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Question of the day

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* If you click below and go to about the 8:30 mark [fixed link], you’ll hear Gov. Rauner yet again refuse to answer a question today about who how he’ll be voting for president…

Click to listen

You’ll recall this statement from earlier this year…

“Now is the time to come together, now is the time to unite, up and down the ticket,” Rauner told the convention. “What we can’t do is let Hillary Clinton get in the White House. No way Hillary Clinton is getting elected.”

And this…

Rauner repeatedly had sought to stay out of the presidential race, though he did say that as leader of the GOP in Illinois, he would back the eventual nominee. But Rauner aides stressed there are various levels of “support”

* The Question: Why do you think that Rauner is refusing to respond to this question?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:39 pm

Comments

Because he can.

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:44 pm
He wants to have his cake and eat it too.

Comment by JackD Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:44 pm
Because it’s a terrible predicament for a Republican to be in. They must either renounce the presidential candidate who a plurality of their fellow Republican’s voted for or support a terrible person. There are no good options for a Republican politician here.

And spare me the right vs. wrong answers, no matter what he does it will be used against him in a campaign. It’s same reason why a lot of democrats don’t come out and openly support Madigan and they try to dance around the questions.

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:45 pm
The video is gone, Rich.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:45 pm
===Why do you think that Rauner is refusing to respond to this question?===

Bad advice or not heeding good advice about an issue?

Comment by Anon Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:51 pm
Very simple, recorded audio or video of Rauner with Trump’s name favorably in his mouth would be politically devastating to him and his allies.

Comment by Reality Check Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:51 pm
“Why do you think that Rauner is refusing to respond to this question?”

In Illinois, it can still be politically disadvantageous to admit that you’re supporting a bigoted demagogue for president.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:52 pm
I voted 2x for President Obama. And would do so again. But I can’t vote for HRC, and will support Trump in the GE. Frankly, I don’t see much difference between Trump and HRC in fiscal matters. And on foreign policy, HRC is to the right of Trump.

I will also support Duckworth over Kirk for Senator.

I doubt that Trump will win Illinois. But he’ll significantly outperform Romney’s 17% loss to President Obama.

Comment by FearTheTree Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Because the people he *really* works for haven’t told him how he’s voting yet.

Comment by HangingOn Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:56 pm
Stubbornness? Or, it’s a good topic to eat some oxygen and matters very little. There’s really no good or bad reason here.

Comment by A guy Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Rauner is a ‘wannabe’ in the GOP establishment. Trump is not.

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Because the politics of confusion work for Trump. So why not Rauner?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Rauner does not look good in this process. He in effect, as Republican leader of the state, giving Clinton support.

Yes, Trump will lose in this state. But he will do better than people think and Rauner would be wise to endorse him.

Why is he doing this? Figures it is a Democratic state so why go there? Or he is part of the Republican establishment who hate Trump.

Comment by Federalist Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Answer: Because he can… plain and simple. What are the consequences, to Rauner, if he never answers the question??? None, and he knows this, so he will continue the pickin’ and grinnin’ in these pressers.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:00 pm
I have to give Rauner credit for this.

Since he was elected, he has consistently shown some pretty terrible political judgment.

This is the first time in a while that he’s made a smart political move.

There is no upside to endorsing Trump, and potentially a huge downside.

Standing on the sidelines is the way to go.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Rauner is possibly the biggest enabler of Trump. Our state had Kasich, Cruz, or Rubio won it would have given one of them the advantage in the late primary states. With the money this guy has and the fact he sat on the sidelines he is culpable for Trump.

Comment by Come on man! Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Because he’s still a hedge fund guy

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:06 pm
An arrogant rich guy who rules like a khan without regard for the well-being of his subjects. Would be terrible for Trump to be linked in public to Rauner.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:07 pm
So what? I don’t tell total strangers whom I plan to vote for. And I never ever base my voting decisions on endorsements or suggestions from other people. Rauner’s trolling the media on this. No more, no less.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:11 pm
I’d like to think that it’s because he knows Deplorable Donald is unqualified to be president–but that may be wishful thinking.

Comment by d.p.gumby Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:12 pm
I think he, like me, has been told by the wife that if you vote for Trump she’ll make up the separate bedroom.

Comment by DE Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Because with Trump running, it takes attention away from his own poor performance.
The last thing Trump wants is for some astute reporter to do a story about how a rich inexperienced businessman screwed up Illinois– and conclude what a disaster it would be for it to happen to the entire nation.

Comment by Winnin' Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Because Trump is an embarrassment and as far as Republicans are concerned, can’t lose this election and go away fast enough.

Comment by Robert the 1st Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:14 pm
For the same reason there’s a reverse Bradley Effect in the polls.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Adding…
The best thing that ever happened to Rauner is Trump.

Comment by Winnin' Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Because he is a man of opportunity and not conviction.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:27 pm
He has not yet been told who to vote for.

Comment by Flynn's mom Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:31 pm
Until some Republican leader, any Republican leader repudiates Donald Trump….they are the party of hatred and racism. Republican Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is complicit in this.

His refusal so say anything speaks volumes about his lack of integrity.

Comment by Brian Jackson Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:42 pm
He is a Johnson supporter but won’t admit it publicly

Comment by frisbee Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:57 pm
My intuition is there has been some odd interaction between the two 1%ers.

Could Rauner, or GTCR, been on the other side of a big trade that didn’t go Trump’s way? Their paths had to cross in the past.

Trump says what he thinks and probably has no patience for Mr. Message and all his buzzword word salad.

There must be a disagreement, and Rauner does not have the skills to engage with Trump in a verbal exchange, therefore,
silence.

Comment by cdog Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 4:16 pm
Governor Rauner is afraid if people associate him with Trump it will make him look bad because they are more alike than different.

Comment by Mama Retired Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 4:17 pm
“Why do you think that Rauner is refusing to respond to this question?”

Because he is chicken.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 7:05 pm