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Harold mocks Raoul for not agreeing to debates

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* From Erika Harold’s Governors Day speech…

When Lisa Madigan withdrew from the race, my opponent State Sen. Kwame Raoul entered the race. And he immediately dismissed me as a mere Miss America, and said he knew Lisa Madigan did not leave the race because she was afraid of facing me. Well, Lisa Madigan may not have been afraid to face me, but Sen. Raoul apparently is, because he’s been trying to duck debates and avoid joint forums. Our state deserves an attorney general who is tough enough to stand on any stage, with any person, even if that person is just a mere Miss America.

The governor also used his speech to demand that Raoul debate Harold, asking why the Senator was hiding.

* Meanwhile…

Today, Kwame Raoul’s campaign for Attorney General released a new television ad, “Safe Home,” highlighting Republican Erika Harold’s shocking views on the safety of children and same-sex couples who wish to care for them. The ad is running statewide on television and digital platforms.

“As both a father and a public servant, it’s unconscionable to me that the safety of a child would ever be up for debate,” said Kwame Raoul. “When I was a prosecutor, I took children out of abusive homes so that they could live with loving families. Whether from neighborhood violence, online predators or even within their own home, our kids are at risk. As attorney general, I will make our children’s safety my top priority.”

Video transcript:

[GRAPHIC]

You won’t believe what Erika Harold believes.

[REPORTER VOICEOVER]

Republican Erika Harold, views on gay adoption are surfacing.

Harold was asked…‘If you had to place a child in foster care, and the choices were either a loving gay couple or a heterosexual couple who were known child abusers, who would you choose?’

Harold chose the child abusers.

[KWAME RAOUL]

Your personal views influence what you pursue. We can’t allow that type of extremism into the Attorney General’s office. I prosecuted child abuse and neglect.

This is the work of my life, and I’m just getting started.

Harold has repeatedly supported policies that discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. During her 2014 congressional campaign, Harold supported a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and protection for employers who fire employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Kwame Raoul is endorsed by a host of organizations whose members are deeply committed to the safety and welfare of children, including the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Nurses Association, and more.

* Ad…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:19 pm

Comments

Odd stone for Bruce to throw considering he was scared to debate Ives.

Comment by Seats Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:22 pm
Did Rauner really just say “Get ‘im done”? How do you screw up a tag line that literally everyone else in the crowd is familiar with? Sheesh, talk about exposing yourself as a phony.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:25 pm
How many debates did Rauner agree to with Ives? Please, someone help me remember.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:25 pm
I don’t think I’d want to share a stage with someone who sides with child abusers either.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:26 pm
Ouch, that one is going to leave a mark

Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Has Rauner agreed to debate Pritzker? Last I heard Pritzker announced three date but Rauner has not agreed to them.

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Great ad Kwame. “Let’s bury her” as Rauner would say.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:35 pm
That ad is really effective. Draws a sharp contract and paints Harold as a culture warrior. Solid A

That said, the governor criticizing anyone for not agreeing to a debate is lol. Glass houses, Bruce.

Comment by SweetLou86 Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:37 pm
Not sure why Kwame wouldn’t want to debate.

That ad should give her a chance to address the issue again. Suspect she will, and do so with a polished approach.

He’s a genial and polished guy. He doesn’t come across that way in the ad. My guess is they rushed it. He can do better.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:38 pm
Not to be a contrarian, but I wonder how effect Raoul’s ad will be - because the charge he makes is almost too extreme to believe. I can see people saying, “she can’t really believe that.”

Comment by DarkHorse Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:39 pm
Raoul should debate Harold. Voters should be aware of her history of hateful comments and cringe-worthy policy positions. Raoul calling her out on those things would put the onus on the media to report on finally report on them. Could also ask her about that time Bruce Rauner gave her a million bucks in return for prosecuting the Speaker, and whether or not she has to refund his money if she can’t do it.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:41 pm
“Kwame Raoul is endorsed by a host of organizations whose members are deeply committed to the safety and welfare of children, including…”

Tobacco, gambling…

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:42 pm
Very good ad, although most voters won’t know where those quotes originated, or understand that her views (may) have evolved (somewhat) since.

I’m not clear about why he doesn’t want to debate her, either. His position on this particular issue is very sound, and hers, no matter how evolved, probably leaves some questions.

Comment by dbk Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:45 pm
Not to be a contrarian, but I wonder how effect Raoul’s ad will be - because the charge he makes is almost too extreme to believe. I can see people saying, “she can’t really believe that

-Except you have a news reporters voice saying that. Most people believe news reporters.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 2:52 pm
One might call Raoul “Harold’s Chicken”

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 3:18 pm
Raoul is probably being told not to debate her because his team know’s he’s got a temper issue, think of the incident between him and Maze Jackson on the radio. My issue is if it’s known you don’t want to debate, then your are not really fighting for my vote.

Comment by BigLou Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 3:34 pm
This statewide race is interesting because neither Kwame or Erika is well known to the general public. I should think debate exposure in multiple cities would be a necessity for both of them in order to to get local media coverage for themselves and to explain their plans for the AG office.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 3:53 pm
Most don’t know either candidate. Harold is struggling to define Kwame. He is helping her a bit.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 4:03 pm
Can’t get beyond how Erika Harold is strict anti-abortion but has no problem having campaign funded entirely by pro-abortion Rauner.

Comment by GOPgal Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 4:14 pm
===Can’t get beyond how Erika Harold is strict anti-abortion but has no problem having campaign funded entirely by pro-abortion Rauner.===

Does make one wonder how deeply her self-proclaimed pro-life convictions run.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 4:17 pm
==Raoul is probably being told not to debate her because his team know’s he’s got a temper issue==

Are you implying Kwame can’t keep his Kool?

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 4:23 pm
CZ, get some new material.

Being for the candidate in this race who isn’t Kwame, I’m not surprised he doesn’t want to debate. He’s a walking, talking contradiction..Exhibit A: Taking money from Big Tobacco.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 4:33 pm
I wonder if Harold campaign cringes whenever Rauner speaks up about the AG race? Her best hope may be to just cash his check and hope for split ticket voters.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 5:13 pm
Raoul is up by 10 points right now. Debates probably wouldn’t benefit him.

Comment by Alex Ander Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 5:28 pm
Well he does seem to have a speech impediment

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 5:44 pm
No, it would be silly not to debate her. Just get tagged as a scaredy-cat.

Raoul might coast without doing so, but what’s to be scared of?

If you can’t tie Harold up in knots on Trump, Rauner and her own statements, you’re in the wrong line of business.

Ain’t a heavy lift.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 8:04 pm
No debate silences Rauners handpicked candidate, she will have to sell the turnaround agenda

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 8:30 pm
Erika Harold thinks it’s better to place foster/adoptive children with peodophiles than loving gay couples…maybe Kwame doesn’t want the stank of that on him.

Comment by Union Thug Gramma Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 10:04 pm
Of course the fact that Raoul is grossly exaggerating Harold’s position based on an alleged statatement she doesn’t recall making in her early 20s is left out of the conversation. Raoul doesn’t want to debate because he knows she’d clean his clock with his inconsistencies.

Comment by Eastsider Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:46 am
Up by ten points, no debate. The hell with giving the voters more information. Just keep up the attack ads. It is so easy to get so jaded by politicians of both parties. Especially in Illinois.

Comment by downstate hack Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 8:52 am