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Planned Parenthood won’t choose between top 3 Dem candidates for governor

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Illinois

* Makes some sense…

“The PPIA Board is deeply impressed by each candidate’s demonstrated commitment and strong vision for reproductive rights,” @BChopra50 #twill #reproductiverights pic.twitter.com/W5IvBGnyVq

— Planned Parenthood (@PPIAction) January 25, 2018

* Greg Hinz…

But another group, Personal PAC, which spends hundreds of thousands of dollars in some election cycles, announced it is backing only one candidate: Pritzker.

In a phone interview, Personal PAC CEO Terry Cosgrove confirmed the decision and said it has nothing to do with the fact that Pritzker last spring donated more than $300,000 to the group and to its affiliated independent expenditure committee.

While other candidates have taken pro-abortion rights stands, too, the decision to endorse Pritzker alone “came down to viability,” Cosgrove said. “We felt J.B. had the campaign apparatus, the resources and the commitment to win against (incumbent) Bruce Rauner.” […]

Personal PAC endorsements are not affected by donations it receives, Cosgrove added. “Ask Diana Rauner how much her tens of thousands of checks to us have done for her husband. . . .Three-quarters of my board has no idea of donations.”

A spokesman for Biss said his candidate was “surprised” that he failed to receive the Personal PAC endorsement, given that he “for years has worked on women’s issues.” Biss was “pleased” that Planned Parenthood felt otherwise.

* In other campaign news, from a pess release…

Today, the JB for Governor campaign released a new digital ad, “In Charge,” highlighting Bruce Rauner’s failure to lead and JB’s commitment to standing up for all Illinoisans and taking charge when he’s governor.

“Bruce Rauner unleashed a budget crisis on our state, and after all of that, he has the nerve to look you in the eye and say, ‘I am not in charge,’” said JB Pritzker. “If I’m elected governor, when the Dreamers need my protection, when people of color need my commitment to justice, when the LGBTQ community needs my voice, and women everywhere need me to say, ‘we believe you,’ I will be in charge. Illinois deserves better than Bruce Rauner. Illinois deserves a leader.”

The ad is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:36 pm

Comments

They should’ve endorsed Rauner just to watch the HB40 crowd’s collective heads explode.

Comment by CharlieKratos Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:39 pm
This is a good thing. I think multi-candidate endorsements are more expressive and worthwhile than “no endorsement,” unless the no endorsement is due to a specific lacking among all candidates.

This also helps avoid situations like HRC in 2016 where they endorsed Mark Kirk over Tammy Duckworth, only to embarrassingly revoke their Kirk endorsement and then endorse Duckworth after yet another of Kirk’s racist comments, which apparently didn’t bother them at first.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:41 pm
They’d endorse Rauner, but he isn’t in charge.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:42 pm
=== “We felt J.B. had the campaign apparatus, the resources and the commitment to win against (incumbent) Bruce Rauner.” ===

Truer words were never spoken.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:43 pm
They don’t want Gov. HB40 because he publicly funds abortion on demand, cutting into PP’s market.

Comment by jimk849 Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:46 pm
When you mislead a Catholic Cardinal and still are outflanked by the leading Dems…

… then again, not getting this endorsement now for Rauner is probably helpful for the Primary, given Rauner is a uber-left, costal limousine liberal running in a GOP Primary as an incumbent.

It kinda has a “win” feel for everyone, if that’s possible, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:52 pm
–In a phone interview, Personal PAC CEO Terry —-Cosgrove confirmed the decision and said it has nothing to do with the fact that Pritzker last spring donated more than $300,000 to the group and to its affiliated independent expenditure committee.–

Oh please. The Planned Parenthood action makes that statement sound even more ridiculous.

Planned Parenthood saw a number of candidates that agree with them, so they chose not to make an endorsement.

Personal PAC saw the same thing, but chose to endorse the billionaire that recently kicked in $300K. More where that came from.

Real mystery.

When faced with a number of candidates who basically agree with you, it’s no mystery why you choose to make an

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:55 pm
==Personal PAC endorsements are not affected by donations it receives, Cosgrove added. “Ask Diana Rauner how much her tens of thousands of checks to us have done for her husband. . . .Three-quarters of my board has no idea of donations.” ==

Sure, Diana Rauner donated, but Bruce Rauner kicked Terry off the Human Rights Commission board. Can’t have that.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:59 pm
Meh, Terry puts his thumb on the scale in Democratic primaries all the time. This is neither the first nor the last time Personal Pac will endorse a Democratic candidate who is running against other, equally pro-choice Democrats. Terry is part of the establishment and he backs establishment candidates.

Same as it ever was.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 2:02 pm
$300,000 worth of viability.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 2:23 pm
Planned Parenthood FTW with this political decision to endorse all 3 candidates. At the end of the day, if you’re pro-choice, you should get an endorsement in my opinion.

Comment by ILDemVoter Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 2:28 pm
=$300,000 worth of viability.=

Yes. In other news, Scrooge MacDuck says he’s not in it for the money as he swims through gold coins in his vault.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 3:19 pm
Countdown to Chris Kennedy releasing a statement touting endorsement from Planned Parenthood…

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 5:26 pm