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A look at fundraising reports for Pritzker and Rauner

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Illinois

* Quarterly summary from Reform for Illinois…

Pritzker’s campaign spent $24.9 million in advertising between July and September, $17.7 million of which was paid to Shorr Johnson Magnus Strategic Media, a Philadelphia-based political and strategic consulting firm. Over the course of his campaign, Pritzker has paid the company nearly $56 million. Meanwhile, Rauner spent $16.7 million on advertising, including $2.6 million on online advertising. […]

Pritzker’s campaign fund grew by more than $42 million from July through September, mainly from two $20 million donations from his own bank account. Meanwhile, Rauner collected slightly less than $2.2 million during the same period. The Republican incumbent has largely relied on $50 million from his personal fortune, contributed in late 2016, and a $20 million donation in May 2017 from Ken Griffin, CEO and founder of hedge fund firm Citadel and reportedly the richest man in Illinois.

One trademark of the current gubernatorial election (the most expensive in Illinois history) is the role the candidates are playing in party building. This quarter alone, Pritzker poured $9.4 million into other Democratic party and candidate committees at the state and local levels. Some of his largest transfers were $2 million to the Democratic Majority, $1 million to the Illinois Democratic Party of Illinois, $1 million to the Senate Democratic Victory Fund, and $1 million to the Illinois Democratic Heartland Committee. Pritzker also transferred $1 million to State Sen. Kwame Raoul, the Democratic candidate for attorney general.

Similarly, Rauner filled the coffers of state Republican groups, transferring a total of $7.3 million to other committees. His transfers included $6 million to the Republican House Organization, which then transferred $1.75 million to the Illinois Republican Party during the last fundraising quarter. The governor also gave $1 million to Erika Harold, the GOP candidate for attorney general.

* Sun-Times…

Pritzker spent $47.41 million, including $3.183 million to OTG Strategies for “strategic field consulting.” He paid a whopping $17.265 million to Shorr, Johnson, Magnus Strategic Media for television ads, in addition to money spent on production of those ads. He also spent $6.8 million on media ads to Pier 91 Media, a Washington, D.C., based firm. […]

The Republican governor’s campaign spent $26.7 million, with television ads and other advertising topping that list. He spent $11.59 million on media buys with Target Enterprises LLC. He also spent $2.3 million to Advictory LLC for online advertising.

At the end of the quarter, Rauner still had $7.19 million in cash in his campaign fund.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:36 am

Comments

Quite a turn of events from four years ago. This time Rauner is finding out how it feels to be financially swamped in an election.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:47 am
In 2014, Rauner won the GOP primary and general because of one go-to play: he could pound his opponents with money, and they could do nothing to stop it. So he kept running the play.

Pritzker took away Rauner’s bread-and-butter play.

That’s where we stand, at the two-minute warning. Rauner needs a Hail Mary for a TD, followed by a successful onside kick.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:51 am
“Similarly, Rauner filled the coffers of state Republican groups, transferring a total of $7.3 million to other committees. His transfers included $6 million to the Republican House Organization, which then transferred $1.75 million to the Illinois Republican Party during the last fundraising quarter. The governor also gave $1 million to Erika Harold, the GOP candidate for attorney general.”

Rauner has the audacity to call unions corrupt insiders who buy power and influence politicians after having spent millions to buy the entire ILGOP. The dude is slamming state workers who pay literally a few dollars a check toward a political fund. Just wow, man.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:54 am
With Pritzker sitting on $12 million with 21 days left…

… how can Rauner fight off his failings… when Pritzker is owning the messaging and honesty to it… Bruce Rauner failed.

Tax returns? Today?

“Please tell me that you have something more, Rauner Crew. Bruce and Diana, these two RaunerS are in a race for their reputations. Please tell me their campaign crew hasn’t pinned their hopes to a tax bill.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 9:57 am
==The dude is slamming state workers who pay literally a few dollars a check toward a political fund.==

Thank you, Sally Struthers.

The whole “a few dollars a day” meme is tired. These unions are large, wealthy, politically-connected corporations. Let’s not pretend otherwise.

If you can find a corporation that has pumped more money into the election this year than the DC-based Engineers Political Education Committee, I’m all ears.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:07 pm
City Zen - I’m not sure how “unions” are corporations. If you are against unions making political contributions then you should also be against interest groups,like the NRA and individuals, such as the Koch brothers and ken griffin,since they are politically connected as well.

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:57 pm
City Zen:

Unions are interest groups like any other. Holding them out as some out of the ordinary group is what is growing tiresome.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:24 pm
City Zen………..AFSCME is a huge business, that is in the business of keeping AFSCME in business, not advocating for the man on the bottom……the federal union that represents federal workers is forbidden to give donations to political candidates…..this should be the same for our state workers…..

Comment by Wondering Wendy Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Wondering Wendy - so afscme fighting to get workers their , back pay, and trying to save jobs from privatization is not “advocating for the man at the bottom”?

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:35 pm
I meant to include pay steps as well.

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:36 pm
Zen and Wendy - and IPI gets money from Bruce and conservative groups to spread their propganda. IPI fits the definition of a politically-connected corporation more than Afscme

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:52 pm
==Unions are interest groups like any other. Holding them out as some out of the ordinary group is what is growing tiresome.==

Agreed. I would add holding them out as some altruistic organization is just as tiresome. They are a special interest, no different than McDonalds, Wal Mart, Citigroup, etc and should be treated with the same skepticism.

==and IPI gets money from Bruce and conservative groups to spread their propaganda.==

And CTBA gets money from public sector unions to spread their propaganda. And IEPI gets money from the trade unions to spread their propaganda. What’s your point? Everyone’s got a point of view…and a price.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 2:55 pm
McDonald’s, Citigroup, etc are not special interest groups. They are corporations. Why do you keep trying to insinuate that unions are corporations? Does Afscme have the right to corporate personhood? Do they have shareholders?

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:39 pm
==Why do you keep trying to insinuate that unions are corporations?==

You’re right. Unions don’t pay income taxes. My bad.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:38 pm
Unions are made up of its members. Those members pay taxes (I know alot of you conservative rauner bots like to believe that state workers are not tax payers)

A lot of corporations get away without paying income taxes.

Comment by Ike Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:52 pm
–If you can find a corporation that has pumped more money into the election this year than the DC-based Engineers Political Education Committee,–

LOL, where did Griff, Rauner and Pritzker get their money? Paper routes?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 6:09 pm