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Where are the other GOP candidates?

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Illinois

State GOP Party Chair Tim Schneider said the party gave out 2,000 tickets to the Governor’s Day rally. He then needled Democrats for canceling the traditional party events at the fair: “They can’t even field a team,” he said.

* 47th Ward made a good point in comments today that others have also made this week…

Who is the likely GOP nominee for Secretary of State? Did he or she give a speech yesterday? Were there any signs or tee shirts? Has Rauner endorsed a candidate who will run “as an independent Republican,” like Erika Harold, yet?

Treasurer?
Comptroller?

Those candidates sure missed a good opportunity to meet Republican grass roots activists yesterday. What a shame.

Both parties traditionally use their State Fair rallies to showcase statewide candidates. That didn’t happen yesterday except for their AG candidate because the Republicans don’t yet have any candidates for three statewide offices, even though petitions can be circulated on September 5th, which is just a few weeks from now.

Maybe they were just hoping to showcase Harold, or maybe they realized that Rauner would overshadow any other announcement, but it does seem a bit odd that they haven’t yet filled out their statewide slate. Tick-tock.

* Related…

* Lisa Madigan: ‘I know nothing about’ possible opponent Harold

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:23 am

Comments

You change staff and see lack of loyalty Rauner has demonstrated the past two months. Why would any interested candidates risk their political future aligning themselves with Rauner? Add Trump, better off waiting until 2022.

Comment by Almost the weekend Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:26 am
Perhaps burning down the organization has something to do with the delay/silence

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:27 am
Get with the times Rich, just say winter is coming and drop the mic.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:29 am
Lisa, you can google Harold and you’ll find plenty on her. She is a beauty.

Comment by Mr B. Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:31 am
It seems to me the Illinois Republican Party has devolved into a cult of personality. Primary voters don’t matter any longer. All that matters is who Rauner will support. He will be the decider apparently and he’s taking his sweet time. That would bother me if I was a conservative.

Fortunately, I’m not, and on the plus side, it’s not like any of these un-named “independent Republicans” will need to scramble to raise money. No need for an early announcement when Rauner will be paying all of your bills (assuming you toe his line).

Is that about right? And Republicans are OK with that?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:33 am
Was Leslie Munger anywhere to be found? I thought appointing her as “Deputy Governor” was to keep her on ice in preparation to run for comptroller again. Not that it would be a good idea or anything.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:37 am
It’s confusing that the “silence” of where Rauner has this GOP Ticket right now…

… The best rollout stage for introducing a slate or at least the candidates in a primary has come and gone.

Will this be one of those where organizations get emailed petition forms for candidates and people ask “who IS this?”

Rauner could lose, Harold could lose, Durkin could pick up seats…

Maybe… it’s a focusing on Rauner, “beat Lisa” and try for GA seats.

I distinctly remember that Z and the Rauner cake that won relied on a very low Chicago and Cook turnout.

Why wake Chicago and Cook Dems unnecessarily with candidates to gin up people lathered up to vote against you?

So…

Maybe just having ole Bruve, ole Slip and Sue, a candidate to gin up “Madigan” angst… and the rest is about keeping turnout low?

The GA districts targeted? That’s different.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:38 am
Why would anyone with something to lose want to run for those seats in a state-wide race under the current GOP banner?

Comment by Doofman Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:50 am
“Where are the other GOP candidates?”

I’m sure the IPI’s candidates will be announced soon — defending an indefensible cartoon has put them a couple days behind schedule.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:51 am
“She is a beauty.”

Because THAT’S what we want to key on, right? Sheesh.

Comment by Flippy Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:57 am
Kristine O’Rourke Cohn. Thomas Jefferson Ramsdell. Steve Kim. I could go on. Can’t blame Rauner for those.

Comment by Put the fun in unfunded Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:07 pm
- Flippy - Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 11:57 am:

Well, it is the party of Trump we’re talking about

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:13 pm
47th let me shorten that for you: Money

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:23 pm
State GOP Party Chair Tim Schneider said the party gave out 2,000 tickets….

If those are entrance to the fair tickets at $10.00 per. Wow, $20,000 spent by the party…. unless they didn’t actually have to pay for them.

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:27 pm
Precinct Captain - Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:13 pm

I guess, but still…

Comment by Flippy Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:31 pm
The candidates for Comptroller, Treasurer, etc. will likely be Springfield insiders. So there isn’t a need to announce them now. So much for shaking up Springfield.

Comment by Real Reform Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:33 pm
They are screening Harvard grads for more candidates. Stay tuned….

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:33 pm
IL GOP “organization” has not existed for years; there was nothing to burn down. Rauner is the only Republican to crack 50% statewide since JBT in 2002 (neither Kirk 2010 nor JBT 2014 did so). It’s not like Rauner is pushing aside viable candidates from the grass roots (like Christine Cegelis).

Comment by Put the fun in unfunded Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:44 pm
Mistrust is the price of Perfidy

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:48 pm
Was anyone on the ground seeing if potential candidates were out-and-about in the crowd more than usual?

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 12:55 pm
“She’s a beauty.”

Even if intended to be snark (and I’m not sure if it was), this sexist comment was unnecessary.

Comment by Change Agent Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 1:29 pm
–It seems to me the Illinois Republican Party has devolved into a cult of personality. Primary voters don’t matter any longer. All that matters is who Rauner will support. He will be the decider apparently and he’s taking his sweet time.–

Exactly. There’s no point of even testing the waters for a primary run unless The Boss gives his blessing. He’ll just swamp you with money.

Rauner and Griff bankroll the party and they’ll decide who runs when they feel like it, or when BTIA stops locking themselves in rooms or lighting their hair on fire or whatever screwball antics they’re up to today.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 4:47 pm