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* Press release…
Campaign manager Abby Witt released the following statement in response to JB Pritzker’s decision to leave the Illinois Sierra Club’s gubernatorial forum after opening remarks in order to board a private jet to a downstate event.
“Only an out of touch billionaire would travel by private jet to talk himself up as a strong environmental steward.”
I asked the Sierra Club for a response, but haven’t heard back.
Two things. First, the link provided by the Biss campaign shows Pritzker actually took a twin-engine turboprop, not a jet, which would’ve caused more environmental damage. So… since he didn’t take a jet, does that make him an in-touch billionaire? /s
Second, Pritzker left the forum to attend the NAACP state convention in Mt. Vernon.
* Politico…
“While JB regretted having to leave the Sierra Club forum before it was completed, he was happy he got to both meet with an important group of environmental leaders in Chicago and also be part of the NAACP state convention in Mount Vernon,” said Pritzker spokeswoman Galia Slayen.
Biss’ campaign sent the state senator’s running mate, Litesa Wallace, to the NAACP event, saying there was no way he could make it there. The offensive by Biss could be a sign that with Ameya Pawar out of the race, Biss is emboldened to compete as the “regular guy” — who can also raise money.
It isn’t uncommon for candidates to use private jets or planes to campaign, though typically due to resources, they don’t come into play until just before Election Day. Pritzker’s deep pockets, however, means he can travel the state more easily than his opponents even six months before the primary. Campaign reports from the second quarter shows the Pritzker campaign paid more than $115,000 to Wheels Up Partners. Pritzker is financing his own campaign.
The full candidate forum is here.
* Tribune…
Meanwhile, the Democratic field for governor is down one candidate as of last week, but the remaining contenders will meet at two forums within 12 hours.
On Tuesday evening, much of the field will be at Aurora University for a forum moderated by Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson. The next morning, the candidates will be in Mount Prospect for a breakfast forum hosted by the Daily Herald and ABC 7.
A political activism group for moms based in Chicago’s northern suburbs received a small donation from J.B. Pritzker three days before their founder blasted Pritzker’s primary rival Chris Kennedy in a press release as “disheveled” and “disrespectful to women.”
The Pritzker campaign could not say with certainty if his recent gift of $128.50 was the only time he’s given money to the group, but the paper trail revealing the donation could serve to confirm suspicions from progressives who remain skeptical of Pritzker’s attempt to co-opt grassroots groups. […]
“Mom + Baby and 11 other organizations focused on women and family issues came together to put out a “No Salary History” Bill postcard campaign,” said Galia Slayen, a spokeswoman for the Pritzker campaign. “JB personally contributed $128.50 to help cover a portion of the postcard campaign cost.”
$128.50 is now the baseline amount for co-opting the left?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:31 pm
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Much ado about nothing
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:37 pm
>$128.50 is now the baseline amount for co-opting the left?
Co-opting? Nah.
But does it look bad for an organization that’s presenting itself as neutral?
Yep.
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:37 pm
Daniel Biss, candidate for Governor of Chicago.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:40 pm
Rauner should switch sides at these prices.
Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:41 pm
Do any of these campaigns realize that their candidate is running for the Office of Governor in the 5th largest state in America?
Any of them? Seriously?
How much time, energy, money, angst is being wasted by the “Three” here.
Instead of worrying about 5,000 pennies, they need to get 5,000 people energized enough to come to a rally to hear them.
Instead of $128 dollars, how about focusing on 128 clean petition signatures and names y’all can get from a volunteer.
Y’all are approaching this like a state Rep race… no, y’all are approaching this like a trustee seat for a midsize municipality.
It’s thingS like this, these things where I wonder,
“Any of you who wants to run for governor, when you can stop playing for 50 voters… and try to attract 50,000 votes… let me know. Until then I’ll wait and see”
This is embarrassing. You’re professionals for crying out loud.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:49 pm
The Mark Maxwell story is completely absurd and bizarre. Buried in the story he acknowledges the 128.50 was to support the group’s postcard campaign on an piece of legislation. So it’s not a “donation” to the group at all as much as a reimbursement.
And seriously, the Becky Carroll claim is more than silly. It’s like Maxwell pulled out his wacky conspiracy theory generator and out popped this piece of dreck.
Comment by Anon0091 Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:50 pm
$128.50 isn’t much, but for a group purporting to be neutral it’s not a good look.
Comment by WSJ Paywall Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:51 pm
Be Better. Be Better.
Comment by DownstateKid Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:52 pm
This sure sounds like a desperation heave from Biss and Kennedy, neither of whom have yet shown me that they can go toe-to-toe with Gov. Rauner.
Comment by Northsider Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:54 pm
I thought this primary was going to be at the very least interesting. Kennedy and Biss are teetering on relevancy and JB with all his billions has yet to make this a done deal. Kennedy and Biss aren’t still alive because of them and their team, they are alive because of the ineptitude of team JB… check the twitter profiles of his professional organizers, it will give you a chuckle.
Comment by Iggy Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:56 pm
The real question isn’t “Why is JB Pritzker supporting this equal pay for equal work campaign?” But “Why isn’t Chris Kennedy supporting this grassroots effort by Moms to ensure equal pay for equal work?”
try that on, Gail.
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:57 pm
Biss and Kennedy throwing as many punches as possible just hoping one will land.
Comment by The Muse Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:58 pm
===This sure sounds like a desperation heave from Biss and Kennedy, neither of whom have yet shown me that they can go toe-to-toe with Gov. Rauner.===
Yeah, I was on the fence, but this Post by Rich, in October, with no petitions turned in, no seen strength in the precincts and ads… yep… “They’re done”
This is as silly as the campaigns themselves and this small ball wackiness.
Yep, this is “it”, they just showed they “can’t”.
Ugh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:58 pm
Mom + Baby is already filled with JB people so they were never open to anyone else. but, whatever, their whole vibe is pretty retro, so not a group I’d like anyway.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 2:59 pm
Why didn’t Kennedy’s campaign send Joy to the NAACP convention? Their response made it seem like he was in attendance at an event to watch Kennedy receive an award instead. Not a great use of resources.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:02 pm
How does Biss get around the state, on a solar-powered free-range donkey?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:04 pm
===How does Biss get around the state, on a solar-powered free-range donkey?===
That technology is still 10 years away.
He takes a car.
Comment by PJ Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:07 pm
Lol to $128. I’m sure JB *really misses that money.
Seems he touched a nerve with the Carroll-Rahm camp though. Good for him for telling both sides of this story (which was way over-hyped, imo).
Comment by Anon312 Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:07 pm
“How does Biss get around the state, on a solar-powered free-range donkey?”
Sen. Biss,
Your campaign’s decision to not make your primary mode of transportation an organic solar-powered free-range donkey is very troubling and calls into question my previous impression of you as a strong environmental steward.
Always & inevitably disappointed,
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:12 pm
–Anon0091–
Maxwell’s work has been a heck of a lot better than what we’re used to, at least compared to a lot of local TV reporting. Can’t speak for Chicago stations… But didn’t Carroll actually work for Pritzker early on? Can’t see how this is out of bounds.
Comment by Mrs. Robinson Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:15 pm
==This sure sounds like a desperation heave from Biss and Kennedy==
This was my thought, too. Seems like they’re scrambling for *anything*.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:20 pm
Pawar played the role of being a regular guy by acting like a regular guy. Pawar was positive and talked about what he would do to help people like me and my family. He wasn’t running to win, that much is sure, probably why he’s not in. The Biss campaign is not authentic, which is probably why people who knew Pawar liked him.
Comment by Regular Guy Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:45 pm
===How does Biss get around the state,===
Hot air balloon.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:52 pm
$128.50 is beneath the disclosure threshold. So you can criticize them for the transaction, or praise them for their transparency, or ignore the whole thing as trivial.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 3:56 pm
The comment about Pawar is being way too nice to the most trivial of all candidates.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 5:02 pm
Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson.
Maxwell is head and shoulders over anyone we’ve had downstate in a long while. This isn’t his biggest story, but is worth telling in my opinion. Ex- Blagoites don’t need to be poking their noses under the tent.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 16, 17 @ 5:56 pm
===How does Biss get around the state, on a solar-powered free-range donkey?===
Um, that aint solar power powering that donkey, Word…just sayin.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 5:51 am