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An interesting little development

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Illinois

* From a Downstate subscriber…

I got a robocall from a company called 20/20 Insight last night. It was a push poll focusing on [Libertarian] Chad Grimm and Bruce Rauner.

It asked whether I’d be more likely to vote for Grimm if I knew he was: 1) the only candidate who is pro-life, 2) the only candidate who is for repealing the income tax, 3) the only candidate who is pro-gun and 4) wants to end the war on drugs.

20/20 Insight appears to serve mainly corporate types.

Anybody else receive this call? And, please, record it if you get one of these.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:16 am

Comments

No call yet. but I have been wondering for a couple of weeks now when Grimm was going to start getting some money spent on his behalf..

Comment by yo Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:19 am
If it wasn’t for the last part I’d say it was likely that the Dems were doing paid calls to 3/3 Republican primary voters (or other identified hard conservatives) but I’d be surprised if the Dems would include that last part. It could actually be the Libertarians doing this.

Comment by The Captain Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:24 am
They lay quite a clear, clean combination.

Enough money and scope?

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:25 am
I also received the call a few nights ago - I don’t remember the last question about the war on drugs. I thought it was a push poll for Grimm, though, not Rauner. I live in central Illinois.

Comment by IBE Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:28 am
The script sounds like a legit Libertarian message to me. If they really are behind it, good for them. Robocalls are hardly the most effective form of voter persuasion, but something is better than nothing.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:29 am
My guess is that it’s the tip of the iceberg.

Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:29 am
Could be the Dems funding it. But there are Libby sugar daddies out there on the national level.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:30 am
how can i get one for my voice mail?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:31 am
I still like the idea of Rich doing a QOTD on Chad Grimm’s percent of the vote.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:31 am
Yo

“No call yet. but I have been wondering for a couple of weeks now when Grimm was going to start getting some money spent on his behalf.”

I wonder who is behind this. Is it possibly a Democratic effort to switch GOP voters that are single issue voters away from Rauner and towards Grimm.

I have suggested this approach to some of the union people, who haven’t been enthusiastic. They are only interested in courting votes for Quinn. They fail to see the logic in informing people they can still vote against Quinn and not vote for Rauner. Every vote that Rauner doesn’t get is one less vote Quinn has to overcome.

Those people that don’t like Quinn and are voting for Rauner because of this dislike, Grimm is an alternative. With a lot of GOP voters being pro-life, and Rauner now coming out stronly pro-choice, neither candidate appeals to them. Grimm is a viable alternative.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:33 am
The problem with the idea that the Libertarians are behind this is question one, as I would believe, most Libertarians are pro-choice. But again, if they are trying to recruit GOPers to vote Libertarian, they may think its wise to include it.

Comment by Just Observing Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:35 am
Paid for by Citizens for Quinn. I mean it could be a libertarian message, but the drugs comment could be there just to throw people off the scent since it so obviously benefits Quinn.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:37 am
Is Grimm included in the Peoria debate next week? My guess is no, but he should be. His participation would certainly liven things up.

Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:41 am
It does make you wonder. My instincts make me think Quinn’s folks are behind it. No proof — merely a suspicion.

Comment by Under Further Review Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:42 am
In Rauner’s defense, he is pro-life when speaking to pro-life groups of voters.

Comment by Jeepster Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:42 am
Local 150

Comment by phocion Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:50 am
Rauner tells whatever group or person he is speaking to what he thinks they want to hear. He believes in nothing, except making as much money as possible and now becoming Governor. That is abundantly clear to anyone paying attention.

Comment by DuPage Mama Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:57 am
I got this call 3 days ago. It’s long. You’ve got to hang in there a long time. It definitely had a Libertarian tilt to it. It was the same 20/20 company. 5 minutes later got a call asking to speak to the youngest female voter in the household. That one was live. Weird.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:02 am
Interesting to consider subterfuge here but it is probably a Libertarian effort. Slightly off topic, something I have started to notice locally is that there is a dearth of Rauner yard signs of any type. In the last election Brady signs were abundant as they were during the primary, even few Dillard signs. I live in an EXTREMELY conservative area near Bloomington which would account for the Brady support. I find it somewhat telling that there is nearly no (one sign) visible Rauner support. No Quinn signs either, but that is not a surprise.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:09 am
Grimm is pro-life?! If that is true, the narrative completely writes itself. If he campaigns hard on it, he’ll get 10% of the vote.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:11 am
I agree with — Just Observing — I thought Libertarians were pro-Choice. Is Grimm on the record as pro-life?

Comment by Frank T. Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:12 am
if he gets 10% on every issue he wins

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:14 am
The Libertarian Party in Illinois is Pro-life, pro-gun and anti-tax.

It is definitely a Libertarian Call.

Democrats would not waste a dime including the war
On drugs question.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:21 am
Once again: the libertarian platform in Illinois is Pro-Life.

Not just Grimm, but I believe the whole ticket.

This is why I have been saying all along Rauner and Cross have a serious, serious problem.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:23 am
The problem here is, what can the GOP do?

They can’t raise Cain about it in the media…that just gives Libertarians free press.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:26 am
is there any u tube?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:28 am
robocalls are quite cheap relative to mail or tv or radio.

I hope it is the libertarians that are behind it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if somehow a Quinn ally was involved.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:28 am
JS Mills

I have seen the sign thing. Not just with Rauner though. I live in a area with a lot of UMWA members where if you want to hold local office you run Dem. I also drive between STL and Spfld for work seent he same inbetween. Both sides have candidates form Durbin/Obei down but no Gov spots. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more votes cast total for treasurer than gov.

Comment by Mason born Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:29 am
I’d like to see Grimm in the debate. I imagine, just like Whitney did in 2010, he would be the only one to address issues with some substance. Brady/Quinn was a puppet show.

Comment by Mittuns Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:30 am
and i know yard signs don’t vote.

Comment by Mason born Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:31 am
I received the call yesterday. I said it doesn’t matter what grimm’s positions were. I’m voting for Rauner.

Comment by Jerry Hubbard Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:39 am
My hunch is it is the unions who are trying to drive a pro-gun wedge between gunnies and Rauner sicne he didn’t get a grade or endorsement from NRA. they see an opening to take away votes to help Quinn.

Comment by Todd Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:54 am
“My hunch is it is the unions who are trying to drive a pro-gun wedge between gunnies and Rauner sicne he didn’t get a grade or endorsement from NRA. they see an opening to take away votes to help Quinn.”

I don’t think its coming from the unions. The higher ups at AFSCME are all pushing Quinn. They are completely rejecting the idea of suggesting Grimm to voters who are voting for Rauner because they don’t like Quinn (there are plenty of these in AFSCME). They view anyone who doesn’t vote for Quinn as a Rauner vote. In reality, every vote pushed from Rauner to Grimm is a vote for Quinn.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:00 pm
jerry,that`s quite a position you taken it must be cramped in there

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:07 pm
JS Mills–Veterans Parkway and Main Street in Bloomington-Normal has sprouted Republican candidate signs including Rauner.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:18 pm
Again, no union OR democratic consultant would spend the extra money to put the line in there about the war on drugs.

It is not a first-tier issue for voters, and when you are doing robocalls pricing depends on the length of call.

If I was doing the script, it would specifically tell Republican primary voters the two candidates positions on the issues and then ask them who they were more likely to vote for.

Throw away the tinfoil.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:39 pm
Nationally and individually, “libertarians” are conflicted on abortion, as there is one strong camp that interprets the issue as the right (for the mother) to be left alone by a government that has no business meddling in people’s personal or family lives, and another strong camp that believes protection of human life (including the unborn) is one of the very few responsibilities of a limited government.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:41 pm
Six degrees is right, libertarians are divided on abortion, and to some extent on foreign policy.

However, abortion is very low on the list of libertarian priorities.

Comment by Johnny Utah Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:54 pm
YDD & AFSCME

30-35% od trades guys are republican. and a lot of trades guys are gunnies. This demographics often give union leaders fits when trying to get their guys to vote a certain way.

I was querried by a couple of labor guys about Rauner’s p[osition on guns and then talked to about how the only real pro-gun guy in Grimm.

Like I said, my “hunch” is that some unions are paying for this.

Comment by Todd Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:01 pm
Pro-gun, Pro-Life, Pro-Legalization sounds like a winner of at least 8% of the vote. Disaffected 20 something fiscal hawks don’t like establishment vulture capitalists, and they’re pro-legalization. The lifers, well they are staunchly single-issue voters, their conscience won’t let them vote for a choicer, and as for the gun folks in this state, well, they don’t have an ally in Rauner or Quinn. It sounds like this call is trying to get three seperate groups into a coalition rather than espouse a platform that appeals to voters in general. Grimm could end up outdoing Whitney if this works as planned.

Comment by Jimbo Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:26 pm
Todd

“30-35% od trades guys are republican. and a lot of trades guys are gunnies. This demographics often give union leaders fits when trying to get their guys to vote a certain way.

I was querried by a couple of labor guys about Rauner’s p[osition on guns and then talked to about how the only real pro-gun guy in Grimm.

Like I said, my “hunch” is that some unions are paying for this.”

There are also a lot of AFSCME GOP, especially outside Cook County. My experience with a lot of the AFSCME people is that they are pushing Quinn solely as a labor issue. One leader I spoke with yesterday solely votes labor. He is actively recuiting to get volunteers for Quinn. He is attempting to downplay other issues & make the message anti-Rauner and nothing else. Rauner’s primary campaign really shot itself in the foot when it went hard against unions. Rauner failed to realize that not all union members are Democrats. I have a solid GOP voting record, yet I am voting for Quinn. Why? Because I took Rauner’s anti-union position as an attack on me. His statement that he would shut down state government rather than negotiate fairly was an attack on me. I might have voted for him. I was a Dillard supporter in 10 & 14. I definately don’t want to vote for Quinn, but I have to.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:50 pm
JS Mills & Nearly Normal:

Bloomington & Normal are carpeted with Rauner signs. They are literally everywhere…Lots of Davis signs too.

Comment by Greatplainser Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 2:44 pm
I first got the call on Tuesday, but couldn’t take it then. My wife didn’t want to be bothered so she ignored it, but I answered it last night. They are persistent, but they say as much on their website for 20/20 insight, llc. They did not identify with a campaign, but the questions were designed to test for Grimm. Before they got to the topline and issue testing questions they wanted to get the youngest adult in the household to answer the poll, so there may be a youth tilt to the purpose of this poll as well.

Comment by muon Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 3:02 pm
AFSCME — I agree with the way you took it. it was a bone headed move and after Indiana and Michigan the anti-union forces were all to full of themselves.

and it is gopnn bite them big time

BTW I was a Dillard guy

Comment by Todd Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 3:13 pm
A life long hard d; Turns out i’m actually a libertarian! Sadly, I’m still voting for Quinn, but you go Grimm! Great name!

Comment by wow Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 3:46 pm
Jon Stuart - open your eyes while you drive in Bloomington. Please, kids are walking in the streets…

Comment by Modest Proposal Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 4:14 pm
marijunana is a taboo subject in main stream party lines?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 4:23 pm