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* Usually, statewide Democratic primary candidates spend time Downstate early in the campaign so that they can spend as much time as possible in the Chicagoland area (where most of the votes are) during the homestretch. Rod Blagojevich’s 2002 strategy was a bit different. His plan was to fight Chicago to a draw and then run up the score in the Metro East and other Downstate areas. JB Pritzker, who has given $200,000 to the St. Clair County Democratic Party, was in the vote-rich Metro East area yesterday and today…
* Democratic governor candidates: Chris Kennedy will meet with voters at three events, including a Chicago train stop in the morning. J.B. Pritzker will go to events in Granite City and Belleville.
Pritzker was in Madison County yesterday. The other candidates haven’t spent much money in that region, so it makes some sense to go there.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) just called to say he’d help set up this trip “weeks ago.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Hoffman forwarded me an e-mail from several days ago which shows he was, indeed, telling the truth. End of story.
* But Pritzker’s campaign schedule also has one other advantage…
In this last week of the Illinois Governor’s Primary campaign, Democrat J.B. Pritzker is keeping his distance from Chicago reporters.
On Monday morning, he attended an 8 a.m. union hall meeting in south suburban Alsip. Since then, the Chicago Tribune published a report on Pritzker’s off-shore companies, formed since 2008, in direct conflict with information that Pritzker had said in the past that all off-shore interests were created by family members years ago.
After the WTTW final debate Wednesday evening, Pritzker fielded questions for less than four minutes before his press team pulled him away as reporters shouted more inquiries about whether any of the off-shore distributions were directed to family members.
Since then there has been no opportunity for Chicago reporters to speak directly to Pritzker.
* A few pics from the trail…
It was a great night to get out the vote in Madison County! It’s time to get Springfield back on the side of hardworking families, and as governor, that’s what I’ll do. Make a plan to vote on Tuesday: https://t.co/Nz5y5t7IxI pic.twitter.com/xnEEKQwkEa
— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) March 16, 2018
Began the day attending a shift change and speaking with the hardworking employees at Granite City Works! pic.twitter.com/6HK5RncQhw
— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) March 16, 2018
From Granite City, we headed to Swansea where I was delighted to join labor leaders from Madison and St. Clair counties for breakfast! pic.twitter.com/fI0dvLpFrq
— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) March 16, 2018
…Adding… Pritzker was also at an Irish flag-raising celebration this morning.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:38 am
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Makes sense. I think we’ll see a 2002 primary pattern playout during vote count on Tuesday night. A very close three-way race as Cook and the collars report, then the downstate vote comes in and pushes JB over the top — just as it did for Blago.
Comment by BC Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:45 am
makes sense, he’s just like Blago in so many ways.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:47 am
===makes sense, he’s just like Blago in so many ways.===
Watch out Amalia, he may start combing his hair forward!
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am
It does speak a tad to being unable to answer their own oppo, and trying to limit damage Pritzker can do to himself because of it.
It also speaks to a campaign and Crew that has nearly two dozen campaign offices statewide and running a full-tilt statewide apparatus that can gin up pluralities the others might not be able to in central and southern Illinois.
Lots being said.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am
Gotta love the Chicago media’s self-regard. “A statewide candidate is campaigning in another part of the state? Must be because he’s scared of us!”
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am
Last I checked, downstate is part of Illinois too. Yes, it is conveniently far from Chicago reporters. But downstate voters are some of the most vocal and paranoid about their perceived diminished importance that spending a decent chunk of time there right before the primary might shut them up for a while.
It also helps that he has the place to himself, which should help generate some extra soft news coverage.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:50 am
Pretty common end of campaign. Stay on the move
avoid a 12 hour rolling press conferences and let campaign get out the vote
Anyone seen GovJunk today? Ask about the National Review endorsin’ the Commando
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 11:57 am
@Six Degrees, if you squint, the look is there.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 12:09 pm
That “street money” that JB contributed will still help move the needle in this area.
The $200,000 donation he made to St. Clair County could prove to be money well spent.
Comment by illini Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 12:22 pm
== Pritzker was also at an Irish flag-raising celebration ==
Big deal. He’ll get my vote when he burns the Union Jack.
Comment by South Side Irish Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:09 pm
==Gotta love the Chicago media’s self-regard. “A statewide candidate is campaigning in another part of the state? Must be because he’s scared of us!”==
Agreed. The vast majority of the Chicago media apparatus should go back to doing what they’ve done best for the last three years - getting paid to act as Rauner stenographers.
Also, I’d really like to know what they mean to imply by saying that he’s “keeping his distance from the media”. Do Chicago media members think there are no credible reporters outside of the city limits? Or that Chicago media figures are too important to ever travel to cow-towns like Alsip and Granite City? Betting it’s a little of both.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:14 pm
One of the big complaints about state-wide candidates, especially Dems, is that they ignore “downstate.” Spending time “downstate” makes sense in this crowed race (Biss and Kennedy seem to have ceded downstate) and looking forward to the fall General Election.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:21 pm
==Or that Chicago media figures are too important to ever travel to cow-towns like Alsip and Granite City?==
I thought about that, too, but when Tronc is laying off staff, we can assume that no one in Chicago media will pay for reporters to go downstate.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:39 pm
Pritzker has nearly two dozen offices statewide.
The other campaigns have nothing in numbers or depth in central and downstate.
Sending Pritzker out with that type of groundwork itching to spring on Tuesday… yep, you plan to use that to your full advantage. That’s why you invest the money, time, and people.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:49 pm
==One of the big complaints about state-wide candidates, especially Dems, is that they ignore “downstate.” ==
Illinois is just very parochial from Winthrop Harbo to Cairo. Downstate wants attention, and deserves it. But Chicago isn’t willing to share. So it goes.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:50 pm
He’s running for IL governor, not Chicago reporter easy-quote machine.
Back in the day, the Chicago media would actually pay to have reporters follow candidates around the state in the final days.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:01 pm
I’ve seen a bunch of big JB signs spring up around me overnight. What’s the legality with campaign signs on public land? Most of these signs are on raised, grassy medians on the highway. Are those legal?
Comment by Metal Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:03 pm
–…Adding… Pritzker was also at an Irish flag-raising celebration this morning.–
There goes the pro-Cromwell vote.
Must be one of those anti-British colonialists, like Obama.
And Washington. Franklin. Adams…..
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:07 pm
What others said. “Downstate” votes, too. It worked for Poshard and Blagojevich.
Comment by ZC Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:22 pm
==I’ve seen a bunch of big JB signs spring up around me overnight. What’s the legality with campaign signs on public land? Most of these signs are on raised, grassy medians on the highway. Are those legal?==
No different than electioneering or protesting on public sidewalks. Legal to do, unconstitutional to stop (with some exceptions).
Comment by TKMH Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:04 pm
==I thought about that, too, but when Tronc is laying off staff, we can assume that no one in Chicago media will pay for reporters to go downstate.==
The papers, yeah maybe but that story is from nbc Chicago - they’ve got enough coin. Heck, they can even send someone from a local affiliate if they’re so concerned about Pritzker’s whereabouts. Most likely laziness, easier for them to write down whatever Will Allison tells them.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:55 pm