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* Back in the GOP primary, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 was the earliest and most enthusiastic supporters of the “Stop Rauner” movement. Subscribers know a bit more about the personal reasons behind this, but the political angle was totally genuine. Rauner is for “right to work,” and while 150 has lots of Republican members, that’s a killer issue for them.
So, on to today’s Illinois Review story [although David Ormsby had it first earlier this morning]…
Within minutes of filing his D-2 Quarterly Report showing $100.00 in his account late Wednesday night, Chad Grimm, Libertarian for Governor, reported getting a $30,000 donation from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 based in Countryside, Illinois. […]
Grimm’s numbers are nearing 7 points in the latest gubernatorial race polling, which could be devastating to the Rauner campaign November 4th.
$30K is chump change, but if 150 or other unions start kicking in more money, they might be able to cause some real trouble for Rauner.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:15 pm
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Previous Post: A few more thoughts on the debate
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$30,000 is 600,000 robo calls.
If they spend it on Yard signs, it is chump change.
If they spend it wisely, calling hard R’s in downstate counties with a pro-gun, pro-life, anti-tax message, Rauner is done.
That is five calls to 120,000 households.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:22 pm
Huge fan of 150. Huge.
They have always understood who they are, and their interests, and found common ground with Republicans because it made sense for both.
Plus, they are a Crew that once they go “in”, they’re in, they’re with you, Republicans too.
We will all see how this goes, but you have to respect their track record, and understanding they play a role on their terms.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:22 pm
What is the evidence that Chad Grimm has the campaign infrastructure to use $250K on short notice?
If anyone wants to buy robocalls or TV/radio ads, it’ll happen faster to just buy the ads rather than give Grimm the money and have him figure it out.
Hypothesis: the money was given to Grimm so the media would start including him in their stories.
It’s a gamble to write Grimm into news stories.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:23 pm
Grimm and the Libertarians don’t have a list of “Conservative” names and numbers without somebody giving it to them.
But NGP VAN now has every voter scored on a 0-100 rating, right?
Somebody with access to the VAN could create a list of 0-5 voters in southern Illinois and counties where Rauner was weak in primary.
Probably a good starting place to look for “Conservatives” looking to defect to a truly “Conservative” candidate.
Whoever is doing the calls should probably include that Rauner was a major contributor to Richie Daley and Rahm Emanuel. A pro-abortion wife plus big contributions to Mayors of Chicago should go a long way to getting “Conservatives” to vote against Rauner.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:28 pm
The 150 donation story was reported/blogged earlier this morning elsewhere.
But, what the heck, IR needs some love, too.
Comment by David Ormsby Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:29 pm
How un-surprising.
Comment by phocion Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:31 pm
Ironic…..70 million dollars spent and I am toying with the idea of voting for the guy down to his last 100 bucks. An anti-Rauner vote and NOT a pro-Quinn vote……he might be my guy.
Comment by Dear Abby Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:32 pm
@Dear Abby…….
I understand voting for someone who you like but I don’t understand wasting my vote on someone who won’t win. Why wouldn’t you just vote for PQ? That is what you are doing in reality.
Comment by Concerned Voter Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:38 pm
Carl, radio ads would not be a bad shot, but I would stick with the phones.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:40 pm
And the advantage of giving the money instead of in-kind is great.
You don’t want calls or ads targeting republicans to say paid for by local 150.
And the union is not going to be responsible for the content.
Although I bet Grimm gets some assistance.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:42 pm
===story was reported/blogged earlier this morning elsewhere===
Ooooops. Sorry, buddy.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:44 pm
“This is a secret phone call for Illinois’ Conservative voters. If you are not a Conservative, hang-up now.
“Bruce Rauner is a pro-abortion Chicagoan who lives in a luxury highrise condo. Rauner is not and never was a Conservative Republican. He has donated over $100,000 to both Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former Mayor Richard Daley.
“Chad Grimm, the Libertarian, is the guy running for Governor who will shake up Springfield. Let’s show that Conservative votes are important.
“If Chad Grimm gets 5% of the vote it will be much easier for Conservative Libertarians to get on the ballot in future elections.
“If Chad Grimm gets at least 10% of the vote, Republicans will be forced to show Conservatives the respect we deserve.
“As a Conservative, I ask you, don’t waste your vote on Bruce Rauner, political supporter and ally of gun-grabbers Richie Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
“Do the right thing and vote for Chad Grimm, pro-gun and anti-abortion and not a political insider.”
###
How could the script be made better?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:47 pm
;-)
Comment by David Ormsby Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:48 pm
===How could the script be made better? ===
You forgot gay marriage.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:53 pm
@Concerned Voter, voting for Grimm is more than an anti-Rauner vote or a pro-Quinn vote. Looking at it through that lens is missing the bigger picture. For Libertarians, it is the chance of 5% and “major” party status. It is also making all of the hard work fighting the ballot access challenges worth it.
Comment by Downstate Libertarian Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 1:58 pm
How could the script be made better?
Say “The only Pro Life candidate” instead of “anti abortion”
Comment by John A Logan Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:03 pm
I know that I am over reacting. However I cannot shake the feeling that this race is over. Rauner is heading to the trash heap of history.
Comment by John A Logan Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:06 pm
You forgot “Bruce Rauner has suggested restoring Pat Quinn’s income tax hike, and says he will raise sales taxes by $600 million if elected.”
Drop the strategic voting stuff, wordsmith it and you are good to go.
Again, unless they spend this on yard signs and consultants — and it looks like Grimm can get all the free advice he wants — $30K used well can be pretty devastating.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:17 pm
Yes, what Downstate Libertarian said. Take a stand, conservative voters! Let your voice be heard from Savanna to Roxana! From Bannockburn to Mount Auburn!
Comment by chi Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:17 pm
[Background sound effect: AR-15 being field stripped and re-assembled]
“My fellow gun owner: in the time it takes you to listen to this phone call, I can field strip my AR-15 and re-assemble it, twice.
“Do you trust Bruce Rauner? I don’t.
“I’m voting for Charles Grimm, the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Illinois.
“Bruce Rauner has contributed over $100,000 to two of America’s major gun grabbers: Chicago Mayors Richie Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
“That’s a whole bunch more than you need to give to get parking tickets fixed.
“Bruce Rauner even goes on vacations with Emanuel.
“At some point Rauner is going to ask Emanuel for votes to pass a bill. And Emanuel is going to ask for Rauner to take away your gun rights.
“That’s just how politics works. People like you and me are bargaining chips for people like Bruce Rauner.
“Please vote for Charles Grimm. We need to show that people who care about Second Amendment rights are unshakably committed to our rights. We will not be bargaining chips for phony Conservatives.
“See you at the gun range, brother!”
[sound effect: firing AR-15 at a range]
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 2:51 pm
“Somebody with access to the VAN could create a list of 0-5 voters in southern Illinois and counties where Rauner was weak in primary.”
That would be all kinds of violations of VAN’s terms of service.
If I remember correctly, such things have happened in other states, and they resulted in loss of VAN access for the Democratic campaign that supplied/leaked the list and a trip to the courthouse for the campaign that received the list.
That said, with this first thirty grand, one could easily hire a spreadsheet whiz or two to crunch the raw primary voter data available from Springfield and create a very good list for a Carl’s downstate call.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 3:05 pm
One has to ponder just how much real Democratic money goes to the Libertarian candidate?
Would make a great news story.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 3:15 pm
How about billboards in view of guard parking at Downstate prisons with a pic of Rahm and Rauner with wine & the “Rocky Mountain High” in the background and two words: “Vote Libertarian!”
Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 3:35 pm
Ydd. I’ll take my u were right pat on the back now
Comment by Todd Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 4:26 pm
The Quinn camp is (foolishly, IMHO) running the ad downstate that claims Rauner doesn’t support banning assault weapons…so I’m not seeing how phone calls stating the opposite would hurt Rauner now.
Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 4:55 pm
Rauner might win, because Quinn’s approval rating is in the basement.
But if he does, it will be in spite of himself and his crew. He’s been taking a beating for two weeks now.
The primary win was the Bush Leagues; Rauner had all the money. His crew hasn’t shown that they’re ready for the bigs.
Another very bad week for them. They raised crazy expectations for the LAC (why, I have no idea), but nothing happened.
Seriously, you guys can’t come up with one “George Bailey” business success spot? They’re 30 seconds! How much do you need to make it up?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 10, 14 @ 5:36 pm