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* The setup…
Illinois state Sen. Kirk Dillard says he’s preparing to make another run for Illinois governor.
The Hinsdale Republican’s name has often been mentioned as a top candidate for the 2014 race. He narrowly lost the 2010 gubernatorial primary to Republican Sen. Bill Brady.
Dillard tells WIND-AM in Chicago that he’s more committed to the race now and that he has a proven track record and statewide recognition from his work with previous Republican governors.
* The Question: Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:28 pm
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I would love to see it. He fits the bill of not being a rabid tea partier.
Comment by tubbfan Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:35 pm
#Primary
Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:36 pm
Well I kind of hope he and Dan play rock paper scissors to decide who is going to run..
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:37 pm
He could win the General election against Quinn, but that assumes he could win the Primary and that Quinn would be his opponent in the General.
If the Republicans can settle down and get behind a moderate in the primary, Dillard would be a good example of the way to go. However, it will probably be a battle royale amongst everyone from Walsh to Rutherford to Schock to Plummer to Brady. Heaven only knows what will emerge from that, and, if it is a moderate, it will most likely be a damaged product.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:39 pm
He might be my favorite candidate gearing up right now. Before Tuesday night, I thought he would suffer for being a less conservative Republican. But if DuPage is blue…
Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:41 pm
OneMan,
Did not the Romney loss and the dismal failure of the Republicans in the state harm Dan’s chances?
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:42 pm
He would be a good general election candidate. And there’s the rub. He would be defeated, once again, in the primary by a more conservative candidate with little chance of winning the general.
Comment by Draznnl Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:43 pm
He’s had a new “Dillard for Governor” page on LinkedIn for months
Comment by SportShoz Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:43 pm
Dillard seems to be the only reasonable Republican that could win the governorship. The GOP has got to get behind a moderate.
Comment by Rufus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:44 pm
Dirty Red,
Dillard won his election with 66% of the vote, the highest percentage among DuPage Republicans and the highest total of any Republican Senator that had a contested race. The demographics of his district include Elmhurst, where Quigley will represent and a number of Democratic areas of strength.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:46 pm
If you divide the Republican primary electorate into two pools it seems that Dillard, Rutherford and Shock are all trying to pull votes from that same pool and it’s the smaller of the two pools. When it comes to predicting the behavior of Republican primaries I have an awful track record but someone from the conservative wing of the party seems more mathematically plausible.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:47 pm
- SportShoz - Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:43 pm:
“He’s had a new “Dillard for Governor” page on LinkedIn for months.”
That LinkedIn account is a carryover from 2010.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:48 pm
My DuPage friends still talk today about how Kirk Dillard would have been the GOP candidate and possibly Governor today if Jim Ryan had stayed out of the Republican primary field in 2010.
Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:50 pm
Yes please, I want.
Comment by Peter Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:53 pm
I would support him and even offer to help coordinate in southern Illinois
Comment by Nitro Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:53 pm
Why would any Republican want to take over the terrible mess? Let the Democrats stay in charge and take the blame. Let them fix it. Let’s see how good Madigan and Cullerton are at getting this done.
Comment by Downstater Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:55 pm
Enough with the extremism…
Comment by Mike M Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:58 pm
Hence the problem with the GOP…They keep trotting out the old guard, extremely vanilla, how about finding some younger people that relate to the younger more progressive voters.
He will will every county but Cook, and St. Clair and the Dems will win once again.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 1:59 pm
Cincy..
Yeah it might of, then again no one really expected Romney to win Illinois and it had Dan all over the state, shaking hands and talking to Republicans and various events.
Not sure how much of the jacket he wears for the rest of the ticket.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:00 pm
I think you may see Proft, the Really rich guy as well as Andrew again.. So there will not a right consolidation in the primary IMHO
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:07 pm
Isn’t he getting a little long in the tooth…in the political sense, that is. Seems like he’s been around for eons. The Republican trend, at least nationally, may be to get younger newer candidates who can cast off the past, and so forth.
Comment by cassandra Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:08 pm
In 2010, he won the Metro East area and the 6 counties surrounding Springfield. He has been invited to speak at 6 events south of I-64, since September (including several others in the western part of the state and the collars), and already has had Sen. John O. Jones endorse him for 2014. Dillard is not just a regional candidate.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:09 pm
OneMan,
If Dan were to remain at Treasurer, along with Judy Barr, that would be one heck of a ticket alongside Dillard.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:15 pm
“By sundown tomorrow …”
This may be a train wreck, and…
Please, enough with the Jim Ryan/Kirk Dillard.
Those same DuPage committeeman blew it for Dillard who blew it on Tuesday, so enough about Jim Ryan.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:20 pm
Great idea republican party!
Have Rutherford, Shock, and Dillard all run as social moderates, and open the door for a social conservative to win the primary and therefore lose the general.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:24 pm
How many times is the GOP going to keep running Etch-A-Sketch candidates and expect anything other than a drubbing at the ballot box?
Comment by Fight for Wheaton Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:25 pm
You’ve got to think even the social conservatives in IL are getting separate and willing to back their “Bob Casey” (lib Dems backing a pro life PA Senator), just somebody who can win and get them back to the table.
Comment by ZC Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:31 pm
Dillard is the GOP’s best hope for Governor. Judy and Rutherford need to stay put. He’d have an excellent shot against Quinn. However, I’m betting that Quinn get’s jettisoned by the Dems. Probably L. Madigan or W. Daley will be the standard bearer.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:31 pm
Schock runs as a social moderate? Hmmm…I think Rich’s point about him actually showing a record like that would be the first step.
I will say this though–he scares me as a Democrat because he works hard and comes off as more moderate than he is.
This is different from Dillard who I could potentially support against Quinn. Dillard is relatively conservative on social issues, but he’s moderate on running a government to do the things it needs to do.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:32 pm
Cincinnatus,
Better check your facts. Dillard did not win the six counties surrounding Springfield nor the Metro East area. Brady did. Dillard had downstate support but lost downstate to Brady.
Comment by FactChecker Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:34 pm
He,Rutherford,Schock, and a crazy right winder runs-ie a downstater or Walsh- The first three lose to the later because sanity is split three ways. 4 more years of a democratic Gov.
Comment by come on man Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:37 pm
He is the most acceptable downstate, due to his moderate positions, visibility and name recognition. By the way, I think anyone from the GOP would do a better job reducing expenses than Pat Quinn.
Comment by Original Southern Illinois Resident Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:37 pm
oh great, we’ve all been saying that another puffy white guy is just what the gop needs in Illinois.
Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:40 pm
Sure, why not? It’s not like anyone in the last GOP primary set the world on fire. 25% would be a landslide if you get the same kind of lineup.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:45 pm
Hope he wins the primary, last two years probably would have been different enought to matter if he would have just gotten about 300 more votes. He’s the kind of candidate that can win in November.
Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:48 pm
He is a good guy who can work with both sides of the aisle to get things done and would make a decent governor . . . so he probably can’t win.
Comment by Kerfuffle Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:48 pm
so exciting you’ll have a campaign 2014 newsfeed up before thanksgiving on the right hand side of the screen, but necessary I guess.
Comment by shore Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:49 pm
Hey WIND, must we start already with the 2014 campaign for Governor?
Can’t we let the dust settle from 48 hrs ago?
Ugh.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:51 pm
Six months ago, I would have been fine with this, but Dillard signed on to the gay marriage lawsuit and hence signaled the end of his moderate days. He’s running to the right, which will cost him.
Comment by NIref Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:51 pm
I’ve said this before, and it looks like I’ll get to say it again and again: if the GOP wants to win, Dillard is the type of Republican that can win statewide. He got too close to the ring wing flame last time trying to win the primary, but that’s how it goes when the geniuses at Illinois Review force their litmus test on all of the contenders.
Rauner = McKenna + Gidwitz.
Schock has a sweet gig in DC that he’d be crazy to give up when time is on his side. Aaron, think how cool it’ll be in the Senate in a few years. Save your money.
Rutherford should take on White or stay where he’s at. JBT should ride off into the sunset and let Adam A buy that nomination.
There is a way for the ILGOPs to put together a ticket that appeals to a lot of voters, but it has to have an electable candidate for Governor at the top.
That person isn’t Joe Walsh, but if I was handicapping the race today, Walsh would be my front runner to win the nomination. That’s how screwed up the IL GOP is today.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:04 pm
First hand experience…Dillard is a poor campaigner one on one and in groups. He still hasn’t figured out that Illinois exists below I-80, even though he went to school in Macomb. He was a disaster downstate. He is too socially conservative for northern Illinois. How about something or someone new for IGOP? It’s demographics and real issues stupid!
Comment by Old and In the Way Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:06 pm
Guy who voted to double our state’s debt (one of only 4 senate Republicans to vote for Blago’s $10 Billion bond deal in 2003), raised our electric rates (whenever ComEd asks), supporter of massive gambling expansion, and star of Obama television campaign ad - perfect choice for GOP nominee.
/s/ Pat Quinn
Comment by too obvious Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:07 pm
Dillard beat Brady the following counties:
Boone
Cook
DeKalb
DuPage
Kane
Kankakee
Kendall
Lake
Macoupin
Madison
McHenry
Sangamon
Will
He was within tens of votes in many others.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:14 pm
- just sayin’ - Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:40 pm:
oh great, we’ve all been saying that another puffy white guy is just what the gop needs in Illinois.
Chris Christie
Mitch Daniels
come to mind…
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:16 pm
If Dillard is in the race, I pull a GOP primary ballot for the first time in my life.
I might even work for the 42nd Ward GOP on election day if they really exist.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:17 pm
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:48 pm:
“Hope he wins the primary, last two years probably would have been different enought to matter if he would have just gotten about 300 more votes. He’s the kind of candidate that can win in November.”
193 votes…
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:17 pm
End the ALEC gig pronto, Kirk.
Comment by countryboy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:17 pm
Daley will run and Dillard and the Republicans, and every taxpayer outside Cook County and Chicago will lose.
Comment by Sideliner Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:20 pm
Oh geez … here we go, the revisionist history …
===- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:14 pm:
Dillard beat Brady the following counties:
Boone
Cook
DeKalb
DuPage
Kane
Kankakee
Kendall
Lake
Macoupin
Madison
McHenry
Sangamon
Will
He was within tens of votes in many others.===
Dillard Lost … and Sundown CAME… and went …
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:24 pm
Wasn’t Jack Roeser his biggest backer last time around? What does that tell us?
Comment by HM Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:26 pm
Hey …- Cincinnatus -, just change you name to …
- Dillard’s Apologist -
Kinda cuts to the chase.
Why am I dinging ya? Geez Cincy, Cut and Paste the talking points Dillard is sending and save the typing.
Read your posts.
Put an * in front of your typing and then add 4 colors and make them mail pieces already.
With ya, but c’mon … you are better than yes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:28 pm
I always thought Dillard cutting the spot for Obama was part and parcel of his anticipated 2010 run. A moderate, bi-partisan gesture.
He didn’t see the Tea Party coming in 2010.
Obama was a pretty popular guy all over Illinois late 2007 and early 2008. Even Roskam grabbed on to his coattails that year. Kind of like Dold did this year.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:35 pm
- wordslinger -,
Not good … GREAT observation.
I forgot what that Obama Ad looked like … wonder if we will see it?
Yikes!
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:37 pm
===
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 2:48 pm:
“Hope he wins the primary, last two years probably would have been different enought to matter if he would have just gotten about 300 more votes. He’s the kind of candidate that can win in November.”
193 votes… ===
Gotta LOVE those DuPage Elected Committeeman. No on … Doesn’t … work a precinct …like a …DuPage Elected Committeeman.
Dillard Lost. 2014 will be a new day.
Get over 2010. Keep beating that drum and I will keep waiting for “Sundown tomorrow.”
Enough … 2014… focus please.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:46 pm
OW,
To steal Rich’s phrase, Bite Me.
I have chosen to support Dillard because I believe he is the only electable Republican in the state.
He has strong downstate roots, his wife is from Elkart and his family are coal miners among many other attachments. He has worked in all three “sections” of the state.
- Old and In the Way,
Dillard beat Chris Nybo, a great candidate, 2:1 in the Primary and by the same margin in the General.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:46 pm
What is it with people on this blog thinking that “counties” are important. We don’t have an electoral college in this state. You win voters, not counties.
Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:48 pm
–I have chosen to support Dillard because I believe he is the only electable Republican in the state.–
That’s quite a powerful indictment of the state GOP. I don’t believe it, as there are other statewide elected officials.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:52 pm
===OW,
To steal Rich’s phrase, Bite Me.===
GAME.
ON.
With kindest personal regards, I remain.
Sincerely yours, in 193 votes,
Oswego Willy
I just asked that you think what your posting…you took it here, I guess.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:54 pm
Dillard would certainly be much preferable to Quinn, but he really is more of the same old crowd that has been around forever. He’d end up gov as things really fall apart and the gop would take the blame for Madigan’s 30 years of out of control spending.
Comment by Yes, but... Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 3:57 pm
An Open Letter to Sen. Dillard,
I am actually a big fan of yours, and if you do look back, I only mocked some of the decisions, and… the goofy statements others have made.
I actually was surprised that your loss by 193 votes was not seen as a wake-up call by the ILGOP as to what can happen when Field Operations fail, or do not exist.
Bill Brady didn’t learned that in the General Election.
The H&SGOP, along with poor campaign decisions along the way, didn’t learn that on Tuesday.
I will only respond to Cincy when the dopey talking points are being used in the 2010 race, and in changing the narrative.
You have been, and continue to be a Class candidate, and a great guy. But, Cincy ain’t helpin’ so that must mean Cincy is ‘a hurtin'’.
I look forward to your campaign. I will be fair with you, and your campaign. We will see how Cincy wants to go.
Very respectfully,
Oswego Willy
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:02 pm
Governor Kirk Dillard? Well it would probably make the Speaker happy. He seems to get along better with Republican Governors.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:09 pm
I sometimes wonder if Dillard would have beaten Brady if punch card ballots were still in use in the precincts. Schillerstrom pulled in a few thousand wasted votes on the electronic voting machines which could not be reprogrammed to remove his name when he withdrew as a gubernatorial candidate. In the ballot books, a name could be removed using electrical tape.
Comment by Esquire Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:13 pm
Willy - Easy to throw stones. Who is(are) your choice(s) for credible candidate(s)?
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:17 pm
Willy - I see you made a more constructive point while I was typing my comment.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:19 pm
The Iowa Obama ad is the primary reason Kirk Dillard lost the primary to Bill Brady; that ad was too much for the conservative GOP faction to stomach.
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s election, the Obama ad in 2014 is insignificant and perhaps a positive on Dillard’s ability to work with the Democrats.
Dillard is best placed to raise campaign funding and appeal to the changed political landscape.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:22 pm
===The Iowa Obama ad is the primary reason Kirk Dillard lost the primary===
2010 Primary….
193 votes - NO Field Operations = Loss
Please do not confuse a crowded primary and no field operations with the Ad being the primary reasons 193 votes were not found.
Just saying.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:24 pm
I think if Dillard had been able to be on the campaign trail that last weekend rather than dealing with the death of his father he would have beaten Brady.
Comment by Anyone Remember? Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:33 pm
===193 votes - NO Field Operations = Loss===
Willy is right on this. He should be laying the groundwork NOW. Find people to put the boots on the ground. Money is very important but as the dems just proved, dragging voters out of their homes works. I would be working Cook County almost as hard as the collars, NOW. There are almost as many GOP votes there as DuPage. Not to ignore downstate but that is where you spend your TV money. And pull a Blago and lock up the County Chairmen, NOW. They are interested in getting the jobs back and not making budget cuts a priority like the right wingers want.
(For some reason this is the second time today this democrat is giving the republicans advice)
Comment by Been There Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:36 pm
- Anyone Remember? -
Good point … Very good point.
Sen. Dillard is a good Man. We will never know how that affected the end of the race or the ‘End’.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:37 pm
In the end it doesn’t matter who the GOP puts up for Gov. Look at what happened two days ago, quit kidding yourselves,the GOP is gone in this state and it will take decades to change its signature.
Comment by Eilean left Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:45 pm
Is the ILGOP really going to put a moderate out there for us to think about this time? Because I like Pat Quinn as a person, but as a governor? Not so much. Which is also not a surprise. He hasn’t stopped thinking of himself as the outsider and it’s no way to govern.
Anyway, I’d like an actual choice next time.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:47 pm
–I would be working Cook County almost as hard as the collars, NOW. There are almost as many GOP votes there as DuPage.–
Sigh.
No, there are many more GOP votes in Cook County than DuPage.
Romney got 479,000 votes in Cook, 193,000 votes in DuPage.
Romney got 145,000 votes in the City of Chicago. Guess how many counties had more votes for Romney? Just DuPage.
The 101-county strategy is just nuts. The GOP loses time after time running anti-Cook and anti-Chicago campaigns — and by simply refusing to build organizations there at all. They leave tens of thousands of votes in the field.
The term Reagan Democrat was practically invented in Chicago.
It didn’t use to be that way; the GOP used to work it to knock down the Dem vote, but not anymore. I blame Madigan’s Jedi mind tricks.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:49 pm
Two points …
===In the end it doesn’t matter who the GOP puts up for Gov. Look at what happened two days ago, quit kidding yourselves,the GOP is gone in this state and it will take decades to change its signature.===
If we Keep Cross and Radogno .. and the mindset of the “Fire Madigan” ILGOP, then maybe you are right.
However,
If we make big changes, do the things we forgot are important, we can start by taking away the Mansion, and adding a Statewide or two as well.
2014 needs NOT to be a repeat of 2012, or 2010(Cincy), its up to Us in the ILGOP.
Also,
===(For some reason this is the second time today this democrat is giving the republicans advice)===
You have nothing to fear, there are too many of us “yelling in the wind” that no one listens to, so they will just add your good advice to their “white noise” mentality. Fear not, it will fall on deaf ears…SADLY.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:51 pm
- wordslinger- …
You are too wise, Obi Wan. But fear not, those 4.5 million calls to … HDem members will work in finding them.
Cripes, after TUE and Cross and Radogno not leaving and no one taking any fault, when o’ when will we get to True Voter ID in Cook to finally win?
Is it 5 o’clock yet …I know it’s noon somewhere.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:54 pm
===No, there are many more GOP votes in Cook County than DuPage.===
I was actually talking about the primary. I am pretty sure DuPage was still first last March. And my guess is, if there are other contested Dem races in a primary, the GOP turnout in Cook will still be lower.
But I agree with the rest of your post. As to your point, the 19th ward and the NW side wards of Chicago usually only have about 5% of the primary voters pull a GOP ballot. But when the General election rolls around they go about 40% for the top of the ticket in presidential years.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 4:56 pm
- Been There -
I took yours referring to Primary, and I also took - wordslinger- as General. I wanted to clear that up for my own mental health, which I now check every 4 hours since TUE.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:00 pm
One man and 47th ward
Enough with the Adam AndjewIDIOT stuff. The guy is toxic and Dan 2% Proft???????? PLEEEAAAASE! Those are the kind of right wing haters that are the cause of the problem. Kirk Dillard can win the general election and nobody else in the field has nearly as good a shot.
Comment by Seriously Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:03 pm
===I blame Madigan’s Jedi mind tricks.===
These aren’t the voters you’re looking for.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:04 pm
The issue of the GOP Gubernatorial in 2014 is not about Radogno or Cross, they’re irrelevant. To say they will is to buy off on a reverse “fire Madigan” factor.
I see Cullerton and Madigan having more of an impact on GOP chances for a GOP governor than Radogno and Cross. By that I mean they will have a prominent role in establshing state policy over the next two years. They will seek to bail Quinn out and try to make him look like an effective leader or basically toss him aside and decide that another Dem standard bearer will be necessary. My money is on a new Dem standard bearer.
The bottom line is that I don’t see any hope for the GOP. Too many wingnuts will rally behind another rich candidate and lead them to another Wednesday in November asking how they can change their fortunes.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:09 pm
===I blame Madigan’s Jedi mind tricks.===
Take me to Tom Cross now …
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:12 pm
I guess what i am curious about is what issues can the GOP run on. Let me see,Obama care,Pat Quinn,State Debt, Pension reform,Mike Madigan,Tax hikes of 67%,education funding,oh that right they already tried that this time around.How did that tactic work for them?
Comment by Eilean left Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:30 pm
Agree with 47th.
Dillard is the GOP’s best bet, and not a bad candidate regardless of party. But can we trust the ILGOP not to self-destruct with stiff-necked Conservative purity?
Comment by mark walker Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:42 pm
Empty Chair is so right on about the Counties thing. if square miles won an election, individual Counties might count for something. with Illinois it’s the same thing as Ohio….you have to cut into one county to win. that is why Romney was campaigning in the Cleveland area….where it is Cuyahoga County. Here it is Cook. if your politics cannot play in Cook, forget it.
Comment by amalia Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 5:58 pm
He should definitely have a leg up on other potential opponents, particularly as a moderate the way things have been going for the GOP lately, and barring some shockingly unexpected subsequent entry, (no pun intended, Rep. Schock!),is likely to end up duking it out with Dan Rutherford for the nod when all is said and done; also, Mr. Dillard should be better prepared this time for what it takes to win over a few thousand more votes than his last bid in order to get it done…
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 6:55 pm
What can the GOP run on…
Well there are quite a few things we can run on..
– Your schools not getting the money the state promised them when the state said they were going to get it.
– State funding cuts that impact busing service for your kids (think that will work in the burbs)
– The tax increase, It was sort of hidden in people’s paychecks because of the federal payroll tax cut. It’s gonna be noticed IMHO, also if the state is still broke (likely will be) there is a ‘what good did it do’ argument
– Delayed social program payments: We need to work to make this a local issue, dear neighbor and friends and family letters. Dear Bob I volunteer at XYZ and have seen the impact of the state paying XYZ so late
– Not honoring state employee contracts: A word is a bond, people who work for the government deserve to have their contracts be honored.
– Child care: going to work to make it easier for home child care operators (quicker licensing, lower fees, no state taxes on income first year)
There is more, we can do this. The question is if we will
Comment by Oneman Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 6:58 pm
Keep in mind, Sen. Dillard gets to be part of ‘the nineteen’ and their agenda in the build up to the gov race. Are they going to caucus in Jim Oberweis’ black helicopter or Kyle McCarter’s one-room school house? It would seem that the company he keeps in the months ahead could become problematic. Keep in mind, his first vote may very well be to kick a suburban woman out of a leadership post.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 7:14 pm
One man,
Here are the problems with your Dillard platform.
The SGOPs wants deeper school funding cuts.
The SGOPs opposed the current state employee contract
The SGOPs opposed the refinancing plans that would have provided schools and social programs the money they’re owed (the SGOP plan is to cut their funding so the next check they get is their last)
I could go on and on, but it’s better to just go to YouTube and call up the “Reality Check” news conference and let Kirk and his SGOP pals explain it.
Fun stuff.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 7:22 pm
As a fairly loyal Democrat, I would have easily voted for him over Quinn (but not a right winger like Brady). So just like for national REpublicans (and fox and talk radio), will the conservative party in this country nominate moderates? If so, they’ll win. If not, just ask severe conservative Romney.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 8:07 pm
one man
If all you say is good for GOP then why didn”t you use it this election?
Comment by Eilean left Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 8:42 pm
One Man: Will the GOP platform look something like this:
Protect teachers and state worker’s pensions.
Stop Facility Closures.
Give AFSCME Their Raises
Balance the Budget
And do all of that while they get rid of the tax increase and have less GRF to work with. Dillard or whoever better ride their unicorn into battle.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 9:02 pm
I don’t mean to belabor the point, but rank-and-file Republican leaders downstate HATED that Obama ad.
Kirk is a good guy. He’s pragmatic, and has been working very hard traveling the state doing all sorts of downstate GOP stuff. He is NOT a moderate, however, unless you mean voting for tax deals with Senate Dems. He’s made a deal with the devil in Jack Roeser, though, and many of us are disappointed.
Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 9:02 pm
Thanks to the early announcements for Governor by Rutherford and Schock we can look forward to the start of the 2014 election. This will be an expensive race and the contributors will want to see some type of a consensus candidate from the GOP before throwing around money. Have to wonder whether Pat Brady and company can pull this off. Joe Walsh has more determination and energy than anyone, but he is totally unelectable and will not attract the money needed for this race.
Bruce Rauner is loaded, but does he really have the temperament and determination to get out and meet the voters. Maybe he really covets a seat at the table; Illinois Board of Education perhaps.
Dillard is the only GOP candidate who can maneuver the changed political landscape. Whether the social ideologues can come to grips with this reality is anyone’s guess.
Comment by Samurai Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 9:29 pm
Dillard got a remarkable 75% of vote in Cook Cty. & 7% more than popular Peter Roskam in DuPage Cty.. Dillard runs well in EVERY part of Illinois.
Comment by get it back Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 9:46 pm
Dillard got 155,334 of 767,485 primary votes. It is what it is — 20.24%, no more, no less.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 9:58 pm
Dillard’s time has come and gone. He’s been running for governor for the last 20 years. He didn’t have the political muscle to get the other losers off the ballot in 2010 and lost to Brady who the vast majority of voters voted against.
He may have done well on Tuesday but I don’t think the public is clamoring for him to be governor.
Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 10:03 pm
===Dillard got 155,334 of 767,485 primary votes. It is what it is===
Funny thing about vote totals … they are what they are …can’t add votes that you don’t get.
Can we please thou … get over 2010 …
2014 is a New Animal …especially after Tuesday.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 10:11 pm
Schock has wider appeal–new generation of leader.
Dillard same old, same old.
Schock harder worker, more charismatic.
Comment by Bond Craswell Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 10:19 pm
DD - While he may have been eyeing the governor’s race for a long time, he’s only had one campaign. I wouldn’t put him in the perennial candidate yet.
I can’t think of any GOP other than Edgar who would have “the political muscle to get the other losers off the ballot.” Too many egos and rich people.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Nov 8, 12 @ 10:19 pm
I think a Schock vs Dillard primary would be a W for Schock. Schock will have the money and charisma to outperform Brady in Cook by a large margin while still controlling the downstate. If Brady runs however, that could create a path for Dillard by splitting the downstate vote. If Rutherford runs and there is 4 of them???
Comment by Generation X Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 12:03 am
Where is a fresh YOUNG person. This guy is too old, fat and tired. Haven’t we learned?
Comment by just me Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 7:43 am
Quinn has an ego the size of the planet Jupiter. Lavin and his ilk like their hands on the levers of power way to much to simply let go - think LaFleur at Highway Authority; Meister at Finance; the talking head at Sports Authority. No way do Quinn and Lavin step down. And unless they do, Preckwinkle - who would win the general - doesn’t step up. . . . If Dillard can avoid a bloody primary with the right wing, and if Preckwinkle isn’t the Dem nominee, Dillard could win - on the merits.
Comment by chicagopublius Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 8:25 am
== Where is a fresh YOUNG person. This guy is too old, fat and tired. Haven’t we learned? ==
Have you seen Pat Quinn, I don’t think the voters are looking for a glamour boy (not intended to be a hit on Schock, really).
Comment by OneMan Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 8:33 am
Never get out of primary.
If so, Mr. Dillard, meet Mr. Dart.
Comment by Eddie Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 8:37 am
Cook is aprox. 40% of the state’s population.
The handful of suburban “Collar Counties” is approx. 30%.
The resto fo Illinois is the remaining approx. 30%.
Cook will go resoundingly D, but there are a lot of R votes there (low % but large in raw numbers compared to any of the “downstate” counties).
The shift of suburban D/R split toward the D makes a GOP 102 county campaign a realistic necessity going forward, so a candidate with thoughts of winning has to up the Cook % of his/her vote a significant number of points.
Comment by titan Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 9:08 am
Happy to see everyone here has it figured out. All that is left is to plug in the part where Bill Daley runs and crushes anyone and everyone.
Comment by Sideliner Friday, Nov 9, 12 @ 9:30 am