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* JB Pritzker missed yesterday’s forum at NIU, but his statement was read before the questions began. Here’s part of it…
Hello everyone. Thank you to DeKalb Stands and Northern Illinois University for hosting this great event. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be with you tonight. My running mate Juliana Stratton was looking forward to joining, but unfortunately my opponents didn’t want to share a stage with her. I can’t say I blame them. Juliana is an incredible woman and a powerful fighter for Illinois and together we’re going to put Springfield back on the side of working families.
* After reading his statement, the moderator quickly corrected Pritzker. The other candidates did not object to Stratton’s presence. It was the organizers, she said, who set those rules…
That video came in over the transom from someone who was most definitely not with the Pritzker campaign.
* All of that was written hours and hours ago. The above video was supposed to be just a harmless add-on to the other NIU forum post about Kennedy and pot.
But I think somebody in the Pritzker campaign has subscribed to my YouTube page, so they got a notification and watched the video after I uploaded it and then asked for time to comment. After that, things got a bit testy.
This is from a September 21 e-mail sent by the organizers…
Also, the lineup of candidates has changed slightly. Chris Kennedy is joining the group. J.B. Pritzker can no longer come, but Juliana Stratton will appear in his place.
So, as of a couple of weeks ago, the organizers were obviously OK with Stratton appearing.
* Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign maintains that Kennedy threatened not to attend if Stratton was allowed on the stage…
“It’s unfortunate that after Chris Kennedy skipped at least 10 forums and sent surrogates like Emil Jones to represent him, that he refused to be on the same stage with Juliana Stratton and threatened not to attend if JB wasn’t there. To be clear, the forum organizers had originally accepted having Juliana attend until Chris Kennedy’s campaign complained. JB has attended over 25 multi-candidate appearances and looks forward to continuing to share his message with voters across the state.”
* Rebecca Evans at the Kennedy campaign called Slayen’s statement “petty and insulting to voters”…
It was a unanimous decision by the organizing board to keep yesterday’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates forum to just candidates for governor. For the Pritzker campaign to spend their time citing a tally of forum attendance that doesn’t accurately reflect all of the events and meetings Chris has with people throughout Illinois is petty and insulting to voters who want a substantive leader to unite our state. It’s also a signal that, despite paying millions of dollars for TV ads, Pritzker’s campaign must be feeling very insecure about their candidate’s status in this race.
After waiting hours on both campaigns to provide their responses, I reached out to the person who sent that e-mail about Stratton at around 2 o’clock. So far, I’ve heard nothing back. I’ll let you know.
But, hey, if nothing else, I did inadvertently manage to get both spokespersons to go after each other on the record.
Progress! /s
I often host a party the weekend before the primary and invite top staffers from every campaign to attend. I’ve never once seen a fight or even an argument. Next March’s could be different.
*** UPDATE *** From the organizer…
Hi,
We had a great forum last night. We certainly missed Mr. Pritzker and Mr. Pawar, but the five candidates who attended did an excellent job and had a really appreciative audience.
In answer to your question, both are correct. It was a unanimous decision of our group, made after a call from Kennedy’s campaign objecting to Stratton’s being substituted for Pritzker. However, it was only Kennedy who objected, not the other candidates (the reason for our correction to Pritzker’s statement). Kennedy did not threaten “not to attend if JB wasn’t there,” as stated in your email. What Kennedy’s staffer said was that he wasn’t prepared to go onstage with a lieutenant governor candidate and would send his own lieutenant governor candidate as his surrogate in the event that Stratton was involved.
Deborah
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:09 pm
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Www.kennedyforgovernor.com
Dirty tricks.
At least it isn’t redirected to a porn site.
Comment by Chowderhead Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:18 pm
^ That website redirect is hilarious. And totally fair game. That’s amateur, day 1 stuff in the modern era of campaigning. Kennedy campaign is just poorly run.
Comment by PJ Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:20 pm
Fun stuff.
Campaigns are bubbles within bubbles.
Lots to unpack here.
Going after Kennedy for being notoriously MIA from forum after forum is more than fair game, it’s interesting that both sides want to have the organizers either take blame or litigate the truthfulness to Pritzker’s statement as they both go after each other.
For me, one side must be “punching down”, with those two possibly leading this field, but we have no idea right now who is punching down, and who got the front-runner to take them on.
Once petitions are filed, I’ll be super excited to watch if these Crews continue to fight for every inch, and who will be the one taking it to the other.
That will be one heck of a “get-together” that Rich puts together.
They’re all pros. Would be interesting none the less.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:22 pm
Like to see more competition between those campaigns. There will be plenty of time to go after Rauner later.
Comment by Mr B. Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:23 pm
Children children….
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:24 pm
===Fun stuff.===
For you, maybe.
That post took like 5 hours to do and it still isn’t really done. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:24 pm
If I were Kennedy, I’d be far more afraid of Stratton than JB too.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:26 pm
:)
I guess what one calls “fun stuff” another may call a never-ending, fast-paced, waiting that clarifies that things still aren’t cleared up?
Crazy times.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:27 pm
==They’re all pros.==
Really? Because it’s not all that apparent to us laymen who are observing the campaigns so far.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:31 pm
Rich -
There ought to be some sort of Tempest in a Teapot Award for the primaries, I’d like to nominate The Great NIU Debate Debate of 2017.
The real question isn’t “Why wasn’t Pritzker there?” but “Why was Kennedy there?”
In 2014 there were fewer than 1200 Demoxratic primary ballots cast in all of DeKalb County. A fraction of that came from campus. A fraction of that attend or will hear about it, and a fraction of that will be swayed come Election time.
Not a wise use of their candidate’s time, ditto for Biss, who should have sent Wallace.
Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:34 pm
===Really? Because it’s not all that apparent to us laymen who are observing the campaigns so far.===
A pro realizes that throwing a fit or being testy or acting up at Rich’s event isn’t a great career move.
Plus, Kennedy’s burn rate is something a “pro” could admire, lots of spending, and Pritzker has had costumed clocks show up at places, so that’s “pro” stuff I’m told…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:38 pm
==They’re all pros.==
==Really? Because it’s not all that apparent to us laymen who are observing the campaigns so far.==
Agreed. If someone told me Kennedy had the Adams county democrats running his campaign, I’d find it hard to argue.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:38 pm
===I’d like to nominate The Great NIU Debate Debate of 2017.===
Done.
Never has so much energy been expended over such a small matter.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:41 pm
Word of advice guys: Think long-term. Don’t get off message by stupid daily distractions that nobody but you notices.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:49 pm
This is dumb, but ultimately beneficial for all involved. None of these guys have ever taken on live fire before this campaign.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:59 pm
“I can feel your anger, it gives you focus, makes you stronger”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB7fgX6H9_M
In hindsight, hiring consultants from Palpatine & Associates may have been a bad idea.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:04 pm
Live fire?
This doesn’t even qualify as a training exercise.
Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:09 pm
So cool for a political reporter to host parties for political staffers. Definitely no line-crossing there. What a blast. We’re all buds here.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:10 pm
@anonymous at 4:10 pm, I feel a “bite me” coming for you. I think it’s great that Rich tries to help people have a good time together.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:20 pm
==Live fire?
This doesn’t even qualify as a training exercise.==
That’s fair, but none of these guys have ever even dealt with this before.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:37 pm
There is simply no way for the Kennedy people to spin the fact that their candidate has blown off a ton of candidate forums around the state while the billionaire has attended almost all of them. So yea, I get why they’re more than a bit testy.
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:38 pm
===There is simply no way for the Kennedy people to spin the fact that their candidate has blown off a ton of candidate forums around the state while the billionaire has attended almost all of them. So yea, I get why they’re more than a bit testy.===
… and in the bubble… inside the bubble… inside that bubble… 9 people will think this has been a good use of anyone’s time.
“I strenuously point out Kennedy has been AWOL? Is that how it’s done? Hm? “JB can’t make it, but Kennedy?”… “No, no. I STRENUOUSLY point out Stratton can’t attend?” Oh. You both want to strenuously point out silly things… . Then we should all take some time and reconsider this tempest.”
“You point out once so we can hear Kennedy’s been a no-show a lot, you keep after it the way ya did suddenly that small lil point looks like a bunch of fancy campaign noise. There’s a difference between operating in a bubble and actually operating in a campaign , Cripes, both campaigns had Rich say it should win the Tempest in a Teapot Award… ”
Meh. I’d let this go.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:52 pm
Okay, I take it back.
Team Kennedy has taken a Tempest in a Teapot, smashed the teapot on the counter, and swallowed the shards of glass.
“how can we expect Chris Kennedy to stand up to Bruce Rauner if he’s too afraid to even face critics within his own party?”
Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:57 pm
@Anon 4:10 -
Campaigns buying drinks for political reporters is a problem. Political reporters buying drinks for campaign staff - honestly does not come up as often as I wish, but also not a problem.
As for Democrats and Republicans celebrating life and all it’s humanity together every once and awhile: we’d all be better off. There are plenty of Republicans I am happy to have a beer with.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 5:03 pm
Rich hit the nail on the head with the headline.
The story here isn’t really the story - who set what rules & who could or couldn’t attend etc.
The story here is that this is another piece of evidence that the gloves are off between Pritzker & Kennedy.
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 5:23 pm
Hello, I’m a Billionaire and you’re not.
So what if every other candidate is required
to appear in person and not allowed to send a surrogate?
After all, I’m a Billionaire and you’re not, so the rules don’t apply to me.
Comment by Midwestern Independent Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 6:26 pm
Really? Kennedy couldn’t share the stage with a Lt Gov candidate? That’s very elitist.
Comment by Paul Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 6:26 pm
=…After all, I’m a Billionaire and you’re not, so the rules don’t apply to me.”=
You forgot the part where the “Billionaire” actually shows up to the forums, and offers to at the very least send a surrogate if he has another obligation. It’s apparent that there’s only ONE candidate that has the reputation for not showing up to forums and has straight up no-showed on numerous occasions.
Comment by The Muse Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 6:37 pm
- wasn’t prepared to go onstage with a lieutenant governor candidate and would send his own lieutenant governor candidate -
Are they joking?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 8:09 pm
How was Kennedy’s August vacation?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 8:52 pm
If you’re not prepared to go on with a lt gov, then you might not be prepared to be gov. You will face tougher challenges.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 9:56 pm
Is there not one serious human being running for office in these United States? Maybe I’m just too old for all the drama when candidates should be genuine and steady.
Comment by cc Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 12:36 am
=What Kennedy’s staffer said was that he wasn’t prepared to go onstage with a lieutenant governor candidate and would send his own lieutenant governor candidate as his surrogate in the event that Stratton was involved.=
So disappointed in this statement. If Chris Kennedy is serious about being Governor, then he needs to quickly realize that as a leader one is often put into situations that they are not prepared for. If he didn’t feel prepared to go on stage with a LG candidate, which I feel is a little condescending, then I question his ability to make on the spot decisions in “crisis” situations and the ability to lead our state. At some point he has to stop hiding behind the “Kennedy” name and prove to me, a dem primary voter, that he has the leadership qualities of his father and uncle.
Can his campaign clarify why he wasn’t prepared to go on stage with Ms. Stratton or any LG candidate? I feel this is an important question, bc as the person with the NAME on the top of the ticket, you should be prepared to defend your platform and debate anyone.
Comment by Sigh Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 6:59 am