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McAuliffe TV spending already at $2 million

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Illinois

* AP…

Republicans have spent nearly $2 million in television advertising to help a state lawmaker win a Chicago-area legislative district — the most spent on air time for any legislative candidate in the nation.

A new report by the Center for Public Integrity released Thursday shows the Chicago-area contest has helped makeIllinois the state with the most money spent on TV ads for legislative candidates across the country this election cycle. Nearly $14 million has been spent on legislative races in Illinois since Jan. 1, 2015, a staggering amount that reflects the struggle between wealthy Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic leaders amid an epic budget stalemate. Democrats are trying to strengthen their control of the Legislature while Rauner is trying to give his party greater influence. […]

The Illinois race with most money spent on ads pits GOP Rep. Michael McAuliffe, a 20-year veteran of the House, against Democrat Merry Marwig, a political newcomer on leave from her job at a Chicago software company. […]

Even so, the amount they’re spending is remarkable. In 2012, for example, the Republicans’ two major party committees spent just over $2 million combined on all races from July 1 through Sept. 30. […]

Marwig has spent about $187,690 on television ads so far, according to figures from the Center for Public Integrity.

And there’s still more than a month to go before election day, so expect much more like this.

Also, at this pace, state Rep. McAuliffe could wind up outspending US Sen. Mark Kirk on Chicago TV. Let that sink in for a minute.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:23 am

Comments

===state Rep. McAuliffe could wind up outspending US Sen. Mark Kirk on Chicago TV. Let that sink in for a minute.===

Perspective for me also includes…

Of all the Republican electeds in all of Illinois…

Mark Kirk, arguably, is THE lone Republican elected that Bruce Rauner acually owes…

… and yet, a state Representative gets $2 million (no fault to McAuliffe) and Kirk, who had Staff and had Crew jettison to help Rauner way, way, WAY before it was fashionable… Kirk doesn’t have… $2 million from Rauner’s network.

So, is Rauner owning ALL these GA members, but Rauner doesn’t know how… “to return a favor”?

Don Fanucci?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:33 am
Control of the U.S. Senate is in the balance. Control of the Illinois House is not.

Yet McCauliife will outspend Kirk on Chicago TV?

All you need to know about the priorities of the Rauner-owned Illinois GOP. It’s his money, he’ll use the party as a vehicle to advance his personal political interests only. Amazing.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:44 am
Perhaps the Kirk crews exodus from Kirk to Rauner was more about staffers analyzing the situation soberly than Kirk generously doing Rauner a favor.

Comment by Terrance Wilmers Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:51 am
Must be a great time to be in TV ad sales in Illinois.

Of course all that money would have nothing to do with media type’s letting the Governor get by with not answering tough questions./s

Comment by Bemused Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:53 am
- Terrance Wilmers -

Still need a “blessing”, otherwise all involved look bad, thus Rauner still owing Kirk.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:57 am
“OW” so so well put about Rauner returning favors. Like him or not look no further than Aaron DalMarr to know what loyalty gets you. He was the head of the Cook County GOP when by some miracle Rauner won the endorsement over Dillard, Rutherford and Brady. Rauner was trailing them all in polls at the time. When DalMarr got done counting the votes , surprise Rauner won. Guess it wasn’t good enough to get him Matt Murphys spot.

Comment by 38 Warder Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 9:58 am
I’m still waiting for Kirk to tell us what he’s accomplished over the past six years. The same goes for Duckworth. Neither of them makes their own case.

Who are these people and why are they candidates for the US Senate?

Now, we see a state representative incumbent spending millions? On what? Gold plated emory boards? We communicate digitally. What’s he buying? What kind of an incumbent for a state rep position needs to do this? Is he buying each voter a cell phone? Who does this?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:07 am
If the commercials are the ones I think they are, you wouldn’t necessarily know that the guy is a republican based on the ads. Comically, they are even wheeling out a school teacher saying she belongs to a union and that Mike supports teachers. Suffice it to say that, if the Governor is spending millions on this guy, he is most certainly not pro-labor.

Comment by benniefly2 Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:10 am
Mike is well liked by both sides of the aisle. good luck.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:12 am
Would someone in “the know” care to explain to a rube like me how having a single Chicago Republican is so much more valuable than having a Republican in any other district? In other words, seeing as his vote counts for one no matter where his district is, why is so much money being spent trying to retain that seat instead of, say, trying to take Cloonen’s seat, where the GOP has only come up 100 votes shy each of the past two elections?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:14 am
=== why is so much money being spent trying to retain that seat instead of===

Defending your people is priority number one.

“All they got from Paulie was protection from other guys looking to rip them off. And that’s what it’s all about. That’s what the FBI could never understand - that what Paulie and the organization does is offer protection for people who can’t go to the cops. That’s it. That’s all it is. They’re like the police department for wiseguys.”

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:17 am
Alfondo - ask Mark Kirk how it feels for leadership to not put their money where their mouth is. My guess is that he is peeved. Lindsay Parkhurst has already received plenty of help, BTW.

Rich - thanks for the Goodfells reference. That is my favorite movie and, in my opinion, is better than The Godfather movies. Before anyone loses their minds, that is just my opinion.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:38 am
Also - having a Republican from Chicago in the GA is pretty important. Rep. McAuliffe is the only one. As a party we need to keep him in the GA.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:39 am
Thanks Rich and Team Sleep. So have I misconstrued the fact that he is the lone Chicago Republican as being more important than it actually is?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:49 am
Aaaaaannd I didn’t see the second Sleep comment for my learning pleasure. Apologies.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:50 am
Just think what effect all this money would have if the Governor were able to point to successes from having Republicans in office. What a missed opportunity.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 10:56 am
Alfondo - no worries! It was kinda like when the Senate GOP played heavy in 2010 when Alderman Brian Doherty (then the only Republican on the Chicago City Council) ran against Senator Mulroe. The mere thought of having a Chicago seat in our favor was pretty enticing. We also backed Shaun Murphy pretty heavy (at least for pre-Rauner money Senate GOP standards) against Senator Cunningham two years ago. Was it an uphill battle? Sure. But winning a seat like that would be huge.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 11:06 am
“Mike is well liked by both sides of the aisle. good luck. ”
Too bad no one in the neighborhood, except Skip, knows that. Maybe if they turn up the P* away the BigBrain Cash Hose to the $3 million notch some folks might “learn”
At least he has not been “cyber attacked” as far as we know.

Comment by Anonnin' Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 11:59 am
- 38 Warder -

I think Rauner proves time and time again, “if you’re disposable, you’ll know it”

Rauner needs McAuliffe, and as Rich put so perfectly “Paulie” needs to protect his Crew.

Nothing is quite as fun as when Rich jumps in with a “Goodfellas” or “Godfather” reference. Good stuff as always.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 12:08 pm
Maybe Rauner can get Kirk a job at the IPI.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Any chance McAuliffe is being prepped to run for Mayor?

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Rauner and the media have a vested interest in independent maps- more competitive districts, more dollars needed and more advertisement time bought. Wouldn’t it be great if there were more districts for Rauner and Griffin to buy? Why are the self-proclaimed reformers keeping their mouths shut about spending limits.?

Comment by truthteller Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 2:07 pm
LBM, no.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 2:12 pm
LBM, it’s $2 million and counting as McAullife tries to hold on to his NW side rep. seat.

That doesn’t engender a lot of confidence in the possible success of a citywide mayoral run.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Thanks Rich and Word.

Only asked because the ads reach so many people outside his district. I would have thought a more targeted campaign would be more effective.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 2:54 pm
Re Anonnin at 11:59, nice to see your salacious innuendos are of the same mean spirit as the lies in the lit that everyone has seen from McAuliffe’s opponent.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 6, 16 @ 5:35 pm