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Rauner with 2-1 money lead over Quinn

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Illinois

Republican Bruce Rauner and Democrat Pat Quinn are on pace to spend more than $100 million on the Illinois governor’s race, doubling the state’s previous record in a closely watched contest featuring heavy investment by business and labor.

As of Wednesday evening, Rauner had collected $63.75 million and Quinn had raised $29.3 million — the balance tilted to the Republican side largely because the Winnetka equity investor has dipped into his own fortune for $26.1 million. […]

Campaign disclosure reports show Rauner has raised his money from more than 8,500 separate donations. But 23 individuals or groups account for donations of $100,000 or more, generating more than $47 million of the $63 million he’s raised. Rauner sits atop the list with his own $26.1 million — nearly as much as Quinn has raised overall.

Rauner’s top six donors, excluding himself, account for $15.2 million: the Republican Governors Association with $8.6 million; Chicago hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin with $4.6 million; longtime conservative donor Richard Uihlein and his Uline Corp. with $640,000; the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association with $565,000; and Rauner former equity firm business partner Edgar Jannotta Jr. and Elizabeth Christie, another donor to GOP causes, with $405,300 each.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:01 am

Comments

There is a difference between collected and raised.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:05 am
=== Quinn had raised $29.3 million — the balance tilted to the Republican side largely because the Winnetka equity investor has dipped into his own fortune for $26.1 million.===

If you can “cover” what your opponent can completely raise on your own dime, the doubling up on the monies gets to be easier, especially with Ken Griffin kicking in too.

And doesn’t Rauner whine and cry about being outspent?

You covered Quinn, you covered him personally. You raises enough and then some.

No one stopped you from spending, except you, or when you chose to spend, including going dark in the Summer.

Penny wise, pound foolish?

That’s the $26.1 million question.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:09 am
After what Tony Sanchez, John Corzine and Rick Scott all spent on their collective gubernatorial campaigns, $26.1 million seems like a paltry amount for Bruce Rauner to have “given” himself. I thought he would spend $50-$75 million. Given how close this race is, I think he will regret the underinvestment.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:19 am
$100,000,000.00

And the Supreme Court says money is just speech.

Comment by VM Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:45 am
You can bet Kirk has been making nice with Rauner so he can tap that network to fight off the inevitable primary challenge.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:59 am
Word - yep…and Senator Kirk has lent several staffers to the Rauner campaign.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:02 am
Wait a minute. Diane Rauner says because he’s wealthy, “Bruce cannot be bought.”

Nice line for the simple-minded.

But what of the $21+Million he collected from other wealthy donors this cycle? Without his own money, he still collects almost as much as Quinn from others.

Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:04 am
Good solid financial footing for the campaign and staying on message is what propelled Rauner in to the Governors Office. Future campaigns that wish to be successful will emulate the Rauner 14 race.

Comment by Linebacker II Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:05 am
How much did Rauner spend on the primary? I’m curious what the breakdown is of Rauner/Quinn spending for the general election.

Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:11 am
Walker - good question/point. But you almost have to discount the RGA cash because the DGA is playing here, too.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:13 am
LinebackerII: ==Future campaigns that wish to be successful will want to emulate the Rauner14 race.==

I hope you don’t really mean that the best candidates will be ones that can put millions into their own campaigns.

Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:29 am
LB, I’m not sure that dropping like a rock into a dead heat with a Democratic incumbent with a 34 percent approval rating in a GOP year is going to sell many textbooks.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:49 am
If there’s a positive to this spending it’s that the candidates are doing the $ raising themselves and have to work for it and are accountable. The Wall street journal ran a story last week about how these us senate races across the country also are nearing 9 figures but 60-70 million of it is coming from national superpacs and only about 5-10 per candidate coming from their own fundraising. Granted the fundraising caps are different and many of those pols are not rauner type financial guys, but that $ also goes further in those states.

Comment by Shore Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:55 am
Money certainly matters, but the on-the-ground game matters event more. I hear Governor Quinn is bring President Obama back for a Monday night GOTV rally to counter Rauner’s financial position. Let’s hope Rauner takes advantage of his considerable war chest over the weekend!

Comment by Black Ivy Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:08 pm
This is without PAC moeny being spent “independently” on both sides. Another $4.8M for Quinn from Illinois Freedom PAC. $4.4M from the left for meaningless ballot initiatives to help turn out the vote while the Term Limit ammendment didn’t make the ballot…sigh…

Comment by Will P Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:15 pm
I agree that the $$$$ raised are an obscene number, but lets at least remember and remind people BR had to win a contested primary PQ didn’t. BR had to gain name recognition and fight against the democratic unions who were supporting a republican candidate against BR beside the rest of the republican candidates.

Just the facts

Comment by The Facts Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:36 pm
==- Linebacker II - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:05 am:==

The election is Tuesday. Rauner has not been “propelled” into office. Were you educated at Rauner Prep?

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 1:01 pm
Rich, thank you for the headline. Very different from the one in the Tribune.

Comment by uptown progressive Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 4:54 pm