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* Sun-Times…
Aiming to woo GOP voters who reject Donald Trump, the Kamala Harris campaign on Sunday launched “Republicans for Harris,” including from Illinois: former Gov. Jim Edgar, former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and ex-Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Joe Walsh.
Vice President Harris’ campaign said the “campaign within a campaign” will send GOP endorsers on the road, kick off on-the-ground organizing efforts and use paid ads “to reach, persuade, and mobilize Republican voters.” […]
The Illinois four and the others can appeal to various persuadable Republicans who are not part of the Trump MAGA movement.
* Edgar has never supported Trump. LaHood was considered a moderate in DC, but his congressional voting record was likely too conservative for Illinois (and I told him as much years ago). Kinzinger has always been a conservative, and he stands on principle. For instance, from 2022…
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican who once had an A-rating from the NRA, tells @jonkarl that the organization has “gone from defending rights of gun owners” to “a grifting scam.”
“The only thing the NRA cares about is raising money on your back.” https://t.co/u5VDjCkDR9 pic.twitter.com/DtYs5fc2×9
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 29, 2022
* CBS 2…
Chris Tye spoke with Walsh, who shared why he thinks more establishment Republicans are willing to take this leap now.
“Many of these Republicans were not enthused about Joe Biden, and so I think Kamala Harris, who’s had a hell of a 17 days now, has really, I think, garnered a lot of enthusiasm among some Republicans that she can win,” he said. “Donald Trump is the odds-on favorite to get elected. For Kamala Harris to win, she got to put together this coalition of far-left progressives to never Trumper Republicans.”
Walsh believes that being part of the movement means they will likely never be elected to Republican office again, which is why so many of those taking the leap are former and retired elected office holders.
Walsh didn’t invent Republican victimhood and phony outrage, but he took it to a whole new level when he was in office and for quite a while after he was booted by Democrat Tammy Duckworth.
* Anyway, AP…
The Harris campaign shared the details of the program first with The Associated Press before the official announcement.
Biden’s team is trying to create “a permission structure” for GOP voters who would otherwise have a difficult time voting for Harris. The effort will rely heavily on Republican-to-Republican voter contact, with the belief that the best way to get a Republican to vote for Harris is to hear directly from another Republican making the same choice.
Trump’s “extremism is toxic to the millions of Republicans who no longer believe the party of Donald Trump represents their values” and will vote against him again in November, said Harris’ national director of Republican outreach, Austin Weatherford. He said the campaign would be “showing up and taking the time every single day to earn the vote of Republicans who believe in putting country over party and know that every American deserves a president who will protect their freedoms and a commander in chief who will put the best interests of the American people above their own.”
Weatherford is a onetime chief of staff to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who had endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket before President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump. Kinzinger is backing Harris once more as part of the launch.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 7:45 am
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Oh….it’s Ray LaHood. Lost my mind for a second. Haven’t heard Ray LaHood’s name in years.
Comment by Learning Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 8:03 am
“Haven’t heard Ray LaHood’s name in years.”
Edgar was governor 25 years ago. Nearly 1/2 of Illinois’ current voting age population were under the age of 18, when Edgar last ran.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 8:37 am
Biden Republicans were a big part of his 2020 coalition. If they were unenthusiastic about Biden in 24 but enthusiastic about Harris, that’s another very positive sign.
Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 8:40 am
This is smart. I believe there are many Republicans who will vote for Kamala quietly but continue to support Trump publicly for fear of retaliation within their party, community, family, etc. Perhaps this will give them “permission” to be more vocal about their choice.
Comment by wildcat12 Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 8:47 am
Very smart of the Harris campaign to start this. The suburbs have been very bad for Trump, as many Republicans and others voted for Haley this year even though she dropped out. That’s not
counting past elections, where MAGA candidates cost Republicans. Her VP pick may reflect this strategy.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 8:56 am
Sorry, guys, but you ain’t Republicans no more.
If Edgar appeared at a GOP fundraiser south of 64, he would be greeted with boos and shouts of RINO.
Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 9:02 am
Elvis, I think you need to move that line north to somewhere between I74 and I80. Edgar was coming in as governor when I moved to Illinois and it is republicans like him, Adam, and Ray who remind me of the party I used to proudly support years ago.
Comment by former southerner Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 9:05 am
==Sorry, guys, but you ain’t Republicans no more.==
And that line is why Republicans in this State are now nothing more than powerless seat warmers at the capital, with steady shrinking of the number of seats they warm. They didn’t leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left them.
Comment by fs Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 9:24 am
Look at the loss of the seats in the collar since Edgar. Whatever the GOP is doing is not working
Comment by Holding Back Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 9:29 am
–Whatever the GOP is doing is not working–
You mean taking hard-line, non-negotiable stances on 2A, choice, race, christian nationalism, and fabricated culture war issues that alienate many moderates?
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 9:35 am
Didn’t those four guys used to hang out with Al Capone? Jim Edgar should have been prosecuted.
Comment by Julie Morris Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 9:52 am
Good, though hardly surprising, names for IL. But of course, IL is already the closest thing to a lock for Harris.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:04 am
==If Edgar appeared at a GOP fundraiser south of 64, he would be greeted with boos and shouts of RINO.==
The problem is, who else does ILGOP have? Yeah, it’s pretty silly how much we all look back to Edgar, but every prominent Republican since him has been thoroughly discredited.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:06 am
This makes sense for Adam. He needs to keep the paychecks flowing.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:27 am
== Sorry, guys, but you ain’t Republicans no more. ==
Yes, but as one of them, I still hope that the party of the Jims will return someday.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:32 am
These fellows are not really republicans they simply sit back, and people listen. It is too bad because things like this blur the underneath of the Harris playbook. Edgar especially who wants to look good to all groups and be the font of wisdom. A sad situation to me.
Comment by clec dcn Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:35 am
Joe Walsh: failed radio host, failed presidential candidate, etc.
Big endorsement there.
Comment by Gravitas Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:40 am
“Republicans for Harris” is a euphemism for “Criminals for Harris” apparently.
Comment by Tim O'Connor Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:49 am
== Jim Edgar should have been prosecuted. ==
A number of his administrations underlings were. Not going to dig up all the dirt from back them, but there was speculation about who took a fall and were later taken care of. Just another chapter in Illinois politics.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:50 am
MAGA made very clear there’s no place for Republicans like Kinzinger and Edgar (talk about cancel culture). Democrats are rolling out the welcome mat. Edgar and Kinzinger hold a lot of power, as these Republicans for Harris types in key states may decide the election.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:56 am
Who cares who washed up RINOs are voting for?
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 10:57 am
==Sorry, guys, but you ain’t Republicans no more.==
Sadly, neither are most of the current crop who call themselves Republican. It’s the Trump party, not the Republican party so many of us grew up with.
Comment by ??? Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:08 am
=== If Edgar appeared at a GOP fundraiser south of 64, he would be greeted with boos and shouts of RINO. ===
He and others were called RINOS by the extremists even while they were being elected. Now those extremists have taken over the party and turned it into a cult. This entity, the IL MAGA Republicans, is not electing anything Statewide and is a joke in the General Assembly.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:08 am
Bravo to these men for putting the country ahead of party.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:10 am
===every prominent Republican since him has been thoroughly discredited===
Or passed away: JBT, Jim Thompson, Tim Johnson. Mark Kirk is a non-Trumper who may be convinced, but what about Schock and Dold?
Comment by thechampaignlife Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:11 am
If Trump was sitting in a row at a wedding and Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were sitting across the aisle, where do you think Edgar would sit? I’m not surprised. He has nothing to lose and this is not his GOP now and it doesn’t want people like him, Kinzinger or Cheney in it.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:12 am
Pretty good group…Even DeatBeatJoe. Not sure why anyone wants The Confessed Congressman around after the sweetheart deal with Trump DOJ over his “loan”, false documents and lies to FBI. Then the family being for DeSantis before bailing, but the more the merrier
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:13 am
==Who cares who washed up RINOs are voting for?==
Well, Captain Obvious, it *should* be obvious that Trump and down-ballot so-called Republicans should care. Washed up or not, they’re voters. Their vote doesn’t count less than anyone else’s.
Comment by ??? Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 11:17 am
I wonder how long it takes for folks like Edgar, Cheney, and Kinzinger and so on just to start a new party. Leave the MAGA GOP behind and start fresh.
Comment by GoneFishing Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 12:02 pm
=== Biden Republicans were a big part of his 2020 coalition. ===
All 10 of them. But seriously, I have no problem welcoming these people into the fold, so long as it’s not at the expense of alienating progressives and younger voters, who are a much more substantial bloc and will be a critical part of the party’s future, unlike the dead-enders highlighted in this story.
Comment by Mark D Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 12:12 pm
RINOs for Harris.
On the other hand, if I was Brian Kemp I’d come out and tell Rs to just not vote on the presidential line. Last time Trump lost Ga by 12k votes and there were 25k that voted straight Rs but left the presidential line blank.
Comment by Trying to be Rational Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 12:13 pm
I remember Joe Walsh’s time in congress very well. He could have very easily joined the Trump train and held court in their outrage-focused media landscape. Maybe he made a strategic bet that he would just be one more crazy in that world and decided to join the Never-Trump team. But either way, I’ve been impressed with the 180 he has taken from how he was during his time in office.
What happens to these Never-Trumpers in the future? We’ll have to see what happens to the party after the Trump Circus tent packs up and leaves town.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 12:13 pm
Until I see sitting GOP office holders joining “Republicans for Harris” I will remain unimpressed
Comment by Elijah Snow Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 12:37 pm
“Not going to dig up all the dirt from back then … .”
Let’s not forget the “clumsy handling” by the US Attorney’s Office that ended the case.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 1:29 pm
Harris is behind with working class voters in the blue wall states. When 65 percent of those states are working class (and not young and progressive voters), we need to be clear-eyed about strategies to win. We need liberal / moderate Rs to win the swing states to get to 270.
Comment by Yes Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 1:33 pm
===behind with working class voters in the blue wall states===
Don’t erase Black, Brown and Asian working class voters, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 1:38 pm
We’ve come 360 from Democrats for Nixon.
Comment by Nitemayor Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 1:52 pm
Who cares?
These men all helped usher in the era of Trump.
Whether cheering on the trickle down theory of economics, the war on drugs targeting minority communities, the anti labor stances of the 90’s, corporations as people with ALEC, the emergence, embracing and electing of the Tea Party, etc etc. They all leaned inot every single talking point.
They built Donald Trump. They built this brand.
Comment by Frida's boss Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 2:01 pm
“Who cares who washed up RINOs are voting for?”
And those grapes are sour anyway, amirite?
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 2:10 pm
I enjoy the discussion of the age last time that Edgar or Ray LaHood ran for office and whether or not that makes their support for president relevant so I have some points to that.
First, Jim Edgar and Ray LaHood are both younger than Dick Durbin.
Second, younger voters significantly break Democratic in this state and the younger voters that vote right wing tend not to be very moderate.
Third, I know people in their 70s that have spent the last several decades of their life supporting Republican candidates and it was a big deal for them to not vote for Trump in 2020 or an even bigger deal for them to decide they were wrong to support Trump in 2020.
I am quite certain they’d appreciate hearing that some of their peers, especially former state and federal office holders, are planning to vote against Trump this year and are campaigning against Trump this year.
=== These men all helped usher in the era of Trump.===
I think it is usually better to win the election and save the finger pointing for the history books.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 2:48 pm
It’s fun hearing Trumpublicans insult RINO’s. Sort of like an argument between Know Nothings and Whigs.
Comment by old man Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 3:42 pm
Walsh is a political chameleon. He has changed his politics on many occasions.
Prior to his election to Congress, Walsh was a candidates on the North Shore and he styled himself as a liberal Republican when he was a candidate for Congress opposing Sidney Yates and in later races for the General Assembly. He relocated to another district to take on Melissa Bean and suddenly he was a fire breathing right wing candidate.
Walsh is merely an opportunist.
Comment by Gravitas Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 4:07 pm
If a GOP member votes for Harris, then they are not actual Republicans. They’re either Democrats (nothing wrong with that) or Independents (also nothing wrong with that). Just like if a Democrat voted for Trump, they are not actual Democrats. Also, if Kinzinger or Walsh are GOP, then I’m the Bears starting QB. Just call me Justin.
Comment by Just a Random Guy Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 4:13 pm
“I think it is usually better to win the election and save the finger pointing for the history books.”
What does that mean? So forget who they are and what they did because now they agree with you? Their history doesn’t matter just be glad they’re on the team?
Comment by Frida's boss Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 4:47 pm
Jim Edgar was a straight arrow, a rarity among politicians.
Comment by Dupage Monday, Aug 5, 24 @ 5:22 pm