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* UPDATED x1 * Uihlein is back with a $1 million contribution to Darren Bailey

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* I told subscribers a bit about this today, but here’s Politico…

Megadonor Richard Uihlein has donated $1 million to Republican Darren Bailey’s bid for governor yesterday, according to State Board of Elections filings. Uihlein and his wife, Liz, founded the Uline business supply empire just over the Illinois border in Wisconsin. They are among the biggest Republican donors in the country. The campaign contribution to Bailey comes on the heels of Ken Griffin donating $20 million to another GOP gubernatorial competitor, Richard Irvin, adding fuel for a competitive Republican race.

Uihlein has avoided making large contributions here since getting thumped hard in the 2018 cycle, including a high-dollar primary race against House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.

*** UPDATE *** Bailey mentioned the contribution on his Facebook Live video and said there’s a “promise of more to come”…

I want you to consider what took place yesterday. Our campaign experienced a significant breakthrough. Probably the most conservative family, probably in the country, the Uihlein family got behind us with an initial amount and with a promise of more to come. So that was amazing. People are seeing what our movement is, much like these three Democrats that didn’t vote, voted no in JCAR. People are realizing what’s going on. And the real power, friends, it’s coming. I’ve been telling you all along, I have no doubt that we’re going to win this all the way to the to the to the State House.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

* Meanwhile, Sen. Bailey really ought to know better than to campaign like this in a municipal building…

Then again, he did vote remotely while he appeared to be on a helicopter ride to a campaign event.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:40 am

Comments

$1M is a drop in the bucket compared to Griffin’s $20M and counting.

Bailey could beat Irvin even with significantly less money, but a 1:20 ration is probably too high.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:41 am
=Sen. Bailey really ought to know better=

About a whole lot of things

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:42 am
Whoever allowed him to do this inside that fire station should be disciplined.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:42 am
I appreciate the Durkin primary reminder as it is insanely hilarious that the Uihlein/Proft crew spent millions on that thumping when Jeanne lost by a margin that could have arguably been made up with better allocation of resources.

Comment by SWSider Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:46 am
Ok… (sigh)… so is this right?

Irvin - Griffin

Rabine - Pat Brady

Sullivan - Proft(?)

Bailey - Uihlein

Schimpf - “the people”

Ives kinda waiting? Not full tilt (or any tilt) with Sullivan … the West Point grad may not like the valor stealing Californian because of *that*, heck if I know.

But is the above where we’re at?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:47 am
Give the guy some credit.
He did spell Pritzker correctly on some signs.

Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:48 am
===including a high-dollar primary race against House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.===

Jim Durkin has clearly learned his lesson since he refuses to actually take a stand against the rhetoric his caucus uses, the lies they spread, the threats they encourage, and the refusal to come out against the idea that the 01/06/2022 attack on the Capitol was something other than “legitimate political discourse”

Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:50 am
If I’m a resident of that municipality, I’m making some phone calls to local officials that will ruin their day.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:50 am
I just can’t take Bailey any more. I can’t take his smiling face, I just can’t.

I am terrified that there are enough people to have voted him into an office in the first place.

It just amazes me that he and those around him just can’t see…..

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:51 am
-adding fuel for a competitive Republican race.-

That gives Bailey 5% of the biggest chunk that Irvin has and less than 10% of what Sullivan started with. Need more than that to be competitive. But yeah, go team.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:56 am
In Chicago cops can be disciplined for campaigning in uniform. Wonder if similar rules apply to fire departments.

Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:56 am
This year, every Illinois billionaire will get his very own candidate in the GOP primary.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:57 am
== Meanwhile, Sen. Bailey really ought to know better than to campaign like this in a municipal building… ==

Ethics rules rarely have meaningful enforcement against anyone other than those at the bottom of the totem pole.

Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:58 am
==This year, every Illinois billionaire will get his very own candidate in the GOP primary.==

Even JB Pritzker?

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 9:59 am
Uihlein doesn’t back many winners.

Comment by Lew Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:02 am
White people…

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:03 am
==If I’m a resident of that municipality, I’m making some phone calls to local officials that will ruin their day.==

It appears to be Boone County Fire Protection District #2 in Belvidere.

I doubt if calls would ruin their day. If it’s like my town they would know no one would do anything about it.

Comment by Stix Hix Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:03 am
Maybe the Bailey campaign will now invest in a comms team to pounce on opponents. The praising of Pritzker, support of BLM and voting for Democrats multiple times should be prime campaign material in Eastern Bloc land and south of I-80 in general.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:05 am
Looks like Uihlein is going to get thumped again.

Comment by Jason Bourne Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:07 am
==Sen. Bailey really ought to know better==
Please show an example of this. Thanks S/

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:11 am
==It appears to be Boone County Fire Protection District #2 in Belvidere.

I doubt if calls would ruin their day. If it’s like my town they would know no one would do anything about it.==

If BCFPD is like many volunteer fire departments throughout rural parts of the state, they are having trouble retaining personnel as it is. Someone at the County administrator’s office might make a call over there and encourage this sort of thing to not happen again, but I doubt anyone gets disciplined. Can’t risk qualified personnel potentially walking away when the recruitment pool is getting smaller and smaller.

Comment by Scooter Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:13 am
=== I appreciate the Durkin primary reminder as it is insanely hilarious that the Uihlein/Proft crew spent millions on that thumping when Jeanne lost by a margin that could have arguably been made up with better allocation of resources.===

Ives lost by going “full Ives” and once that window of those who were done with Rauner saw the venom and hate that *is* Ives… at the measure of that primary it was still too far for the voting members of the GOP that primary.

Could be a much different measure now

If I’m Durkin, or was aiding Durkin, and what I’ve seen from Durkin these past 12 months…

… the worry isn’t winning seats, losing seats, getting out of being super-minoritied…

The real worry now is when that caucus is sat in 2023, given the makeup of whomever is in that caucus… will Durkin have the votes to remain “Leader”

These “Bailey-types”… they’d like a caucus leader.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:15 am
=== Jim Durkin has clearly learned his lesson since he refuses to actually take a stand against the rhetoric his caucus uses, the lies they spread, the threats they encourage, and the refusal to come out against the idea that the 01/06/2022 attack on the Capitol was something other than “legitimate political discourse” ===

Yeesh. Someone forgot to switch back to their official DPI account.

Comment by Lakefront Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:29 am
===Yeesh. Someone forgot to switch back to their official DPI account.===

Can you cite where Durkin has been full throated on any of the issues, or was forceful against the national narratives?

I’m not saying they don’t exist, but can you amplify your drive by with some substance?

Thanks.

To the Durkin side of Uihlein,

I like Durkin. Many times, often times, unabashedly. I still do.

The real, the real for me is first the abdicating of his caucus to Bruce and Diana Rauner, then the struggles after with the Eastern Bloc as the coup in the Senate nearly (not *nearly* but was afoot?) happening in the House… it’s about control of the caucus, likely going forward, January 2023.

Ignoring the loud silence of the Illinois HGOP caucus on the issues of insurrection, as one, and other dangerous ideas to the Republic is the politics of power… not the politics of policy or politics to a party.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:37 am
==with a promise of more to come==

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:40 am
===Probably the most conservative family, probably in the country, the Uihlein family got behind us with an initial amount and with a promise of more to come. So (t)hat was amazing.===

This is no different than a NASCAR driver landing “Taco Bell” before Daytona?

Sorta feels like these candidates should dress like NASCAR drivers or (for my own indulgence) PGA Tour players?

Whose next, “Shake and Bake”?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:41 am
Mr/Ms OW
Should your opening chart update make it
Sullivan/”Single Mom” ?
Just askin’ Meanwhile we see what might be best seen as the rich whack jobs spreading out. Which is great news for all the out-of-state mail and media houses who have a proven track record of flushing the money away. Meanwhile if I am running for SC or Congress or GA I might wondering if there will be any moohla for me to P%**%&% away?
Oh the worries

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:48 am
Just noting that I do not see Bailey’s running mate in the picture or mentioned anywhere near the big donation.

BTW- Imagine Bailey as governor. It will do something horrible to your appetite.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:51 am
This feels like a donation to save face in case Irvin can’t convince the downstate folks he needs to that he’s not a Democrat in disguise and Bailey squeaks through.

Comment by Chicago Blue Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:53 am
- Annonin’ -

That’s on me, “single mom”… my bad.

=== Meanwhile if I am running for SC or Congress or GA I might wondering if there will be any moohla for me===

Been thinking that a lot too. Where can they drill for cash?

===Which is great news for all the out-of-state mail and media houses who have a proven track record of flushing the money away.===

What about radio ads?

:)

Be well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:56 am
==Meanwhile if I am running for SC or Congress or GA I might wondering if there will be any moohla for me to P%**%&% away?==

Theoretically, if Griffin really is in for $300M+, that’s plenty for Irvin plus a lot of other people. But in practice, we’re sure not seeing it yet.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:58 am
===This feels like a donation to save face ===

By whom?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:59 am
===Theoretically, if Griffin really is in for $300M+===

Not sure I’d trust that number at the moment. But, who the heck knows once things get heated.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 10:59 am
==with a promise of more to come==

probably in ‘two weeks’

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:01 am
==Not sure I’d trust that number at the moment.==

Roger that. Just saying that Griffin *can* feed a lot of mouths, even though it already feels like he’s really only interested in one race.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:03 am
=== Can you cite where Durkin has been full throated on any of the issues, or was forceful against the national narratives? ===
Sure.

Durkin on Jan. 6 “ The events unfolding at the United States Capitol today, and the inflammatory remarks by members of the Republican Party, are a disgrace to the core values and beliefs of our great nation. These actions do not represent our Republican Party, and are against everything we stand for as Americans. I am sickened and deeply saddened by what I have witnessed today. Any public officials who condone these actions have no place in the Republican party or in our democracy.”

See Durkin’s August letter to Pritzker - encourages school masking and state purchase of N95s for children that “still cannot receive the vaccine”

Check any old social media, news clips etc. Durkin has repeatedly encouraged vaccination.

C’mon. Ultimately anybody who follows politics at all or reads this blog knows that a Caucus Leader walks a fine line - Durkin has done more than enough to push against the crazies with his own example without going full Kinzinger and alienating himself.

Comment by Lakefront Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:05 am
Griffin is effectively able to print money. Hard to keep up when you can spend forever.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Superstonk/comments/spmfg0/citadel_is_creating_billions_of_dollars_in_margin/

Comment by Publius Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:13 am
Uihlein donated to Eric Greitens.

Comment by Lake Villa Township Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:23 am
===Uihlein donated to Eric Greitens===

And your point is… what?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:30 am
Sorry, forgot to add the name. Anon @11:35 am was me.

Comment by Left of what Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:36 am
Maybe Schimpf shoulda ran for Senate?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:41 am
Oswego Willy-Yep Schimpf probably could have broken some downstaters who voted for Duckworth in 2016 away
Rich Miller- Just think it’s worth noting bc Greitens leading in the Missouri senate 2022 primary is currently an albatross around the GOP’s neck.

Comment by Lake Villa Township Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:47 am
It would have been more efficient for Uihlein to light that Million buck on fire. At least it would have kept him warm for a few minutes.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 11:51 am
I see Bailey is wearing a Pritzker-style vest. Does wearing a vest (i.e., Rauner) mean you’re a man of the people? Or maybe just that your arms don’t get cold.

A million bucks will buy a lot more silliness, maybe even a proofreader.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 12:41 pm
That came just in the nick off time for Darren! The PPP money was about all gone and not much hopes of getting more. The trouble with these grassroots campaigns is that it takes way more grass than the $ can support at $50 or $100 each.

Comment by MoralMinority Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 12:46 pm
==A million bucks will buy a lot more silliness, maybe even a proofreader. ==

One thing I will say for this move is that $1M can easily pay for a rapid response team so that Bailey can actually respond next time Irvin torches his own record in an interview.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 12:54 pm
Bailey’s strategy of meet and greet, photo ops, and one-way conversations on FB circumvents the media. Sooner or later, he’ll face all the questions he seeks to avoid. From past performance, Bailey lacks the fluency and ability to speak coherently under pressure.

Will there ever be a debate on WTTW for the candidates? I’m waiting with popcorn.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 12:58 pm
Say what you want about Griffin, but he seems to have a lot more political sense than Uihlein.

Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 1:19 pm
“Will there ever be a debate on WTTW for the candidates? I’m waiting with popcorn.”

Public television? Not a chance with this crowd.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 1:28 pm
So the rule about eating on the Floor has more teeth than the rule about masking during a public health crisis.

What good are the rules if no one is going to enforce them?

I’ll ask the new LIG whenever they are finally in-office.

Comment by Dirty Red Wednesday, Feb 16, 22 @ 4:47 pm
=== Sure.===

Did I miss where Durkin supported Kinzinger over the RNC?

Has Durkin called January 6th an insurrection like McConnell?

=== Durkin on Jan. 6 “ The events unfolding at the United States Capitol today, and the inflammatory remarks by members of the Republican Party, are a disgrace to the core values and beliefs of our great nation. These actions do not represent our Republican Party, and are against everything we stand for as Americans. I am sickened and deeply saddened by what I have witnessed today. Any public officials who condone these actions have no place in the Republican party or in our democracy.”===

So… that’s a “no”

=== See Durkin’s August letter to Pritzker - encourages school masking and state purchase of N95s for children that “still cannot receive the vaccine”===

Durkin has yet to show that the Eastern Bloc and Bailey are wrong, you could even say Durkin is playing to *his* own district, in August

===Check any old social media, news clips etc. Durkin has repeatedly encouraged vaccination.===

So does Trump.

=== C’mon. Ultimately anybody who follows politics at all or reads this blog knows that a Caucus Leader walks a fine line - Durkin has done more than enough to push against the crazies with his own example without going full Kinzinger and alienating himself.===

And yet, according to this you wrote… Mitch McConnell has far more courage than Jim Durkin.

Whew.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 6:07 am
===Durkin has done more than enough to push against the crazies with his own example without going full Kinzinger and alienating himself.===

This alone…

Ask yourself, is doing enough keeping the racist thinkers, the insurrectionist and apologists, the conspiracy theorists… from not having a coup on your leadership… a good measure of pushback?

That’s weak and paper-tiger like.

With all who are leaving the House, and all who may stay or join his caucus, Durkin isn’t out of the woods. Durkin was lucky(?) it was McCombie who took her shot and not someone like a McConchie.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 6:12 am
I think you all are missing the point.

Uhlein has a net worth of around $5 billion. He can give more money, the dollar amount is not so much what matters.

Uhlein means Bailey will have the money to stay in this primary to the bitter end, he has enough poker chips not to fold no matter what Sullivan and Irvin toss on the table.

In addition, Uhlein is a devoted, Tea Party Trump Republican. He resonates with the base and he brings Bailey a step closer to a Trump endorsement, which would be lights out for Irvin and Sullivan.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 8:15 am
Am I the only one who was more surprised by how small the Uhlein contribution was? Surely this is practically just a rounding error in the overall context of his wealth. Seems symbolic to me. Though perhaps Yellow Dog Democrat has the answer.

Comment by AnnieH Thursday, Feb 17, 22 @ 12:15 pm