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Sorry, it just doesn’t work that way

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* Mark Brown writes about how Republican Cook County Commissioners Tim Schneider, Sean Morrison and Gregg Goslin are in for a rough electoral ride this fall…

Democrats are hoping to take advantage of widespread opposition here to President Donald Trump to drive suburban turnout, in part by calling attention to the Republican leadership roles of Schneider and Morrison, the county GOP chairman.

The Republicans argue their elections should be decided on their performance as fiscally responsible stewards of county government, not where they stand on Trump. […]

Democrat Hillary Clinton carried all three suburban districts in question over Trump in 2016, although Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner handily won the same areas in 2014 — an indication of the independent nature of the electorate.

“I’m perfectly aware that Donald Trump is not popular in my district,” said Schneider. “I think this election should be a referendum on Tim Schneider, not a referendum on Trump.”

As chairman of the state party, Schneider announced the state delegate vote for Trump at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and led some cheerleading on his behalf — a moment that Democrats are hoping to use in their favor.

As mentioned in the piece, Schneider chairs the Illinois Republican Party and Morrison is the Cook County GOP Chairman. So, they both know how this works. You tie yourself to popular politicians and run away from unpopular ones. And right now there’s a severe shortage of widely known, popular Republicans in this state. That’s not a value judgement, it’s just a fact of life. The situation can change because stuff always changes in politics. But today is not that day.

Not to mention that the two GOP leaders have tried to tie just about every Democrat under the sun to Speaker Madigan, and if past is prologue they’ll do that to their own opponents this fall. Again, they know how this works.

Also, as I told subscribers not long ago, a Democratic poll in Morrison’s Republican district found Gov. Rauner had a higher net unfavorability than President Trump (the two men were underwater by 20 points or more), so they’ll probably get hit with both of those barrels.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:28 pm

Comments

== Not to mention GOP leaders have tried to tie just about every Democrat under the sun to Speaker Madigan ==

That’s exactly what I was screaming at my Sun-Times this morning as I read the column. If the Nobel Committee starts giving out prizes for hypocrisy, Schneider and Morrison are going to be the frontrunners.

Comment by Tammy Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:36 pm
Totally fair hit. Just as “because…Madigan!” is a fair hit.
If these guys don’t like it then they need to get thicker skin.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:41 pm
Wait, Greg Goslin is still in office?

Who knew?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:42 pm
How did that Union Friendly Republican party go over the weekend?

Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:46 pm
Morrison and Schneider have done a terrific job of recruiting fantastic candidates to lead the Cook County ticket and well as all the Congressional districts. OOps….I guess there aren’t Republican candidates in Cook County. Their job is to build the party. How could this happen with a Republican in the Governor’s chair controlling appointments and patronage?

Comment by north shore cynic Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:49 pm
–“I think this election should be a referendum on Tim Schneider, not a referendum on Trump.”–

People in hades want ice cream, we’ll see who gets lucky first.

Like you don’t know how it’s worked, forever.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:54 pm
When you’re a partisan, you are made to answer for your co-partisans. It’s not always fair. It’s just always so.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 1:59 pm
So these Republicans think their elections should be decided on their performance as fiscally responsible stewards. If this is their standard I wonder if they feel that Rauner has earned a second term based on that standard?

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:01 pm
Even if they survive this November, the GOP members on the Cook board may soon become extinct. Since Cook moved to single-member districts after the 1990 census, the board members have agreed to bipartisan, incumbent protection maps at redistricting time. Given some of the demographic and political changes in the ‘burbs since then, Preckwinkle could draw a partisan map that eliminates the Republican districts in 2020.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:07 pm
This would have been a good time for somebody like Jason Barickman to come introduce himself to voters around the state and support local and state candidates, but Rauner has built zero bench and Republicans just think Rauner or profit will fund their campaign. The effects of Rauner running the GOP will be felt until at least 2022 gubernatorial race

Comment by Almost the weekend Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:15 pm
Schneider & Goslin should be OK, they’ve both been around the block & know how to win their areas. Trump/Rauner are really their only negative, so if they were to lose it would be solely guilt by association, which is hard to do to a long term incumbent with a good record. Plus Schneider’s opponent barely won his primary against a total no name.

Sean Morrison on the other hand got appointed when Gorman stepped down and has not run district wide. Plus he has had a few bad stories. He’s lucky his opponent is named Abdelnasser Rashid, because if he was running against a Jane Donnelly he’d be toast already.

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:19 pm
https://capitolfax.com/2018/07/11/cook-county-gop-chairman-wants-to-get-rid-of-partisan-elections/

Morrison trying to get rid of partisan elections all together. Must see the writing on the wall.

Comment by Yikes Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:27 pm
Refresh my memory, when did someone force Tim to walk arm and arm ideologically with Bruce. Pretty sure he did that willingly, so live with it brother.

Comment by Sonny Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:43 pm
==“I’m perfectly aware that Donald Trump is not popular in my district,” said Schneider. “I think this election should be a referendum on Tim Schneider, not a referendum on Trump.”==

Oh that Schneider. He sure is a funny guy.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:59 pm
==- Yikes - Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:27 pm:==

Edgar, Philip, and Daniels are basking in all those GOP Chicago mayors who have been elected since they eliminated partisan elections in the city.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:15 pm
Trump isn’t as toxic as he was two years ago. A good economy does that.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 5:35 pm
You’re running with Rauner and Trump.

Your campaign has to make it about anything but… Rauner in Trump.

This just in:

Campaigns are hard.

Same as it ever was.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 6:18 pm
If you’re not soft on Trump then you don’t have anything to worry about.

Comment by OMG Rosa Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 9:33 pm
–, Preckwinkle could draw a partisan map that eliminates the Republican districts in 2020.–

The census occurs during 2020, results come in mid-late 2021, and redistricting will likely happen in 2022. So Preckwinkle would be at end of her term

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 10:11 pm
==Trump isn’t as toxic as he was two years ago.==

Just because you think something doesn’t make it true. And when it comes to Illinois your assertion is just false. You apparently aren’t looking at the polls in Illinois that indicate otherwise.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 9:03 am