. He is a good role model letting u and I know that we can all run for offices when things aren’t going right among our corrupt elected officials. I love his story and very honored to know Pat Quinn has a challenger. What else do we need other than the truth….

Comment by Mike Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:18 pm
Spoiler alert: off topic rant.

The people in my thoughts today are the stupid drunken revelers who continue to embarrass themselves, ruin a fine holiday and perpetuate the worst stereotype of my Irish heritage. You know who you are. The freaking ejits clad in green who get themselves black out drunk before noon and make it impossible for me to bring my kids to the parade. The losers with beads and shamrocks on their cheeks who order a “black and tan” or an “Irish car bomb” with no sense of irony.

The Irish are the only ethnic group with so little self-respect that we tolerate the worst things people say about us, that we’re ignorant alcoholic brawlers. Can you imagine any other ethnic group that would allow itself to be portrayed in public this way?

St. Patrick’s Day has overtaken New Year’s Eve as the largest amateur drunk fest in the history of public intoxication. It seems to get worse every year and it’s time for those of us who care deeply about our Irish roots and heritage to push back against this.

A few thousand drunken losers, traipsing through the city streets like zombies at 2 in the afternoon, are ruining this day for the rest of us. This behavior is an insult to anyone of Irish descent. I, for one, am sick of it.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:20 pm
My sympathies are with the republican gubernatorial and U. S. Senate primary voters who will have to make the hard decision between repulsive and repugnant, never an easy one but especially tough this year!

Comment by William j Kelly Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:20 pm
The “Paid Volunteers” of the 4 legislative Caucuses.

While Senior Staff berates these poor souls on “pluses” and walk sheets and Election Day signs, credentials for poll watching, the “counts” at 9, Noon, and 3, and every aspect of running their campaigns from beginning to end and the countless hours of work, with more yelling thrown towards them than praise at times.

I think about the souls who work precincts and those putting up signs. Up before the sun, signs at polling places are put up, and the volunteers working the precincts, clipboards and palm cards at the ready when doors open at 6am, starting a day that ends well after 7, getting those tapes like report cards.

The “Paid Volunteers”, those putting up signs, the precinct foot soldiers; I think of them from 1 week out, until the last tapes are counted in the Campaign Offices.

…while some golfed in Election Day…that is another story.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:23 pm
Thinking about junior level staffers. The days before election day are some of the most intense, surreal, and challenging days I can remember in my young life. To those of you who will be unemployed Wednesday, do not let it discourage you, you have fought the (probably) good fight for what you believe in and that is something not everyone can say. Keep your heads up.

Comment by LA05 Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:24 pm
campaign workers, especially
field coordinators for any candidate not backed by the party. Tough to get even otherwise dedicated volunteers to stand out in the cold and take a day off of work.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:33 pm
When do the good candidates show up?

Comment by Union Man Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:35 pm
I’m still feelng sorry for the Quinn supporters who walked in the Springfield St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They didn’t deserve the boos.

Comment by Bulbous1 Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:36 pm
Bruce Rauner’s vest. Cause if by chance he loses the primary it will probably go to Goodwill where it will be picked up by someone who will actually get it dirty.

Comment by Irish Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:41 pm
A good day/week to be in FL…

Comment by Amuzing Myself Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:41 pm
When, oh when, will one candidate tell the people the truth about the state’s financial situation. We need both significant cuts in spending, and matching increases in revenue if we are ever to balance our budget. Democrats can’t contemplate budget cuts and Republicans think they can roll back taxes. Both are totally wrong, and totally dishonest. There is no other way out of our downward spiral.

Comment by catrike Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:42 pm
Oh, and to answer the question: volunteers. Everything they have to gain in this revolves around the success of their chosen candidate. Quite a roll of the dice in a lot of cases. Proud to know so many are so willing to participate in our election system.

Comment by Amuzing Myself Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:44 pm
Dan Rutherford. I believe that his doomed campaign has been a diversion, keeping him stable over the last few weeks. After tomorrow, the fact that his lifelong dream will go unrealized will begin to sink in. No more campaign stops, no more manufactured excitement… just a likely fourth-place finish and the end of a long political career, with his big election night spent hiding from the public as the votes are counted.

I hope that Dan has people around him who will support and help him when the total destruction of his career and reputation starts to become more clear to him. This will be a defining moment in his life, and I wish the best for him.

Comment by Snucka Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm
The spouses are the ones to pray for today & tomorrow…running for office is difficult but much more so on the candidate’s spouse (& children). God bless them!
(I was and still am blessed with a wonderfully loving and supportive wife who helped all along the way-and she is the only one happier than I that I retired).

Comment by Recovering Pol Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm
My thoughts are similar to ever election these days - how few of us (voters) actually take the time to select those who serve in public office. It seems everyone has a beef or complaint but only a very small percentage actually go out and do something about it. A sad commentary of our form of government that I don’t see changing anytime soon.

Comment by Stones Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm
Will Guzzardi. He was outside the Blue Line this morning being ignored by crabby hipsters.

Comment by bottom rung. Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:57 pm
The people of Ukraine.

Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 12:59 pm
Anyone working for Rutherford.

Comment by Innocent observer Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:04 pm
The underpaid staffers who are truly about to be out of work by the end of the week. Never an easy few days.

Comment by Bakersfield Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:14 pm
Partly thinking of people in countries that have no semblance of a working democracy, and how much better off we are.
And partly thinking sadly how much better our political process could be, and how much better we could be as a society, if only people would take the trouble to be better informed and more rational about politics and policy. Preaching to the choir, I know, because everybody on this blog is engaged on some level. How can it be that so many people think this stuff is boring and/or unimportant?

Comment by jake Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:20 pm
Field directors, who deal with the care and feeding of their troops, and have to deal with the fact that not all show up or do the job.

Comment by Archiesmom Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:31 pm
One more day to go , and the rotten adds will be gone till Sept. I hope!

Comment by Mokenavince Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:36 pm
Those TV station employees whose yearly salary review is next month. Suddenly the TV management will say “can’t afford to give you a raise. As you can see on this chart our revenue is way down compared to last month”.

Comment by DuPage Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:42 pm
Sandack and Sullivan, for having the courage to do what they believed was right, when the politically expedient thing to do was opposite. They earned many admirers.

Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:43 pm
47th Ward, thanks for the digression.

If our aldermen really cared about us, we all would be allowed to smack anybody wearing a ridiculous hat on St. Patrick’s Day.

But to the question — as I go to sleep early tonight to get enough rest to get me through a long day tomorrow, I’m feeling sorry for all the campaign staff that must be up all night doing last minute prep and then still has that long day on Tuesday.

Wandering in around 5:30 a.m. I always feel a bit odd whining about being up so early.

Comment by Smoggie Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:44 pm
Dan Rutherford. so sad that his dream job will elude him; I am truly sorry for what has happened to him, so of which was self-inflicted, but most of it was dirty politics and Illinois is the loser, IMHO.

Comment by Susiejones Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:45 pm
–The losers with beads and shamrocks on their cheeks who order a “black and tan” or an “Irish car bomb” with no sense of irony.–

You order a “Black and Tan” in Ireland and you’ll likely be picking you chiklets up off the pub floor.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 1:48 pm
The people throughout the world who don’t get the opportunity to vote or whose elections are rigged. While our political leaders might be light on intellect and corrupt, at the end of the day they are chosen by us and we are not held captive by force.

On a lighter note I’m with Rich, the “over-worked, under-paid, bone-tired staffers.” I would also add often under appreciated.

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 2:32 pm
Oscar. I’m expecting some Oscar pictures/videos now that the primary is coming to a close.

Comment by Timmeh Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 2:44 pm
My daughter is working her behind off on a campaign downstate. Besides the huge amount of hours, bad weather, fast food, etc. it all gets topped off by getting to stay at a Motel 6 for a few weeks. The best thing about campaigns is there is always an end in sight.

Comment by Been There Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:12 pm
Local elections are no brainers. Decent people who do a good job regardless of party. Many of whom I personally know. The staffers all committed to whoever they are with. Now, after listening/reading too much stuff those staffers put out, do I, as an Independent, take a Repub sheet just to vote for a non-Rauner or let it go while wishing there were better choices? The options all seem bland and no.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:25 pm
I’m thinking about Dan Proft and hoping that his mega funder will drop him like a bad habit after tomorrow’s results. Any success will only enlarge his already huge cranial mass.

I’m thinking about Dan Rutherford who’s planned this day for decades only to see it implode publicly.

I’m thinking of the candidates - good or bad - who had the courage and fortitude to appear on the ballot and take our barbs and arrows. At least they threw their hats in the ring unlike many armchair quarterbacks.

I’m thinking of their family and friends who have been put through the meat grinder.

I’m thinking of the Vegas bookies who probably took huge bets a year ago that Pat Quinn wouldn’t win the primary.

Comment by 4 percent Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:33 pm
Normally, I would say the staffers. This election, I am going to be thinking about Dan Rutherford’s mom. No mother likes to see their child to go through any of this but to see their child’s dream melt in front of their eyes has to be even more diffifult.

Comment by Yipperdo Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:39 pm
I’m thinking of the staffers. Thinking about my days living on fast food and stress, driving from polling place to polling place while swigging liquid antacid from a bottle, wearing out a pair of boots canvassing and/or running from rabid angry dogs. Living in hotels if you are lucky, and in a volunteer’s house if you are not. All of the donuts for volunteers that were never reimbursed. Staff get all the grunt work, none of the glory, and a lot of the blame if things go south. This process could not exist without them.

Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:46 pm
The tale of two campaign styles. George Gollin, a very bright, progressive candidate spending serious money in his central Illinois 13th Congressional District campaign with endorsements from the Chicago Tribune and Springfield Journal. He is long shot candidate against the Washington establishment’s selection of former Judge Ann Callis. Unfortunately, he has chosen to spend his resources on TV ads and doesn’t have any direct mail targeting Democratic households. If Gollin had divided his resources between cable TV and direct mail, he would greatly improve his chance of winning. He may still win. In politics somebody always wins, whether they run an effective campaign or stumble bum across the finish line. But Gollin has wasted much of his campaign resources.
Compare Gollin’s campaign strategy to State Representative Sue Scherer. I’ve received at least a dozen direct mail pieces from Representative Scherer. People I run into in Springfield tell me she has knocked on thousands of doors. She is probably on TV but I can’t remember seeing her ads.
I voted for both Gollin and Scherer, but which candidate has a better chance of winning tomorrow? My money is on Scherer.

Comment by Louis Howe Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:56 pm
Word, I get your point. But please cut the younger generation a bit of slack. They just want to have fun on the holiday and might not know the real meaning behind their adopted Irish beverage of choice. I doubt that few of that generation can distinguish between a Jameson and a Bushmills. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 3:58 pm
ME,MYSELF, AND I

Comment by just passing by Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:04 pm
Jake,

The problem is that it is our holiday, and the perception is that all Irish are drunken idiots.

I’m not aware of any other ethnic group that has a holiday basically mocking them.

And the black and tans? Maybe you need to actually be Irish to get why me might be a bit hostile to somebody ordering one today.

Comment by Smoggie Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:32 pm
Chris Sale and whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day.

I’m ready for the primaries to be over. Bring on the Sox!!

Comment by Ghost of John Brown Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:34 pm
===The problem is that it is our holiday, and the perception is that all Irish are drunken idiots.===

Take out the drinking and what would you have? One long, boring parade. It’d be Columbus Day with green hats. lol

Just sayin…

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:37 pm
And now, let’s get back to the topic at hand, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:38 pm
“Take out the drinking and what would you have? One long, boring parade. It’d be Columbus Day with green hats. lol

Just sayin… ”

No, it would be a few Irishmen calling their mothers to tell them they went to Mass when they didn’t.

That would be about it.

Comment by Smoggie Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:40 pm
====Maybe you need to actually be Irish to get why me might be a bit hostile to somebody ordering one today. ====

Breaking my own command here, but as an Orangemen, I’m not sure why you’d say such a thing.

Just joking.

Joking!

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:41 pm
Sorry, so the “get back to the topic” after I posted.

Back tot the topic, as much as I dislike Dillard’s politics, I do feel sorry for him today.

He followed the path that the GOP typically follows. He did his time, and built the resume, and under most circumstances most would say that he’s next line to be on the ballot for the big office.

I don’t know how much of it was from doing a non-partisan act six or seven years ago, but still, it looks like he’s not going to get the nomination this year and I don’t think he can reasonably expect it in the future.

Seeing a career effectively end for a somebody who pretty much did the right things to advance is sort of tough, even if he was destined to lose in November even if he did get the nod.

Today, he’s got to realize that after a long political career, it very likely is going to come to an end tomorrow.

Even if you don’t like the guy’s political views, it is still sad to see.

Comment by Smoggie Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 4:48 pm
Right now…

“Paid Volunteers” are ordering dinner. Most will be sleeping at the office tonight, not unlike most nights thus week or even the last 10 days…

The Election Day help will be arriving at 4:30 or so, getting all the missing kit items, and making sure polling place addresses are correct. Donuts arrive at the same time, a “reward” for those leaving to get out in the dark to work a multiple polling place. Things will be so calm, yep, than the 9 am calls begin…

It’s 5 pm, and the next 30 hours is just the last 4-6 months compressed in those 30 hours, with volunteers added in the mix, and no tomorrow to correct errors made on the fly.

If i could, I would send you all, Dems and GOP “Paid Volunteers”, a pizza and the adult beverage of your choice. Since I can’t, I toast you ALL.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 5:12 pm
My thoughts go out to the campaign workers who grunted it out during this brutally cold and snowy winter, to get out the vote. I was out ringing doorbells on one of those very cold days.

My thoughts also go out to my mailbox, that did an outstanding job being stuffed with mailers. Today was the last day, thankfully.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 6:05 pm
Dan Rutherford. If he is innocent of the “alleged” charges leveled at him, then if this was a set-up by a political rival to knock him out of the GOP Primary, then good luck living with yourself in the upcoming years. The odds are that you not only knocked him out of this GOP Primary race but that you also probably destroyed an innocent man’s reputation and career which he had devoted a lifetime building. That would be a very tough thing to live with.
If Dan is ultimately found guilty, then to paraphrase Judy Barr–”What was he thinking?”

Comment by Frosty-The Snowman Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 6:17 pm
The Volunteers, particularly the ones, and there will be many, who get absolutely NOTHING in return for their hard work, generosity, sacrifice and loyalty. SOME of these folks will reap some big benefit from it, some a little, but there WILL be those who give all and “get” zero in return–it’s ALL done for somebody else’s benefit: my hat’s off to YOU people tonight and tomorrow, and the sad thing is, a lot of you don’t even understand you’re IN this category, but, God bless you anyhow…!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 7:59 pm
Right about now,” my thoughts go out to Maureen O’Hara and Victor McLaglen. I think John Wayne has just about had it with those two. There’s going to be a fight.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 9:11 pm
- wordslinger -

At my desk, watching the end of “The Quiet Man” … “Right now”…

Sounds as though you may be too…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 9:16 pm
Willie, if I’m settled in and there’s a John Ford movie on, I’m watching it.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 9:21 pm
- wordslinger -,

Great way to settle in, indeed. On again, back to back, no less. Never tires.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 9:29 pm
Dan Rutherford.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 9:31 pm
Willie, if you haven’t spotted it before, check out Ford’s “The Informer,” from 1935. A very dark Irish tale.

McLaglen is an IRA man in the 1920s who, for 20 pounds, rats out a comrade to the Black and Tans, who kill him — the Judas story.

McLaglen won the Oscar for Actor, Ford for Director.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 9:51 pm
I need to see that. Actually, really need to get a better handle on my “Ford works”. Appreciate the recommend.

Dunno if I told you, but I did a long while back finished “Toots”.

Thanks for that recommend too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 10:01 pm
Yeah, Toots was awesome. NYC in the 50s, three baseball teams, Sinatra, Gleason, Hemingway, Dimaggio, Earl Warren and Frank Costello, all boozing in the same room.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 10:06 pm
…And the “Press” made news of the news, and kept quiet…what need not be news.

Manhattan in the ’50s, you are right about that. The Crossroads of the World, and so many worlds too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 17, 14 @ 10:11 pm
Replying to Louis Howe here: Gollin sent out 124,000 pieces of mail in 5 flights to likely voters.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Mar 18, 14 @ 11:25 am

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