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Even after numerous push questions, GOP pollster finds Durkin still only at 40 percent who would consider supporting him

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Illinois
Polls

* The wording here is kinda hilarious. To be clear, any Republican would have “support” against a Democrat in Cook County…

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Jim Durkin, the former House minority leader, is still mulling a run for Cook County state’s attorney — and he’s got polling that shows he’d have support against a Democrat.

The survey by Coefficient identifies Durkin, a former Cook County prosecutor, as being “tough on crime” but also backing the assault weapons ban. He was one of only two Republicans to do so when he served in the Illinois House.

By the numbers: The poll shows most people in Cook County support President Joe Biden. Then, it asks, “regardless of your vote for president, would you consider voting for a reform Republican like Jim Durkin?” The answers: 34 percent of women and 46 percent of men said yes.

Durkin would face the winner of the Democratic Party primary, which is a battle between Clayton Harris III, a lawyer and lobbyist who’s been handpicked by Cook County Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle, and former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke.

The result is obtained after asking eleven questions, including blatant push questions about how Durkin is “tough on crime,” how he’d created a “multi-prong plan” to address crime, how he voted for the assault weapons ban and how he’d been given the “Defender of the Innocent” award, along with other questions about Kim Foxx, etc.

Also, the final question is misquoted by the above media outlet. The pollster doesn’t ask if respondents would “vote” for Durkin, it asks if they would “consider supporting a reform Republican like Jim Durkin to represent you as your Cook County district attorney” [sic]…

Yes 40 percent
No 25 percent
Unsure 35 percent

Man. That is one heckuva snowjob.

I have always loved me some Jim Durkin, but c’mon, man.

* Let’s move on to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s favorables…

Keep in mind that this is a county-wide poll, so the Chicago-only numbers have a significantly higher margin of error. Even so, not great.

More county-wide Mayor Johnson fave/unfaves, which might be useful when thinking about suburban legislative candidates…

* President Biden…

Coefficient was Gary Rabine’s pollster.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:57 am

Comments

Clayton is a great candidate, but after Preckwinkle’s prodigy, Kim Foxx, flaming out, anybody she touches is radioactive in the suburbs.There is a road for Durkin, but that means recruiting strong local candidates to deter Trump headwinds at the top of the ticket. And the GOP just doesn’t have infrastructure nor funding to successfully excute this.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:02 am
Mayor Johnson’s numbers will be worse after the migrants freeze in these non-winterized tents.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:03 am
“consider supporting a reform Republican like Jim Durkin to represent you as your Cook County district attorney” [sic]… LOL. Pollster fail. not funny, the way Politico Illinois makes it seem there is some big support for him. He’s a good guy, but, come on….

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:04 am
= your Cook County district attorney =

Gotta love it when the pollster doesn’t even know the name of the office. Not so “efficient”.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:08 am
The poll is only good for those looking for a payday working in a Durkin campaign… if he chose to run.

“Look, this is a baseline, we can get you over the finish line by taking down whomever is the nominee… we only need about $3-4 million in ads, less our take, and our fees, and you’re right there”

What makes me sad, the sadness of this all, is that there’s a big reality that Durkin would be so rejected by “Republicans” in a primary that they won’t come home because it’s too important to be zealots and burn it down then see how a party can find itself again.

It would be a huge microcosm if what is wrong with that party.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:12 am
Don’t run. This is not a good poll. Granted lots can change in the next 12 months but unless you’ve got major dirt on either Dem candidate there’s no path here.
Agree with OW this is great for the consultants because it shows a sliver of a possibility of maybe some hope.
He will be labeled with Trump for one. Then he’ll be saddled with Rauner burning the house down.
Not a good idea for someone that actually ended on a high note.

Comment by Frida’s boss Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:25 am
===Then he’ll be saddled with Rauner===

Also abortion.

The bottom line is that the Republican Party’s brand in Cook is just lousy and the party doesn’t really even try to improve their standing, sticking firmly to the national party talking points.

The truth is he could be the best candidate in the world and he’d still have serious trouble because of that party label.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:33 am
== a reform Republican==

I seem to recall Blago calling himself a reformer too.

Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:35 am
===Then he’ll be saddled with Rauner burning the house down.===

As always… It should be noted that Durkin purposely hurt Illinois including specifically social services by denying this state a budget for a whole General Assembly, ran House races embracing that burning down, and enjoyed success with seats gained by hurting Illinois.

And I truly like Jim Durkin. A lot. Not just “hey, yeah, I like him”, I do like him, but… it should be noted, however.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:35 am
==Gotta love it when the pollster doesn’t even know the name of the office.==

Somebody was watching a Law and Order SVU marathon.

Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:39 am
===Also abortion.===

In every race, local, county, state… the Republican brand is the brand that is dangerous to women’s health.

Good point. It’s also not something someone running for State’s Attorney can say it’s not part of what the office does, there are GOPers wanting to “lock up” women, doctors, both on this issue.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:39 am
wait. so this is Durkin’s polling? who went over the questions before they polled?

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:40 am
==I seem to recall Blago calling himself a reformer too.==

Also Quinn too, even as far back as when Blago was a mediocre law student at Pepperdine.

Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:30 pm
Did Steve Neal rise from the dead?

I vaguely recall a headline from 2002 where columnist Steve Neal predicted “Durkin could give Durbin a real run for his money.”

Durkin should ignore everyone trying to drag him back into politics. He worked so hard to try to separate himself from the Darren Baileys and Donald Trumps of his party, by the time the race is half over, people will think that Bailey is his cousin and Trump is his uncle.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:39 pm
** after Preckwinkle’s prodigy, Kim Foxx, flaming out, anybody she touches is radioactive in the suburbs.**

“Flaming out”, eh? Remind me how Foxx did in her re-elect.

Comment by SaulGoodman Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:20 pm
Durkin’s numbers were better in a question that referenced “State’s Attorney” than the one with “District Attorney.” Maybe people were wondering just what that office is … as well as wondering “I’m going to the DMV to renew my license? What the dickens is that?”

Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:39 pm
Durkin may need to win a primary first. While he has been conducting polls, Fioretti has been gathering petition signatures.

Comment by Gravitas Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:46 pm
Funny they did not ask about Trump and as someone else note how they feel about an anti Choice GOPie
Durkie must be very lonely

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:53 pm
Strange wording in the poll and headline

35% have not made up their mind on Durkin

So by definition they are still considering him

and 40% are open to supporting him

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 2:24 pm
==Strange wording in the poll and headline==

Only to the challenged like you.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 2:29 pm
=== Fioretti has been gathering petition signatures.===

Good one. That’s hilarious. Well done.

=== Durkin may need to win a primary first.===

Oh.

You’re serious. Like really serious.

Thanks. This totally explains so much for me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 2:35 pm
- Lucky Pierre -

How is it if the “Republicans” are so much better than Dems in Cook, why can’t Fioretti or Peraica win in a General.

See… that’s how you deliver that joke.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 2:37 pm
Ok instead of your usual insults how is this poll a positive for Democrats?

The real joke is the approval of Cook County Democrats

Right track wrong track numbers in Cook County (22% right track)

Kim Foxx’s approval (20%), 8% say she has made it safer here

28% approve of Mayor Brandon Johnson

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 2:51 pm
===The real joke is the approval of Cook County Democrats===

True, but pair them up against Republicans and see what you get.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 2:59 pm
@LP

Come up with an argument that Republicans in Cook County are relevant and can win elections then get back to us. If you’re looking at this poll and somehow deriving from it that somehow Democrats are in trouble in Cook County then I go back to one of my arguments with you is that you aren’t very politically astute.

People may not be thrilled with individuals but that doesn’t translate into wins for Republicans.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 3:01 pm
This is textbook for a good joke. I’m impressed.

===how is this poll a positive for Democrats?===

“I mean, it’s so low Republicans might even get within 13 points of beating them next time”

(Pause for laughs)

===The real joke is the approval of Cook County Democrats===

“People disapprove of Dems so much they’ll only consider Durkin an option as long as it’s not Fioretti”

Friend, it’s so bad for Republicans in Cook they can actually *run* on any platform… and voters can be equally turned off.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 3:05 pm
- LP -

The GOP brand is so toxic New Coke refuses to be in their ads.

You have to be able to be both not toxic AND seem viable.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 3:28 pm
I love how they polled about an award that nobody ever heard of, yet about 65% of voters said it would impact their opinion.
The next questions should be “Going on the 1997 Summarize Proust Competition .. . . .”

Comment by Crash Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 5:11 pm
==Fioretti has been gathering petition signatures. ==

In his last several runs hasn’t he been lucky to get in the low single digits?

Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 8:40 pm
==Kim Foxx’s approval (20%), 8% say she has made it safer here==

Weren’t her approval ratings low before she won reelection? It’s a meaningless number depending on the opposition.

Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 8:42 pm
My father always complains that he doesn’t understand why “Chicago” (which to him is anything north of I-80) votes for Democrats who are bad at governing and I always point out to him that his beloved Republicans don’t even put up candidates. So good to Jim for at least offering a credible alternative.

Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:36 pm
It’s ridiculous to consider and he should just stop.
It’s a non-win and a harsh drag through the mud, he’s well past those days.
If he is missing the game then go ask Welch or Harmon to ask JB for a state commission appointment.
It’s not as exciting but you’ll still be in the game just on a different field.

Comment by Frida's boss Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:37 pm