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Despite Trump predictions, RNC bypassing Illinois

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Illinois

The Republican National Committee doesn’t consider Illinois a competitive swing state, despite a Republican governor and a Republican U.S Senator, because the RNC’s National Training Day doesn’t include the Land of Lincoln.

The RNC is investing in fourteen states Saturday at 150 locations to activate over 5000 volunteers for training and voter contact. The effort is in coordination with the Trump Campaign, State Parties, and House and Senate campaigns across the country as part of the RNC’s commitment to elect Republicans up and down the ballot. […]

The Trump campaign has been promoting a 15-state strategy, which, CNN says, includes Illinois - despite the last time a Republican presidential won in Illinois was 1988. Trump said in a speech on May 26, “I put so many states in play: Michigan being one. Illinois.”

But the RNC isn’t as hopeful as Trump is. That doesn’t bode well for the struggling campaign to re-elect Republican U.S Senator Mark Kirk just under Trump on the November ballot. […]

The RNC has had the permanent ground operation in place for over 1000 days, and currently has over 750 staff, including over 450 paid staffers in the field, months ahead of Election Day. But not in Illinois.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:41 pm

Comments

“Dear Misters Uihline and Griffin, also Hon. Bruce Rauner,

You guys take it from here.

Thanks,

RNC”

To the Post,

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Illinois is not… Ohio, Pennsylvania… or Florida.

That’s pretty much it… That and Rauner’s deep pockets.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:45 pm
It also doesn’t bode well for Raunerites, no matter who they blame for the impasse. Madigan is not on the statewide ballot. Neither is Rauner. So a lot of folks underneath Trump have just been left swinging in the wind. Finally a bit of good news. It’s not taking away the heat but just a bit of breeze on the face is nice.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Turned on cable news during breakfast and some anti-Clinton SuperPAC was wasting money on a commercial there today. Found it odd but maybe they get discounts if they buy national ads?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:46 pm
I am torn on this, on the one hand any money spent here to help Trump is likely wasted so that might be a good thing.
On the other hand….

Hearing how to sell Trump might be entertaining and a useful general skill to have in life.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Why would the RNC care about Kirk’s “struggling campaign”? They don’t typically support democrats as far as I know.

Comment by BigDoggie Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:51 pm
- BigDoggie -

80% friend, 20% enemy?

Your thoughts are shrinking the party.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:52 pm
I’ve wondered about the lack of RINO rhetoric aimed at Kirk. Are those days gone?

Comment by The_Equalizer Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:54 pm
Slytherins are now Raunerites and Rauner likes Kirk.

The Slytherins not getting that memo are nervous to use R_ _ _ … fearing Rauner.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:56 pm
If Trump wants to compete in Illinois, he’s going to have to spend his own money to do it, the RNC knows better.

Comment by cover Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:57 pm
Geez, Kirk is really being hung out to dry, unless Rauner, Uline, and Griff step up in a big way.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Finally something good to say about Rauner, he scares away Slytherins!

Comment by Joe Cannon Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:04 pm
@OW

=80% friend, 20% enemy?

Your thoughts are shrinking the party.=

That percentage may pertain to Trump, but it’s reversed for Kirk. I’d be very surprised if Kirk supported the most important 80% of the GOP platform. His voting record and public statements certainly don’t support that.

Defense of marriage, deficit spending, lack of action on things like Kate’s law, immigration policy and judicial appointments….his record shows that he has more in common with Durbin than Illinois mainstream Republicans.

Comment by Illinois Bob Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:06 pm
“Hearing how to sell Trump might be entertaining and a useful general skill to have in life.”

Down at the garden-supply store, they sell that stuff to spread on your flower beds.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:07 pm
I thought I read a coded message here about some Rauner operatives going to Las Vegas to ask Sheldon Adelson to chip-in for the Trump Illinois dark money super-duper-PAC.

Did that happen or did I misread the message?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:09 pm
Oh nuts. I was looking forward to seeing Trump and 1.4% bad mouthing each other.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:09 pm
The poll in today’s earlier post has Clinton at 47, Trump at 35 and Johnson at 11.

Supporters of Johnson, who =does his best with folks who have voted in the last three Republican primaries=, are unlikely to vote Democratic in races like Kirk’s.

Those voters might skip the race or not show up, but if they show to vote they are likely voting Kirk. The RNC news doesn’t help, but it’s early to call the race. Any developments in the Pres race or in the Duckworth lawsuit could also have a big influence.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:10 pm
- Illinois Bob -

I read your comment.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:12 pm
Return on investment: Kirk is running up against a woman in an election year where the presumptive GOP nominee has referred to several women as “pigs” and “slobs,” and the Duckworth attack line will be Kirk saying “hoes” ad nauseum… Not a terribly big surprise here.

Comment by The Muse Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:15 pm
Trump has been saying for a while that he thinks California and New York are in play too. Because he won the Republican primaries there.

It seems he doesn’t get the difference between the primary process and a general election. He has no need for polling, targeting or any data analysis. He will succeed because of the sheer force of his will and his enormous personal appeal to voters.

Plus I don’t think he much cares what the RNC says or does. If he feels like dropping into Illinois sometime before November you can bet he’s going to. It must be a horror to work for him.

Comment by And I Approved This Message Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:15 pm
Illinois Bob excellent point, if the GOP removes enough memebers then all the isolationist xenophobic homophobes can be in 100% agreement with each other.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:17 pm
“The poll in today’s earlier post has Clinton at 47, Trump at 35 and Johnson at 11″

If it looks like Trump has any shot at a close election, those Johnson votes will never materialize. They’ll move to Trump in order to keep Hillary out.

Comment by Dat Guy Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:20 pm
They are not doing the UIC area as one of their locations to coordinate the Trump campaign? But Trump got such a warm welcome there. /s

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:21 pm
Rauner will take care of Kirk.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:33 pm
“If it looks like Trump has any shot at a close election, those Johnson votes will never materialize. They’ll move to Trump in order to keep Hillary out.”

Citation needed.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:33 pm
Rauner: I own the Republican Party in this state.

RNC: Ok, gov, looks like you don’t need us. Good luck and best wishes to Senator Kirk.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:36 pm
Not a surprise that Illinois is not going to be competitive, especially since Trump and Clinton are neck-and-neck in UTAH, a known liberal stronghold.

Comment by Anony Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:37 pm
What will Kent Gray do now?

Comment by Whatever Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:46 pm
Mr/Ms 47th Ward
WSJ reportin’ Chip & Nick workin’ with Sheldon for $100 million ProTrump SuperPac. Il media snoozin so far….but it is happenin’

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:11 pm
I think that is why I have doubts about these polls. The rnc soul not give up a Senate seat of they thought Rauner was winning.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:12 pm
===The rnc soul not give up a Senate seat of they thought Rauner was winning. ===

LOL

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:14 pm
If Honey bears predictions of chaos come true I would put them in an ad if I were the dnc to warn of the danger of no experience in government

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:15 pm
@Anony

=especially since Trump and Clinton are neck-and-neck in UTAH, a known liberal stronghold.=

Most of that is due to Romney hate for Trump. Something is going on under the surface there. I don’t know if he doesn’t want Trump to succeed where he failed miserably, or something else.

Utah is also pretty parochial and monolithic when it comes to the “Mormon” vote. When a Mormon leader gives a certain direction, it’s more influential than the position of the Pope on Catholics…

Comment by Illinois Bob Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:15 pm
I’m thinking Hillary by 20. Current polls are showing her already up by 12 and it should just go down from here.

Comment by Chucktownian Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:15 pm
Never fear Trump will be a major part of a lot of Illinois campaigns this fall.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:22 pm
As I have said before Illinois is a Blue State at the national level. It will be more so in the future because of demographics. In the public schools Whites are already a minority on a statewide basis.

Only if HRC has some real problems with the FBI should Trump spend any many in this state.

Comment by Federalist Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:48 pm
Lol, Trump may be the end of the Republican Party. He has no chance of winning Illinois.

Comment by Tone Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 5:43 pm
I will vote for Trump. There is no possible scenario that I would ever vote for HRC, and I will never understand how anyone could given her corrupt ways and lack of integrity.

Comment by Shelby Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 5:47 pm
Worry

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:28 pm
-Shelby

I could easily hear someone say this and it would be just as accurate: “I will vote for Hillary. There is no possible scenario that I would ever vote for Trump, and I will never understand how anyone could given his corrupt ways and lack of integrity.”

Neither are lily-white nor are fountains of morality. Both have huge negatives. Going to be an interesting summer and fall.

Comment by Anti-m Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:42 pm
Trump is my least favorite Republican presidential candidate, but will support him over Hillary.

Comment by justacitizen Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 10:18 pm
This is exactly why I stopped giving to the RNC.

Comment by Mcleaniac Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 6:53 am
- justacitizen -

Understood. I just can’t support either candidate.

Comment by Anti-m Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 8:07 am
When someone like Trump can be a major party candidate, it is clear that we witnessing the decline and fall of America.

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 10:01 am