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*** UPDATE *** From Simon’s campaign manager…
I just wanted to clarify that Sheila won’t be flying around the state tomorrow. She’ll be driving, in her own car, at her own expense.
* It’ll be interesting to see if she attracts much of a crowd at these stops…
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will announce her plans for the 2014 campaign season Wednesday during a day-long fly-around starting in Chicago and ending in her hometown of Carbondale.
The Democrat hasn’t confirmed she’s looking at a bid for comptroller, but a campaign aide earlier said she has expressed interest in the office currently held by Republican Judy Baar Topinka. […]
Topinka has a wide fundraising edge, with $805,000 in her campaign account as of July 1. Simon had $272,000.
* Her campaign website at this moment is just a splash page.
* From a campaign e-mail…
I will be announcing some very exciting news about the next step in my campaign on Wednesday, July 31. We will be visiting Chicago, Springfield, and ending the day in my hometown of Carbondale. If you would like to come out and show your support at one of these events it would be great to see you! Here are the details:
Chicago – 10:00AM
Hotel Allegro
Cinema Room 1, 3rd Floor
171 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, ILSpringfield – 3:00PM
Cafe Moxo
411 E. Adams St.
Springfield, ILCarbondale – 8:00PM
Carbondale Civic Center
200 S. Illinois Ave.
Carbondale, IL
* From a May 6th Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll…
Topinka leads Democratic Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon 45-38.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:27 am
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Everyone is confused as to what office Sheila Simon is eventualy going to run for …and still has a “suprise!”
Fly Around.
Bruce Rauner has a listening tour, had signs made up, even spoke about the race for governor …
No Fly Around.
Food for thought …
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:31 am
A person who would blow money on a plane to do a fly-around for a down-ballot race wants to control our state accounts?
She’s not off to a good start.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:31 am
As a Chicago resident, I would be very upset if I didn’t hear her announce the same day as people in Springfield got to hear her announce. She would certainly lose my vote.
/snark/
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:33 am
The headline says today, but the email says tomorrow. It is tomorrow (Wednesday), correct?
Comment by Yossarian Lives Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:36 am
Running for comptroller is very exciting news ?
“I will be announcing some very exciting news about the next step in my campaign on Wednesday, July 31″
Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:39 am
- Skeeter -,
A fly-around shows organization, if they can pull off a multi-stop campaign swing, and unless you are Kirk Dillard and have his luck announcing, a fly-around lets you own “the day” in media markets outside Cook and the Collars, and those downstate voters are “closer” to Sheila than Chicago, so hitting those markets and looking organized, and a viable statewide candidate has an upside.
Plus, we have very little to go on that she is firm in ruinning for “x” or “y”. Why not go out and tell the voters, in an organized way, with the muscle of an organized fly around?
Bruce Rauner couln’t pull it off, and with all his money, Rauner made no attempt to look organized, or that Rauner, himself, can get enough people together in one spot…just to see Bruce Rauner.
If Simon is facing a Dem Primary challenge, lets say for Comptroller, it also allows Simon to “appear” a better choice with a statewide following that will meet her at airports to announce … whatever she is going to announce.
Only downside? What if the only attendees are crickets and media? Simon still gets the press pop, but it might look weak without bodies holding signs.
Simon id flexing muscle in a possible attempt to show she IS the Dem frontrunner for “x”, and has the ability to run a campaign.
Time will tell.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:42 am
Thanks, YL. Brain freeze. Fixed.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:43 am
Sheila is a competent, ethical, moral person with much potential. I have known her for many years and have utmost respect for her…but she can’t win against Topinka.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:48 am
She, like Cross, bet wrong that Lisa was running for governor. Cross is in trouble now with his caucus, and Simon likely will be out of office in 2015.
She doesn’t have the dough to run in the Dem primary for treasurer, so when the music stopped the only chair left was to take on JBT. Obviously, that’s the last thing she wanted to do.
Some karma coming around. Quinn plucked her out of nowhere, gave her a cushy job and platform, and she turned on him.
I bet now she wishes she hadn’t, because sticking with Quinn, though certainly not a sure thing, would have been a better bet than running against JBT.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:50 am
Oswego,
Thanks. I admit I don’t know much about downstate (or frankly, anything beyond O’Hare).
Is there really a value in covering Springfield and Carbondale on the same day?
Is it worth the organizing and transport costs to get the candidate to each location close to on time?
It just seems like it is not a good value for a race other than Gov. or Senate, but again, my knowledge of things beyond the city limits is limited.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:50 am
Now _this_ is the one where I don’t see the “path to victory” … but still, even if she doesn’t win, she’ll help pull votes for the Democratic ticket, boost some turnout, show “there’s a Downstater on the ticket,” etc. If she does run for Comptroller, the Democratic party of IL could do worse. Fly, Sheila, fly!!
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:51 am
Lt. Governor to running for AG to running for Comptroller-is she trying to get a headstone as big as Roland Burris?
Comment by OurMagician Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:51 am
“Sheila is a competent, ethical, moral person with much potential. I have known her for many years and have utmost respect for her…but she can’t win against Topinka. ”
I’ll have to take your word for it that Simon is ethical and moral, and if that is the case, Simon won’t be able to go all Blago on Topinka - which has been demonstrated to be a winning strategy in the past.
Comment by Anonner Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:55 am
Hotel Allegro - I get it.
Civic Center - I get it.
Cafe Moxo? Don’t get it.
Comment by Centennial Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:55 am
He’s the-guy-who’s-not-Quinn, so that gives him a puncher’s chance in a one-on-one-fight.
Obviously, you can make a negative case against Quinn. But he’s largely a known commodity. I don’t think you can move the needle against him too much.
Daley, on the other hand, is a blank slate. His resume is a mile wide and an inch deep.
Quinn is going to have the money to devastate him with negative spots — NAFTA, insider deals, influence peddling, cashing in on political connections.
And I really don’t think the name “Daley” is a positive anywhere, anymore, among Illinois voters.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:58 am
Sheila Simon isn’t Paul Simon.
Topinka clobbers her.
Comment by Downstater Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 9:59 am
No buzz surrounding Shelia Simon at all. Nice person by all accounts but she doesn’t make for the most dynamic candidate.
Comment by Stones Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:00 am
- Skeeter -,
Simon is trying to win the “narrative of the day” covering those markets. You would be surprised how much TV media a state Rep or a state Senator gets, let alone when a statewide candidate “Flys in” to announce. Simon will get free media airtime, might even get a question or two that might make “air” as well.
I am still amazed how a state Rep gets all the media on TV that they get. The members of the General Assmebly are rock stars, Congresscritters are bigger, and the statewides get some run beyond “B roll”. Just a different animal in campaigning downstate, and well below I-80, Bloomington, Springfield, or Carbondale.
If Simon can put together somethng that looks “polished” or at the least organized, with voters and signs and a semblence of a rally stop, it gets play. If she draws a Primary opponent, this is a sgnal that she can at least attempt a fly around, and if she can pull it off, it just lets them know she can organize “something” campaign-like.
Heck, Simon will get some Chicago media, but not like what she will be able to gin up arriving in a fly around downstate.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:06 am
===I bet now she wishes she hadn’t===
I wouldn’t be so sure of that.
Simon has picked up the late Dawn Clark Netsch’s battle flag. And Netsch despised Pat Quinn.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:07 am
@Centennial: #folksy
Comment by Empty Chair Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:08 am
What ever office she runs for, she will not get much support from her home territory in southern Illinois. Many employees that worked at facilities in the south that Quinn targeted for closing looked to her for help in keeping the facilities open. Her answer was always “it’s out of my hands”. Not the right answer if you want support of the voters. I guess Lt. Gov. is just a title with no power or duties.
Comment by Rusty618 Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:08 am
=== I guess Lt. Gov. is just a title with no power or duties.===
Actually, Rusty, that’s correct.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:09 am
Maybe if she got Andy of Mayberry and “The Darlings” to appear with her - she could do a kind of Steve Martin bit, telling a joke and then breaking into Rocky Top. That’d get my vote.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:10 am
=== Simon has picked up the late Dawn Clark Netsch’s battle flag. And Netsch despised Pat Quinn ===
Break out the pool table.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:11 am
Cafe Moxo @ 3pm? The only people around there at that hour might be a few state employees on break.
Comment by Jack Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:17 am
I can’t wait for that first debate between Simon and Topinka. Judy will mop the floor with Simon.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:18 am
Someone mentioned Simon possibly replacing Poshard at SIU. If I were her, I’d focus on that, if she has the qualifications. Much better pay and she’d still have some public visibility.
Comment by Because I said so... Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:33 am
Will she wear a bow tie just to make SURE everybody makes the connection? Short résumé of her accomplishmenT being Paul’s daughter
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:57 am
===Sheila Simon isn’t Paul Simon.===
Pithy and On Point.
As Pat Quinn’s LG, and with her own resume in full bloom, it is better that Sheila takes on the Netch battle flag more, than wrapping herself solely as a “Paul Simon”
Well said, - Downstater -!
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 10:58 am
Could be interesting if Simon went for comptroller. Duffy Blackburn’s already been traveling the state, and he seems to come across well.
Comment by wayward Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:06 am
===Duffy Blackburn’s already been traveling the state, and he seems to come across well. ===
She’ll wipe the floor with him. C’mon.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:23 am
Allowing 5 hours between stops..hmmm.
That must mean they are planning for
a) exceptional crowds
b) a long announcement speech
c) a banjo jam after the speech
Gotta be something. Maybe they rented a Sopwith Camel for the fly-around.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:25 am
- Arthur Andersen -,
Too funny.
To your point,
I would not be surprised if Simon was having rallies, then doing “studio” interviews in Springfield, landing in Carbondale, doing TV studio interviews in the 5 and 6pm time slots, then attend a rally at 8pm…
Or … I think your itinerary might be on the mark.
Either one…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:30 am
I really like Simon. JBT has earned my vote.
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:31 am
How about as a first question …
“Ms. Simon, Pat Quinn plucked you ot of nowhere to be the Lt. Governor and you bailed on him and are choosing not to show any gratitude towards Pat Quinn. Isn’t that a flaw of character?”
Food for thought.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:37 am
Chicago to Spfld takes 3 hrs to drive, 1 hour for announcement, 1 hr for wiggle room.
Spfld to Carbondale takes 3 hrs to drive, 1 hour for announcement, 1 hr to be safe.
Could they be driving?
Comment by Lakewood-Balmoral Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:39 am
I love it when politicians say they have “exciting news.” Exciting to who? Mostly them. Maybe their connected friends and hangers on who stand to gain. Not to the rest of us.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:42 am
How about as a first question…
Ms. Simon, traditionally being a comptroller requires some knowledge of accounting and/or finance or at least a masters in business. You have none of these, so what do you think are your credentials for this position—I mean aside from the fact that you have a D after your name.
lol
Comment by QC Examiner Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:46 am
I had the same thought as Lakewood-B….maybe she’s doing a “drive around” not a “fly around.”
And to those who speculate that she could be the next SIU president….three letters: L.O.L.
Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:47 am
I think Duffy could give her a race if he had enough money to run ads in Chicago (unlikely) and if he were willing to go negative (also unlikely)
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:50 am
Never thought it might be a “drive-around”
If its a “drive-around”, it could be like a clown car, with the whole setup falling in and out of the car, and everyone back in the car.
Circus coming early this year?
Bit of a letdown if they sell the fly around as a clown car stopping off with the same 5 people.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:51 am
===Could they be driving?===
No. It’s a flyaround, but i doubt she’s rented a G-5. It takes a bit of time to get to/from the airports and they’re probably planning to be on the ground for 2 hours at each stop. This is a reasonable schedule.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 11:59 am
I’d post something here, but I can’t stop yawning.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:00 pm
OW,
Speaking of clown cars, maybe she could rent one of the Kreckel’s Chicken cars for her drive-around? Last I knew, one or two of the four were still stored in the small warehouse behind the Spfld. Kreckel’s.
http://wso.williams.edu/~dmihm/Dsite/chickencar.htm
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:08 pm
A fly-around is generally done at an airport so you can hit more stops. Flying around to no more cities than you can drive to, and holding the events in town seems kind of counterproductive. But there really is no explaining this womans logic. Maybe DCN came to her in a dream and directed it.
Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:17 pm
- RNUG -,
How fun! I think you can also rent the “Blues Brothers” Mt. Prospect Police Car with Cop Tires, Cops Schocks, and it was built before catalytic converters so it would run well on regular gasoline.
Can you see either of those cars driving the state with any candidate. Too funny.
To the Post,
Fewer stops, even by air, may mean fewer people they can muster per event? Sheila afriad of empty rooms? It’s not like the Quinn folk are going to be there to fill up a room at this point…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:23 pm
RNUG, great pic! That should be PQ’s limo.
Willy, I’ve heard that Rauner didn’t do a fly around because his private jet is too big to land anywhere except O’Hare.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:25 pm
==“Ms. Simon, Pat Quinn plucked you ot of nowhere to be the Lt. Governor and you bailed on him and are choosing not to show any gratitude towards Pat Quinn. Isn’t that a flaw of character?”==
A: I showed him the same gratitude and loyalty he showed Blago and all the state workers who serve under him. Maybe it’s contagious.
Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:46 pm
- AA -,
We get that billing straightened out to Rauner, the Firm’s jet will be too big for a fly around too!
Between me not helping you with Rauner and me not helping - Norseman - with coordinators, it has been a very trying few months!
Maybe Sheila is pulling an “Adam A.”, but instead of just wasting all our times on a webcast, Simon wants to waste other peoples’ time in person(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 12:47 pm
=== She’ll wipe the floor with him. C’mon. ===
Maybe so. She does have better name recognition, though Duffy made a good impression when he spoke at our party meeting this month.
Comment by wayward Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 1:11 pm
“Duffy Blackburn’s” would be a great name for one of those faux “authentic” Irish neighborhood pubs downtown, like “Poag Mahone’s” or “Kitty O’Sheas” or “Timothy O’Toole’s.”
He’s a real dude. It would work. If this comptroller thing doesn’t work out, he could line up some investors in a minute.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 1:38 pm
Willy, I like how you think.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 2:18 pm
“traditionally being a comptroller requires some knowledge of accounting and/or finance or at least a masters in business.”
Except Topinka. And Hynes. And Didrickson. And Netsch. And Burris.
Comment by Bill F. Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 3:31 pm
Since it’s a drive-around now, why not just have the stopovers at rest areas or Stuckey’s?
Oh yeah, there hardly are any Stuckey’s around here anymore, and have you seen the condition of IL rest areas lately?
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 4:05 pm
That’s what I get for defending her. Oof.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 4:19 pm
“It’s a drive-around.”
Flushed out by the intrepid Blog Commenters.
Tomorrow’s QOTD-What does Sheila Simon drive?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 4:30 pm
Wait a second. How is she going to bike around the entire state in one day? Does she even own a car?
She may need to borrow yours, Arthur Andersen.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 5:39 pm
So here’s the question: Was it initially supposed to be a fly-around and they changed plans? If so, why?
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 5:46 pm
Rutherford runs for Gov. Senator Mike Freirich runs for Treasure.
Comment by Now Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 5:46 pm
===So here’s the question: Was it initially supposed to be a fly-around and they changed plans? If so, why?===
Here is a better question:
Who cares?
Comment by UnderInfluence Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 6:59 pm
Well, I hope Sheila has a “hands-free” phone, GPS and an IPass.
Lots of driving for one person.
So, from the flyaround I thought Sheila WOULD TRY to pull off, we now have a “Drive Around”, with Sheila, alone, on her own dime, going through drive-thrus, and pumping her own gas, I guess hoping people will be around to hear her?
Yikes!!
Rauner’s internet annoucement might be better in a visual then Sheila looking for parking in downtown Chicago, since she is footing her own travel expenses.
Not a good start.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 7:01 pm
Can we get a volunteer to hit one of these stops to find out about Sheila’s whip?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 30, 13 @ 7:46 pm
AA, OneMan may be able to hit the first stop…
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jul 31, 13 @ 9:07 am
ah fiscal integrity and transparency. Sheila has a long record of doing good things on that. JBT, she has a long history too…hotel deals.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jul 31, 13 @ 11:14 am