Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Fumbled, recovered, score

Posted in:

Illinois
YouTube

* Statehouse reporters repeatedly asked former Gov. Jim Edgar about his past derogatory statements about Bruce Rauner, back when Edgar had endorsed Kirk Dillard in the GOP primary.

Over and over, Edgar successfully deflected the questions, saying that the choice today is between Bruce Rauner and Pat Quinn. But then he kinda slipped up…

“I wish he had more government experience”

Oops.

But then he quickly recovered…

“But that doesn’t guarantee…Pat Quinn’s had a lot of government experience and I don’t think he has done that well. It’s why we need to make the change.”

* The exchange begins at the 27:45 mark…

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:12 pm

Comments

“It’s like I told Bruce; Bruce, ‘I don’t know you’…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:16 pm
Bruce: ” maybe I can buy his hair.”

Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:20 pm
If Rauner loses, I look forward to Edgar bashing him in hindsight.

Comment by Siriusly Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:21 pm
Who among us cares what Jim Edgar thinks? If Rauner is down to “Edgar’s endorsement” then I guess he’s done.

Comment by Insideout Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:22 pm
The Carharrt’s back. Some people never learn.

Were he and Jim cruising in the shaggin-waggin, too? Tossing Old Styles and Diet Cokes in the back? Hitting the drive-thru for a Wendy’s triple cheese and a salad?

The photo is perfect. The guy who is real and sincere is sporting a jacket and tie plus some serious hair-care product.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:26 pm
Rauner’s thought process:
“Sorry, Jim, but that’s gonna cost you that new pony I promised”

Comment by Jaded Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:28 pm
Again — I’m not sure who this is for. There’s disagreement (I know from a previous thread)– but young voters aren’t looking to Edgar for any kind of endorsement — much less an endorsement of someone like Rauner (who offers nothing to the 18-35 crowd).

Other folks, I know, see Edgar as somehow influencing this demo. This mystifies me. I suspect people *like* Edgar — I’m sure he’s a nice guy — but as an elder statesman for up-and-coming voters?

Not happenin’. It’s the old folks that still seem to put stock in Edgar.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:28 pm
===“I wish he had more government experience”===

“I wish he had more than zero government experience other than making very substantial political contributions to facilitate getting enormous government contracts.”

Better.

Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:30 pm
If Bruce wins, think we’ll see that Carharrt again before sometime around January 2018?

Comment by chi Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:30 pm
===Again — I’m not sure who this is for.===

You answered your own question…

===It’s the old folks that still seem to put stock in Edgar. ===

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:30 pm
Great endorsement:

“Take a chance on someone who hasn’t failed yet.”

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:33 pm
Some dress like this is a job interview, serious vas thoughtful…

Others dress like they own the company and they haven’t even been offered the job…

Bad. Optics.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:34 pm
Rauner: “Since this is south of I-80, I better wear the Carhart one more time.”

Edgar: “Brenda put away my summer polos - just have this navy blazer.”

Comment by Bogey Golfer Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:40 pm
Um, Slip and Sue…Illinois doesn’t have soaring unemployment, unemployment has dropped for months and months in a row… Yah, and um Slip and Sue, that NRI thing, that only brought out the Owls - “Who”…

How appropriate, ole Slip and Sue introducing Diana Rauner…

You can’t make this stuff up. lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:42 pm
I fully expect Governor Rauner to give his first State of the State address while wearing skinny jeans, cowboy boots, a flannel shirt, a Bolo tie and a Carhartt jacket.

Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:48 pm
This was for the reluctant R’s out there. Nothing more. You don’t do an endorsement the day before the election to close with the independents. This is for R’s who remember a better time.

Sadly, for Rauner, I don’t think there are any transitive properties from Edgar to him.

For the Rauner fans on this page, answer this question, why trot out a former R governor the day before the election? Does this seem like it comes from a position of strength or one of weakness?

Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:50 pm
I’d love to see an intern for Rauner’s company show up in a Carhartt.

Bruce would love that.

The fact that he wears his “downstate outfit” when he’s touring a place like Quincy is beyond insulting.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:51 pm
Seems very inconsistent for the Rauner theme to be “Shaking Up Springfield” and then bring out Jim Edgar as their closer. Their internal polling must show issues with the GOP base downstate, especially seniors, and they’re going to Edgar to shore up those numbers.

Comment by Sine Die Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 3:58 pm
Where’s the crowd? Looks/sounds sparse.

Comment by Whatever Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:01 pm
Crowd in Bloomington was small and select. Some folks not happy about not finding out in time and they are speaking out. People called the campaign and did not hear back.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:05 pm
Bringing out Edgar and the other Congressional Candidates and making it a media event. Strength. Show up downstate where Governor Quinn truly is despised.

Ummm. Speaking of the Governor, we have not had a post about his Monday whereabouts all day. Plus for Edgar….two posts on CF. I’m betting the Cubs new manager sucks up the airtime in the Chicago area.

And I’m really tired of all the comments about how only the white and senile are going to recall Jim Edgar. That Bill Clinton guy wrapped up the presidency over 14 years ago and he still gets trotted out all over the place.

Here is an interesting fact -

Pat Quinn DOB 12/16/1948
Jim Edgar DOB 07/22/1946

The years have been kind to Edgar. Quinn’s been pushing patronage and taxes since the Dan Walker era - in government way too long.

Comment by anonymoose Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:06 pm
Nice try anonymoose. The point is, Edgar has done nothing since 1998. Not his age.

And, really, Edgar is now Bill Clinton? I don’t think so.

Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:17 pm
Just got a robocall from Bill Brady to vote for Bruce Rauner. Guess they are really nervous if they are still robocalling.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:26 pm
Edgar does have a heart condition so let’s not get things too stirred up.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:28 pm
Weird optics with Bruce in Carhartt and denim shirt ready to shake up springfield or rake some leaves standing next to that career politician in a buttoned up suit.

And anonymoose, Edgar’s age has nothing to do with his relevance vs. Quinn when it comes to voters under 35.

Jim Edgar last was on a ballot TWENTY YEARS ago.

No Illinoisan under 38 years old has ever legally voted for Jim Edgar or been asked to vote for Jim Edgar.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:29 pm
Sure Edgar has been involved, though not in elective office. U of I. He was a speaker at a term limits symposium co-hosted by the Better Government Association, the Union League Club of Chicago and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute earlier this year.

You must not be from downstate “Try-4-Truth.” Because you did not refute my points about Edgar being covered by media downstate and Governor Quinn being despised downstate.

So, nice “TRY” yourself, Try-4-Truth. Stick around - ya might learn a lil’ something about “home cooking” before this thing is over.

Comment by anonymoose Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:33 pm
The fact that Rauner would campaign with Edgar shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Really who else is there in the Republican party that can conjure up a favorable image? It’s part of the effort of reminding voters, particularly older voters, that there was a point in time where we elected moderate reasonable Republicans. After all that’s the only way a Republican can get elected in this state.

Comment by pundent Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:34 pm
Maybe this is what has the Rauner team worried–

http://www.wjbc.com/common/page.php?pt=McLean+County+Clerk+predicts+slight+drop+in+voter+turnout&id=165212&is_corp=0

Michael said she doesn’t believe increases in absentee and early voting are any sign of higher voter participation - she believes more voters are looking for convenience. Grace period voting continues through tomorrow at the county clerk’s office or - for Bloomington residents - at the Bloomington Election Commission officers.

“I don’t think its indicative of a huge turnout, I think we are going more to the convenience of it,” Michael said.

The general election in 2010 saw 55 percent in McLean County. The presidential election in 2012 saw 71 percent.

Michael said turnout in McLean County was likely helped by having a Bloomington candidate running for governor. State Sen. Bill Brady narrowly lost to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:35 pm
Doesn’t look like much of a rally. And maybe the backdrop will look better on the evening news than it did in this video.

Comment by Voice of Reason Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:46 pm
yea thats it, like a cosmetic salesman

Comment by door gunner Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 4:52 pm
“And maybe Bruce can buy some government experience over the holidays…”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:02 pm
I found the visuals a bit interesting. Watched Edgar while Rauner was speaking - Edgar looked as if he would rather be someplace else. Then, after Rauner finished speaking he immediately turned his back on Edgar and walked down to work the crowd. Edgar went to answer questions from the press. When I listened to Edgar’s “endorsement” of Rauner in his press comments the word tepid came to mind. Things didn’t look all that warm and fuzzy between Edgar and Rauner. But, Edgar is a loyal Republican and did his duty.

Comment by Just the Facts Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:10 pm
I think the ensuing years have been good for Edgar’s reputation but when he was in office I don’t think he was seen a super vote getter. For SOS, he beat Jerry Consentino in 1982 with 52% of the vote and trounced a LaRouchie in 1986. He squeaked out a win over Neil Hartigan by less than a 100k votes and then beat poor Dawn Clark Netsch like a rented mule in 1994, which was the greatest GOP year in memory. He was a solid politician but by now means was he unbeatable.

Comment by paddyrollingstone Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:18 pm
“Just got a robocall from Bill Brady to vote for Bruce Rauner. Guess they are really nervous if they are still robocalling.”

My Republican pal got a call from a live human this afternoon. The caller told him to remember to (my buddy’s words) “vote for the guy running against Quinn.”

I told my friend, “Rauner’s pro-choice. They’re both pro-choice. You should just stay home — or go to church and light a candle.”

He’d never vote for anyone who isn’t firmly pro-life, so he’s gonna skip it.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:23 pm
Everybody’s throwing everything they can get their hands on last minute. Quinn too.

It’s like a close in mud fight.

Comment by walker Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:24 pm
Edgar last ran for elected office 20 years ago & was done with govt service in January of 1999.

Comment by low level Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:31 pm
Wow! The enthusiasm of the very small crowd was absolutely underwhelming. Even Bozo’s circus knew how to work the camera angles to make a small crowd look bigger. I guess all of Rauner’s clowns were busy doing some other useless thing today.

Comment by 13thone Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:38 pm
I am so inspired. I cannot wait for Government to be brought back to me on Wednesday.

Comment by Samurai Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 5:52 pm
I imagine Schock and Davis agreed that they would wear blue blazers and jeans. Must be a DC thing. Then the Carhartt man steps up to the mic.

Comment by Samurai Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 6:14 pm
Freudian Slip?

Comment by Belle Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 6:15 pm
I know Jim Edgar as a guy who owns a few race horses.

Comment by Mittuns Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 6:24 pm
Bruce, its not that hard to roll around in the backyard and at least get some wear and tear on dos Carharrt.

Comment by Jorge Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 7:13 pm
A jobber doing a favor.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 8:12 pm
“Even Bozo’s circus knew how to work the camera angles to make a small crowd look bigger.”

If I was drinking something just now, I would have spit it out all over my computer. Too funny!

“I guess all of Rauner’s clowns were busy doing some other useless thing today.”

Are the Quinnochios still around? I haven’t seem too much of them lately.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 8:13 pm
I give credit to Jim Edgar for at least respectfully answering the questions from the press, which is apparently in contrast to Bruce Rauner who has been limiting/cutting off the media avails recently according to an October 28 tweet, which was shown on this website, by reporter Natasha Korecki.

Comment by flash Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 8:17 pm
annoymoose, You have no clue who I am and what I have done downstate. Yes, I’m from downstate and I have worked in every county in Illinois outside of Chicago. Thanks for being so dismissive of me though. No one will read this because it was from yesterday. But I had to answer this nonsense for my own gratification.

(Really, if you knew me, you’d understand how stupid your comment really was)

Comment by Try-4-Truth Tuesday, Nov 4, 14 @ 8:21 am