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Poshard backs Pritzker

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* Press release…

Today, Glenn Poshard announced his endorsement of JB Pritzker for governor. Poshard has spent over three decades in public service in Southern Illinois, serving as a member of the State Senate, Congress, founder of the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, and President of Southern Illinois University.

“I am so proud to have the endorsement of a distinguished leader like Glenn Poshard,” said JB Pritzker. “He has served his community in so many different ways and changed the state for the better with his commitment to public service. As an elected official, an advocate for children, and an educator, Glenn Poshard has always fought for what’s right. I’m humbled to have him as a partner in this campaign and as we continue building our grassroots, statewide movement.”

“I was really impressed with JB Pritzker. Not only his background and experience in job creation himself, but what he would like to do with the state of Illinois and how he would like to do it,” said Glenn Poshard. “He stands up for working men and women. That’s one of his greatest attributes. Union wages and benefits built the middle class of America, and that’s what JB Pritzker understands more than anybody else in this race. He embraces the great principles of our party including equalizing educational opportunities for all of our children and protecting the most vulnerable among us and that’s important to me. He has both the head and the heart of a really good leader in government.”

* The video…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:30 am

Comments

Waiting for the Kennedy choir to tell us why this is no big deal and how they’re cleaning up downstate.

This is a big get.

Comment by Anon0091 Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:33 am
Not a huge endorsement, but Poshard is a pretty useful surrogate south of I-72.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:34 am
This is the same guy that was running SIU while enrollment dropped by over 30 percent.

Comment by Nieva Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:37 am
When Glenn first got elected to Congress, he represented the 22nd District!

After the next census, Illinois will be down to 17 total seats.

Comment by Fax Machine Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:38 am
He would have made a fine governor. Have to say, impressed on this one for JB

Comment by OneMan Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:39 am
Disappointed, but not surprised.

Comment by illini Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:40 am
Prince of Pensions endorses Duke of Hyatt.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:44 am
With friends like Glenn, who needs enemies?

Comment by Collinsville Kevin Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:57 am
===When Glenn first got elected to Congress, he represented the 22nd District!

After the next census, Illinois will be down to 17 total seats.===

When Paul Simon was first elected to Congress he represented the 24th district.

Comment by Just sayin' Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 9:58 am
I imagine Poshard must really hate what’s happened to higher education in Illinois, especially SIU.

This is a good pick-up for the Pritzker folks.

Who has endorsed Kennedy besides Bobby Rush?

Comment by The Muse Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:04 am
Though Pawar impresses me the most, Pritzker has what it takes (money) to successfully challenge Rauner. He will be the Den candidate. Undoubtedly.

Comment by illinoised Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:07 am
I bet Rich already has the GOP attack press release response in his inbox.

Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:08 am
Isn’t Poshard pro-life?

Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:09 am
This is a big deal.

The path to the nomination keeps getting tighter and tighter for Kennedy and Biss.

And the Poshard endorsement carries over strongly to the general election.

Pat Quinn made the mistake of starting a feud with Poshard back in 1998 that he carried with him into the governor’s office, and it kinda cost him his job.

Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:14 am
Pritzker’s Democratic primary opponents should pounce on Poshard’s social conservatism and ties to the NRA.

Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:16 am
==Pritzker’s Democratic primary opponents should pounce on Poshard’s social conservatism and ties to the NRA.==

I guess, but with Pritzker up on the air with a pro-choice spot, how much is that really gonna do?

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:22 am
I think it’s a good get. That said, Poshard was so toxic when he ran for governor that elected “progressive” Dems came out in public against him in the general election. Normally I’d say this would be something Biss could have done something with, but he messed up too bad with those Bernie/DSA types to recover.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:25 am
Pretty ironic the textbook example of the need for pension reform in Illinois is touting JB Pritzker’s commitment (without specifics on cuts and revenues) to balance the budget

https://www.bettergov.org/news/poshard-the-prince-of-pensions

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:26 am
== Union wages and benefits built the middle class of America, and that’s what JB Pritzker understands more than anybody else in this race. ==

Oh really?

Comment by Responsa Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 10:56 am
Glen Poshard is a lying piece of crap but I think it was very smart of JB to roll this out. I don’t like the man, but many don’t know him like I do–so good job, JB.

Comment by Tom Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 11:04 am
Tom - those are pretty harsh words. I don’t know Glenn Poshard well but having met him while he was running for Governor I was very impressed. His loss in 1998 wounded me personally as having been around politicians for the last 40 years or so, he was among the best I’d ever met

Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 11:25 am
“Poshard was so toxic when he ran for governor that elected “progressive” Dems came out in public against him in the general election.”

I didn’t vote for him, but I think this is a little OTT. Mostly progressives didn’t like him and didn’t trust him over two issues. 1) Choice and 2) LGB (T wasn’t a big issue then). JB is has a record on both issues going back decades.

Choice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ5HjpssGpI

LGBT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCwBGycEXlA

Comment by Anon0091 Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 12:39 pm
I’ll be honest, from what I know talking to locals Glenn’s name is not the same anymore in southern Illinois. I think this endorsement has little influence (may actually damage JB) on the local dem voters in the area. He left a tarnished image at SIU and the vast majority do not relate to him within the area (look at his total public pension compared to most people struggling to get by).

Comment by Ole southerner Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 1:13 pm
Ole Southerner, I am not sure what locals you are talking to. Glenn gets request all the time to headline Democrat events in Southern IL. When he agrees to a request there is always a big turn out of Democrat voters to hear him speak. That is a good thing in a Democratic primary. Glenn is a great endorsement for JB to pick up in Southern IL.

Comment by Turn Around For What? Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 1:27 pm
To the Post,

It IS a big deal, where their differences are will strengthen JB and allow JB to have more credibility downstate.

Saying otherwise is ignoring a lot

I walked it around the barn, but I did wonder who would get the Poshard endorsement. With Rod in prison and Quinn… being Quinn, it is Poshard, not unlike Edgar, that seems to be that elder statesman, downstater too, that makes a difference.

With Poshard out this early, does that mean Glenn will work with that campaign from here on? Lots of days from now until March.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 1:47 pm
==With Rod in prison and Quinn… being Quinn, it is Poshard, not unlike Edgar, that seems to be that elder statesman, downstater too, that makes a difference.==

His profile is probably a bit too low for that, but he’s the closest thing. Obama’s obviously the only true consensus point for IL Dems, but he’s not going to endorse in this primary.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 2:00 pm
Thomas Paine “Pat Quinn made the mistake of starting a feud with Poshard … and it kinda cost him his job.” Seriously, Pat Quinn lost because he didn’t get along with Poshard? I think PQ had a few more problems than his relationship with Poshard. This is a good get for JB but let’s overstate Poshard’s influence for more than it is.

Comment by Downstater Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 2:16 pm
==Glenn is a great endorsement for JB to pick up in Southern IL.==

Absolutely correct. Every speaker at the Jackson County Dem dinner a few weeks ago (including Biss and Pritzker) genuflected in their remarks.

Comment by LXB Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 3:47 pm
- Arsensal -

Understood, I was trying to get as close to apples to… apples.

To the Post,

===I walked it around the barn, but I did wonder who would get the Poshard endorsement===

I hinted a few times as to who Pritzker would get as a downstate endorsement. I always felt this was the crown jewel for any of them.

With that “clarified”, now to clarify this…

===With Poshard out this early, does that mean Glenn will work with that campaign from here on? Lots of days from now until March.===

Here’s where I am;

No polling released by any campaign or 3rd party.

You’d “think” Pritzker is close or passed Kennedy. The ads and endorsements align with a possible/probable surge.

Now here is where Poshard and March and “today” all converge, for me.

I’m just “confused”… you roll out these endorsements, with petitions out, and $21 million donated to be spent… and you want to be “coy”… and continue to roll out endorsement after endorsement. Why roll out Poshard now, and not in January, and still not enjoy the advantages that all the endorsements and monies can be, and swamp the others?

No one is fooled that Pritzker “could be” an underdog.

If the fear is being the “annointed” one… Rauner is polling, at last released polling, 63% disapproval.

Poshard allows the continuation of building a campaign that by all measures should be leading.

Pritzker is already a target too. It’s not like anyone is going to forget him.

So… My point… Is rolling out Poshard this early a way to continue the “coy frontrunner” persona?

Nothing wrong with it. At all.

It’s a huge get for Pritzker to solidify southern and central Illinois, and make conservative Dems to take pause. It’s impressive.

We’ll see how Poshard works now to March.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 22, 17 @ 4:58 pm