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Sneed: Madigan “disappointed” in Kennedy’s fundraising this year

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* Michael Sneed reports that Bill Daley says he’s backing Chris Kennedy for governor and not JB Pritzker. That doesn’t mean much, of course, except possibly Kennedy access to some of Daley’s wealthy friends, who he probably knows anyway. But read on…

“If anybody had the fire in the belly to run, it would be Pritzker,” said a top Dem source. “He could pull the trigger and self-fund and run.” […]

Sneed is told Pritzker and Kennedy also called Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez to seek support. “I explained the optics,” said Ramirez. “Kennedy has his own mystique. It’s amazing. And he is really serious. So is Pritzker. He’s determined.”

It’s been suggested Pritzker could do $450 million of his own money. “Kennedy couldn’t and wouldn’t do that, relying instead on his platinum donor list to fund his campaign,” the top Dem source said.

However, Sneed is told House Speaker Mike Madigan was disappointed in Kennedy’s ability to raise money for Dem campaigns in the last election gleaned from his donor lists.

“Look, Madigan has been sucking air from the trial lawyers and laborers to get his people elected — and getting tapped out,” said a second Dem source. “Susana Mendoza’s race for state comptroller was expensive. That’s why Madigan told Pritzker and Kennedy to rely primarily on self-funding if they are gonna run.”

Discuss.

* Related…

* Meet the Democrats’ proto-Trumps - Liberal mega-donors move to run for governor after watching their party lose ground in 2016

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:01 am

Comments

the only one who can run against a really rich guy is another really rich guy? Sad that it has come to this.

Comment by sad Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:10 am
more billionaires in politics is the last thing we need. dems will keep losing until they find their populism again. politico link proves they’re learning all the wrong lessons from defeat.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:11 am
First, It’s appalling that the Democratic Party leadership only wants another rich guy to take on a rich guy. Welcome to oligarchy people. Good people who could make a difference either have to be independently wealthy or have the blessing of being on the “Speaker’s list” in order to raise money as a Democratic candidate. As a Democrat, the IL GOP is onto something with the “BossMadigan” website. Unfortunately Bossy Bruce is no better. He’s just newer to the political scene.

Comment by I'mDone Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:12 am
oh, I love that….”you didn’t help me enough.” whatever. who is nicer and smarter? that is important as well.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:14 am
The best things in good government are free. But you can give them to the birds and bees.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:19 am
This…is how a populist sneaks in and wins the nomination. Kwame?

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:19 am
sad

A different kind of rich guy. Pritzker makes his money building companies. Rauner made his money tearing companies apart and selling them for scrap.

I don’t know enough about Pritzker’s character to comment on that, though I’m told he is a decent man. Rauner has proven himself to be an uncaring hypocrite and a bit of a coward.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:20 am
It’s been suggested Pritzker could do $450 million of his own money

Wonder how many consultants just thought… I could use a new boat….

Comment by Oneman Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:20 am
Madigan has never really helped anyone get elected Governor so please try not to make anything out of his comments. He doesn’t really matter (except that he is a weight on both their necks).

However - he does have a point if Dems are comparing Kennedy to Pritzker. Kennedy has never put much money behind anyone and has never really done much in the IL party - he has a great family history.

JB Pritzker backs up his talk and he has a very strong resume, besides the money.

I don’t care what Madigan thinks, he doesn’t tell me who to vote for. But in this case - he is probably right - kennedy doesn’t excite me.

Comment by hockey fan Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:21 am
Kennedy has shown he will put himself with some good people, and has made some serious inroads since his ridiculous gaffe, but I’d need to really see some serious network fundraising, not unlike Rauner did; National, maximizing limits of those donors, and getting a deep 7-figure war chest without breaking any caps or relying on words like self-funding.

I’m very interested, very interested in the apparatus Kennedy sees as getting through the Primary and how that can transfer into a general election apparatus that can generate a ground game for both voting universes.

Pritzker?

Once I know the seriousness Pritzker wants, and how important it is to Pritzker to take this, 100% to Rauner, then I’ll move on to money and structure.

How they both will roll out the seriousness to really, honestly, go after Rauner will make me take notice that the monies and structure won’t fall in a poor message or a weakened attack for Rauner’s soft targets.

I know what I want to see. I wonder what either see as important to getting through both campaigns.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:22 am
Unfortunately many “good people” don’t have the network to raise $40 million plus to be competitive, because that is probably what it will take.

I don’t like it either, but that is the current playing field.

Comment by Lost in Translation Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:23 am
Is that all a person brings to the Governor’s office , money and who you know? Sad.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:23 am
Legit, loophole-free campaign finance reform should have happened a long time ago. Governor Quinn should have tried to muscle something like that through. Instead we have what we have now and this is the result. I think the chances of a Rauner-Pritzker general election battle in two years is more and more likely every day - especially given how much it costs to advertise in the Chicago area.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:27 am
===Legit, loophole-free campaign finance reform===

Take it up with the US Supreme Court. As long as the wealthy can spend as much of their own money as they want, you can’t stop it. And I’m pretty sure you know that, so enough with the talking points.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:30 am
In other words–Rauner wins big in 2018. Can’t wait to here the billionaire trust fund guy explains how he screwed the shareholders and everyone else in his huge bank failure back in 2000 or so. So sub-prime loans maybe not such a good idea.

Comment by 19th ward guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:32 am
Jeb Bush showed that money with no message is wasted.

What message will either have?

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:32 am
I agree with other commenters that it is sad politics has come to this. But another 4 years of Rauner would be even worse so I’m all for fighting fire with fire. If a rich Dem. is what it will take to defeat Rauner then so be it. If citizens would pay attention and research the candidates then maybe it wouldn’t take a rich guy/gal to win. It is what it is.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:33 am
- Mal -…

Ugh…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:34 am
===Btw OW is a narcissist.===

Me thinks thou doth project too much.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:38 am
–It’s been suggested Pritzker could do $450 million of his own money.–

Who’s “suggesting” that? I’m not sure that it’s even possible to spend that much on an Illinois governor’s race (but I’d be happy to handle the media buy, for a small commission).

To put it in perspective, Rauner broke the record in the last governor’s race with $65 million — $36 a vote. $450 million is seven times that.

Could you actually be on TV with seven-times more spots than Rauner ran?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:38 am
A real Rich Democrat takes on a really rich guy who pretended he was almost a Democrat. Or at least married to one. Sounds fun!

Comment by Porgy Tirebiter Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:39 am
Rich - yes, I know that. But the Citizens United case wasn’t decided until January 2010. Quinn could’ve made that one of his initial pushes when he came into office and then defended it in court. Of course that’s making the giant assumption that he could’ve gotten something through the General Assembly - but after the Blago debacle maybe it would’ve worked. Who knows.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:42 am
did either of these guys say what they would do for unions and other working people when asking for support of the CFL?
did JB offer an apology to labor on behalf of his family for the Hyatt heat lamps fiasco?

Also Sneed sure adds morw fodder for the Boss Madigan frame.

“We don’t want nobody that nobody sent… without half a billion ready to self-fund.”

Maybe the thought is that some random rich guy non-pol gov candidate gives Dems a chance to triangulate over Madigan, but I am just not sure how it gives voters something to be enthusiastic about.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:44 am
= If citizens would pay attention and research the candidates then maybe it wouldn’t take a rich guy/gal to win.=
Boy oh boy is that the understatement of the year!

Comment by Higer Ed Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:45 am
@ Mal, your name says it all.

Oswego Willy rocks!

Comment by Amalia Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:53 am
Willy is not a narcissist. And these two are NOT great candidates. They’re wealthy gents, nice guys, and have some Hollywood style appeal.

That hasn’t been the formula lately. Ain’t gonna be either of them.

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:58 am
I don’t think the Kennedy name will excite younger or minority voters to turn out in 2018. Pritzker doesn’t have to rely on the name as much in my opinion but either candidate will need to give younger voters and minority voters a reason to turnout and running a campaign on Rauner’s negatives doesn’t excite people. The Dems need to embrace a more progressive platform in IL if they want to get the turnout they will need.

Comment by frisbee Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:58 am
- Cubs in ‘16 - and - Amalia -,

Thanks. Appreciate all that.

Let’s leave - Mal - to - Mal - and maybe leaving will occur.

To the Post,

Speaker Madigan also realizes Rauner’s long term goal is to bankrupt the Dems and Labor so if/when Rauner wins re-elect, the Map Rauner will have to sign has the advantage for Raunerites of a bankrupt opposition.

So… the Map can be “level” with the ridiculousness of Rauner funding one side at a level non-Raunerites can’t match.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:01 am
I still wonder about Senator Raoul. He clearly has bigger ambitions and could be a potential vote splitter. He has enough in his campaign account to at least lay the groundwork and make some moves.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:05 am
OW

I dunno, OW, you display many narcissistic tendencies when you show off you handsome, yellow, smiling face in pictures. Clearly very proud of that mug

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:30 am
You gotta get out of the primary first, and all that money has far less value in a Democratic Primary than it does in a General. Ask Al Holfeld, Dick Phelan and Blair Hull.

A low turnout, mid-term primary with multiple candidates will favor a Bernie Sanders-style candidate who can excite liberal activist voters or a candidate who can appeal to African-Americans. Impossible for JB Pritzker to buy that kind of political street cred. Chris Kennedy might be able to pull it off (provided there is no African American candidate) but it will be tough.

Comment by Roman Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:32 am
==Kennedy has his own mystique. It’s amazing.==

Then he needs to press the flesh soon, ’cause I sure haven’t seen it, and I haven’t heard too many other people reference it, either.

==Sneed is told House Speaker Mike Madigan was disappointed in Kennedy’s ability to raise money for Dem campaigns in the last election gleaned from his donor lists==

This is an underappreciated box for “rich guy with no political track record” to check. If you’ve got all that money, but are only willing to spend it on your own campaign, a lot of other people in the party are going to remain pretty suspicious.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:37 am
So what issues will the Dem candidate run on? More taxes and more spending? That’s all they have, and it is a losing position. Dems have become the party of the status quo insiders; while the GOP has become the change/rebellion party. Who would have thought it?

Comment by Formerpol Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:37 am
===That’s all they have===

Pretty sure they’ll have more than that.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:40 am
=== Dems have become the party of the status quo insiders; while the GOP has become the change/rebellion party. ===

And how exactly did that happen in Illinois and nationally?

Oh, yeah, by the Republicans running self-funded “outsiders.”

Comment by Sam Weinberg Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:51 am
Funny to see the funding issue shift. For years the Democrats have vastly outspent the other side. Now that the tables have turned folks are in an uproar.

Comment by Some Other Guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:03 am
–They’re wealthy gents, nice guys, and have some Hollywood style appeal.

That hasn’t been the formula lately. –

I don’t get your point — Rauner isn’t a “nice guy” with “Hollywood style appeal?”

Because it was nothing but his own money that got him in the hunt in the first place.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:10 am
Pritzker, Kennedy, both made their money the really old fashioned way. Nice and helpful, but not as the candidate. Bruce would probably fund them as opponents.
The D’s need to get someone to speak for education and social services the R’s are trying to destroy.
I’d like to see an R stand up top the Bruce and run against him in the primary, maybe one with a university or large state employee contingent about to get eviscerated. If nothing else is being fought in the D primary, you might be able to push him around.

Comment by sad Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:30 am
==I don’t get your point — Rauner isn’t a “nice guy” with “Hollywood style appeal?”===

Are you serious Sling? No one here has accused him of being a “nice guy” and he’s clearly not in the High Society crowd ’round town with Sugar, JB, Chris, and the tiara set.

None of these guys are used to street fights. You win primaries at the Diner, not the Country Club. Holfeld and Dixon battle, Carol wins. Richie and Jane battle, Harold wins. JB, Chris and whoever else clink glasses at each other….someone else wins.

Jan took it to JB and he licked his wounds for a decade. Chris got chafed in an elevator. They’re soft. You telling me the pipe fitter and the iron worker are going to pound for either of these guys? I’d say no. They’d be more likely to pound for the guy who gives the reporter the finger in DC.

Those sir, are your primary voters.

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:33 am
–No one here has accused him of being a “nice guy” and he’s clearly not in the High Society crowd ’round town with Sugar, JB, Chris, and the tiara set.–

Yeah, he and Griff are just slummin’ at the wine club and cigar club with Stosch and Paddy…

You crack me up.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:40 am
” Sad ” your close to being so correct on this. If the Dems can get a poplular Repulican to go against Rauner that would help big time in eventually defeating him. If Dillard could get say 4-5 mil he could cause many headaches for Rauner. If he by some miracle takes him out in primary it’s a great day for the Dems. No Matter who wins the general they are in good shape. Just my opinion

Comment by 11th warder Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:56 am
A Guy: interesting comment on needing a street fighter to win. Anybody come to mind?

Comment by walker Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:57 am
== he’s clearly not in the High Society crowd ’round town with Sugar, JB, Chris, and the tiara set==

Just in the $100k-wine-club-with-the-Mayor-of-Chicago set.

==Those sir, are your primary voters.==

How many doors do you knock in Democratic Primaries again?

I mean, I agree that Kennedy and Pritzker need to show us a lot more than they are right now before they should be taken seriously, but so did Rauner at this point in the cycle.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:57 am
==- walker - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:57 am:

A Guy: interesting comment on needing a street fighter to win. Anybody come to mind?==

C’mon Walk, I already tossed one out there for you. There are a couple of others. If JB and CK and Bill Daley stuck around to provide the money, they could produce a better movie. Illinois is a strange place. Rich Dems do a lot better elsewhere. Here, not so much. There’s a reason for that. And that reason has been around for a long time; 40 years. lol

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 12:11 pm
==How many doors do you knock in Democratic Primaries again?===

A gentlemen never tells! lol. Where I patrol, the voters don’t wear uniforms Ars. We knock a lot of Dem and Dem leaning doors. We have to persuade them “what to do”, not “what day to do it”. Harder than you think.

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 12:14 pm
I am so not ready to see the start the 2018 election train here already in 2016. One of the many many reasons normal people with real (i.e., non government) lives increasingly hate politics so much and are so disgusted with politicians, is the never ending campaigns that seem to prevent (or at least discourage) any collaboration or joint governing from happening. How can government work with all the insults and posturing for future power, fundraising, access, and media mentions. Neither party’s hands are clean. The process to select and elect public servants in Illinois has become grotesque and is damaging to our society.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 12:25 pm
Roman @10:32 and A guy @11:33 do a pretty good job of describing who is going to pick the Dem nominee for governor.

Not good for JB.

Comment by PR Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:06 pm
== If Dillard could get say 4-5 mil he could cause many headaches for Rauner===

Aw mom, again…we ate this last night. /s

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:28 pm
== If Dillard could get say 4-5 mil he could cause many headaches for Rauner===

I’m guessing you’re going to have quite a headache tomorrow morning when the long, liquid lunch wears off.

Rauner’s crew is virtually the sole financial support of the Illinois GOP right now. Who would cross them? And why would Dillard? Rauner has been quite good to him.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:35 pm
Kennedy has been delivering some substantive speeches downstate … effective critiques of Rauner-style gov’t along with a progressive vision … Downstate, where 40 percent of the vote sits in the general, Kennedy is off to a strong start.

Comment by Downstate Dem Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:46 pm
==A gentlemen never tells! lol. Where I patrol, the voters don’t wear uniforms Ars. We knock a lot of Dem and Dem leaning doors. We have to persuade them “what to do”, not “what day to do it”. Harder than you think.==

Yeah, OK. Thing is, since you don’t work Democratic Primaries, your assumptions about what Democratic primary voters will do are only worth so much.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:50 pm
===Kennedy is off to a strong start.===

Except for getting dinged on sluggish fundraising…

A strong start is… defusing the fundraising questions that keep dogging Kennedy.

Campaigns have Ups and Downs… the Ground Floor is fundraising.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:52 pm
- AlfondoGonz -

I have a yellow hue?

I guess the filter on the camera needs to be fixed?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:03 pm
Agree with guy on this one.
Rauner throws red-meat at his folks and they pound on it.
Kennedy isn’t a fighter, that we know of, because he’s always bowed out during the sparring sessions.
JB lost his fight and never got back in the ring, now he wants a shot at the title.
So who do you have?

Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:16 pm
Yeah, the billionaires will save us

Comment by John on the spot Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:39 pm
“- 19th ward guy - Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 9:32 am:

In other words–Rauner wins big in 2018. Can’t wait to here the billionaire trust fund guy explains how he screwed the shareholders and everyone else in his huge bank failure back in 2000 or so. So sub-prime loans maybe not such a good idea.”

You’re thinking of a different Pritzker.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:39 pm
I say let the billionaires spend their money, then lose it one way or the other. That’d be fun to think about.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 3:23 pm