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After pouring a record-breaking $161.5 million into his own candidacy, Illinois Democrat J.B. Pritzker will close out his 18-month gubernatorial campaign with an ad that never even mentions his name.

In the final spot, first obtained by POLITICO, Pritzker doesn’t ask Illinois voters to go to the polls for him specifically. Instead, the ad urges “on Tuesday, vote Democratic.” […]

In a statement about the ad, Pritzker said he’s focusing on boosting Democrats up and down the ticket. Pritzker has already financed a massive statewide GOTV operation that is coordinating with Democrats across the state. While polls have consistently shown Pritzker holding a comfortable lead against Rauner, four Republican-held Illinois congressional districts remain toss-ups. The Democratic nominee for governor has also invested in the contest for attorney general, which pits Democrat Kwame Raoul against Republican Erika Harold.

The fact that Pritzker can take an unusual step of not including his name in his closing spot is a testament to the onslaught of ads that have carpeted every media platform available for 18 months. Viewers will likely recognize the narrator’s voice: it’s Pritzker himself. He also makes an appearance in the spot.

* The spot, per state law, does say briefly on-screen that it’s paid for by JB for Governor…

* Script…

Hard work, decency, looking out for our children’s future, creating opportunity. That’s what’s on the ballot on Tuesday. When you vote for Democrats, you can make clear health care is a right and pre-existing conditions should be protected. You can make sure that all kids get a quality education no matter where they live. You can send a message that it’s time for a change in Springfield and in Washington. On Tuesday, vote Democratic.

* Meanwhile, the Quincy Herald-Whig endorsed Gov. Rauner’s reelection today…

With Rauner at the helm, we believe the state stands a better chance of navigating the difficult financial straits ahead.

We understand Pritzker holds what appears to be an insurmountable lead in polls leading into the election and that if elected, Rauner would face the challenge of working with a Legislature he largely has alienated.

We take the governor at his word, though, with his mea culpa and think he would be an important, much-needed check on single-party rule in the General Assembly.

With that in mind, we endorse Gov. Bruce Rauner for a second term.

* CBS 2…

A campaign ad put out by Rauner’s campaign for governor this week showed his childhood home in suburban Deerfield, prompting CBS 2 to look into his past as a child growing up in the Chicago suburbs.

A Chicago Tribune article that ran in 1963 shows an 8-year-old Rauner with his family.

A check of Rauner’s birth certificate shows his birth year was actually 1956, a year earlier than the year widely-published.

Rauner’s campaign staff on Thursday acknowledged the mistake, and his Facebook page had been changed to the correct year on Thursday.

But it may take the rest of the internet some time to catch up, however. His Wikipedia page still cites his birth year as 1957.

Odd.

* Other stuff…

* ADDED: Rauner, Pritzker make final pitches as election winds down

* In campaign’s final days, Rauner finds common ground with Trump

* If Dems Need to Fight Dirty, Should They Take a Cue from Madigan?

* How would a graduated income tax work in Illinois? Here’s how three nearby states do it

* Care about education? A Chalkbeat voter guide to the Illinois governor’s race

* Marijuana In The Governor’s Mansion: Record Number Of Candidates Say Legalize It

* Livestock rules, taxes among Illinois election issues on minds’ of local farmers

* Efforts to turn Cook County Jail into a polling location persist following governor’s veto

* Bruce Rauner defends controversial TV ad, thinks recent polls inaccurate - The incumbent also discusses proposal to ease standards for coal plants

* Special Edition of Breakfast With… Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner

* Rauner fans support with Quincy stop

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:41 pm

Comments

==A check of Rauner’s birth certificate shows his birth year was actually 1956, a year earlier than the year widely-published==

Is he a Kenyan Muslim?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:49 pm
=We take the governor at his word, though, with his mea culpa and think he would be an important, much-needed check on single-party rule in the General Assembly.=

And if the Governor wasn’t running a campaign that was singularly focused on Mike Madigan I might take him at his word as well. But Rauner hasn’t shown me that he’s changed his ways, he’s telling me he’s doubling down.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:49 pm
The guy has a double-digit lead and is using his resources for a GOTV message for his party. Why does POLITICO find this so mystifying?

Comment by Hey, *I* get it Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:50 pm
Note to the readers of the Quincy Herald-Whig… Your paper of record is telling you it’s no big deal that Gov Rauner fatally mismanaged your Veterans’ Home and so what if his actual record of fiscal stewardship is a joke.

Comment by Concerned Dem Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:51 pm
Rauner can’t even tell the truth about his birth year? Oy vey.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:53 pm
Rauner so rich he doesn’t need to know his birth date.

Comment by Anon Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:54 pm
–A check of Rauner’s birth certificate shows his birth year was actually 1956, a year earlier than the year widely-published.–

Begs the question. What African country was he born in?

Or maybe he was a Little League ringer. Seen that before.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:54 pm
Wow. When folks here said Rauner lies about everything, I thought they were exaggerating. I guess they weren’t. /s

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:58 pm
Bruce Rauner and his Crew not handling the truth of his age is the most Raunerific thing to close a campaign.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:06 pm
Great closing ad, showing different people and supporting healthcare and education—helping all Democrats.

Pritzker appears to be a tremendous financial help to Democrats, but of course we won’t know until Tuesday at the earliest.

If there was a gubernatorial candidate with lesser means, Rauner would have financially battered that candidate. Unions also are apparently helped—but we won’t know until at least Tuesday. The Rauner right wing game plan is to starve unions of money so they can’t compete politically, and Pritzker must have eased that pressure a lot. The irony would be tremendous if Pritzker wins—the many millions Rauner spent for nothing.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:11 pm
==If there was a gubernatorial candidate with lesser means, Rauner would have financially battered that candidate.==

Well, we’ll never know. It’s clear that I’ve prefered JB in both the General and the primary, but Rauner has been so hapless this year that who knows.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:14 pm
Perhaps Diana can cut an ad saying when Bruce was born, the poor often were born at home and assisted by the village mid-wife. No formal records were kept and it’s just not clear exactly when he was born.

Comment by don the legend Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:28 pm
Rauner makes Mark Kirk look like George Washington.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 4:12 pm
What doesn’t Bruce Rauner lie about?

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 4:12 pm
People, cut the Guv some slack here. He was born in 1957 per the Swedish calendar.

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 4:27 pm
If the Tribune article from 1963 said he was 8, and his birthday is really in February, he would have been born in 1955, and would have been just two months shy of his 9th birthday.

The Trib article could have gotten his age wrong, but if he was born in February 1956, he would have been 7, not 8, at the time of that article.

Comment by South of Sherman Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 4:38 pm
Too late, JB Pritzker. I ALREADY voted Democratic. So your ad is USELESS.

How many days until Tuesday? Seriously, I spend the entire day twitching and then sleep fitfully while I dream about campaign events.

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 4:50 pm