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* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Gov. Bruce Rauner won’t say if he’ll commit to debating his primary opponent before the March 20 Republican Primary.
At a stop in Jacksonville Friday morning, Rauner was asked if he’d commit to debating state Rep. Jeanne Ives, who has filed to run against Rauner in the March 20 Republican primary.
Asked three times in a row if he’d debate Ives, Rauner only laughed and said “what I’m committed to is winning the general election and beating the Chicago machine.”
Ives reacted later Friday.
“It makes sense when he says that he’s not in charge,” Ives said.
Earlier this week, Rauner told reporters he’s not in charge, saying Speaker Michael Madigan’s influence is controlling the state. Rauner said Illinoisans need to have Republicans take back the state House and remove Madigan as speaker.
“[Rauner] also doesn’t understand the issues so no wonder he doesn’t want to debate it because it would be pretty obvious that he hasn’t been in charge for three years,” Ives said. “It’ll be very obvious that I’ve been leading the charge for good government in Springfield even as a state rep.”
* Transcript…
Reporter: Gov. Rauner, will you commit to debating your Republican primary opponent?
Gov. Rauner: Um, well, what I’m, um, very excited about is, uh, this election process, we’re gonna get the truth out about what’s going on in Illinois. Illinois has been dominated by Speaker Madigan and his Chicago machine for 35 years. They have spent us into oblivion, they’ve pushed jobs out of this state, they’ve given us the highest property taxes in America, and they’ve given us massive cronyism and patronage. And we need to change the system so that Speaker Madigan and the Chicago is not in charge. I’ve been battling against that machine for three years, we’ve beat ‘em on some critical things, they’ve beat us on some critical things. They blocked term limits so far, but we’ve gotta prevail. They’ve blocked us getting property tax relief on our families, but we’re gonna prevail. Um, and we’re, we’re just never gonna give up or give in. We’ve gotta take on the machine, we’ve gotta have a democracy restored so the government’s working for the people. And we’re gonna win. We’re gonna win this election and we’re gonna beat the machine.
Reporter: Are you gonna agree to a debate with Rep. Ives?
Gov. Rauner: What I’m gonna do is win this general election and beat the Chicago machine.
Reporter: But will you commit to a debate with Rep. Ives? [Rauner and others laugh]
Gov. Rauner: What I’ve committed to is winning the general election and beating the Chicago machine.
Rauner aide: We have time for one more question.
…Adding… Video of the presser…
* Related…
* John Cullerton: Governor Rauner not in charge? Tell me something I don’t know: From day one, this governor has left budgeting responsibilities to the legislature and the courts, even though it’s one of the specific constitutional duties that comes with being the state’s top executive. The state’s backlog of past-due bills grew to a record $16 billion because he didn’t manage his administration’s spending. Keep in mind, the three-year Illinois budget impasse ended because lawmakers in both parties grew tired of waiting for the governor to do his job and took it upon ourselves to solve the problems he wouldn’t.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:45 pm
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To be honest, I think they’re each afraid of debating the other. I’d pay to see that event, though.
Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:49 pm
Refusing to answer a simple yes or no question is an obvious admission that he won’t debate her. It’s completely appropriate that reporters say as much imo.
Comment by slow down Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:50 pm
Ugh.
This one’s for free.
===Reporter: Gov. Rauner, will you commit to debating your Republican primary opponent?===
Fake Rauner: No. Next question.
See. Done.
Have surrogates say…
“The Governor sees no need to debate a fringe candidate.”
Sometimes you have to take the slings and arrows, but debating her would be malpractice at this point for this governor, in this race.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:57 pm
===To be honest, I think they’re each afraid of debating the other. I’d pay to see that event, though.===
I doubt that. Ives needs as much exposure as she can get. She needs to make a name for herself statewide. And I know, all snark aside, that a lot of us think that the less known about her the better. But people like me that say that, will not be voting in a Republican primary.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:57 pm
I can’t see Ives afraid of debating Rauner. Frankly, she’d send him into a permanent wide-eyed conniption.
But Rauner *is* afraid of Ives. I have no doubt. No doubt.
Comment by Macbeth Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 2:58 pm
What does the ILGOP think
Comment by Rabid Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:02 pm
I’ve offered to debate Ives. I want everyone to see how shallow she actually is.
Comment by Ste_with_a_ven Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:04 pm
He has not and will not answer questions. In December of ‘18, there’s a chance nobody is going to care anymore. Missed opportunity.
Comment by Trapped in the ‘burbs Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:05 pm
Bruce is runnin’ on his record.
Comment by igotgotgotgotnotime Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:07 pm
she would have him bug eyed for most of the debates. He will chicken out.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:07 pm
Here comes Jeanne just watch this will be more and more persistent. He’ll have to answer soon.
Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:14 pm
The thought of a women browbeating Rauner unmercifully into submission
Comment by Rabid Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:15 pm
Ives would beat Rauner like a rented mule in a debate. The guy is walkin’, talkin’ flop-sweat.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:19 pm
Oswego Willy is correct. After three years and a revolving door of staff the Gov still can’t get it right.
Comment by Just Visiting Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:22 pm
I’ll take a stab at explaining why I think Ives is just as nervous about the prospect of a debate as is Rauner. I might not have thought so by witnessing her [misplaced] confidence on the House floor, but did you see how nervous she was when she declared her candidacy? She’s out of her league and just now knows it.
Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:26 pm
He better take this seriously or he is in for a lot of bad press. That snicker will only take him so far. People are tired of the talking points, and really wore out by the It’s Madigan’s fault” tirade. If he sticks with attacks on Pitzker and ignoring his primary opponent, he is going to seem even weaker then he is, He really could lose in March.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:29 pm
So it’s funny for Rauner and his cohorts to laugh? This was a legitimate question, which, as usual, he can’t seem to answer.
Comment by Christopher Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:30 pm
It generally takes him a few ums before he finds the right track and pushes play.
Comment by cimry90 Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:33 pm
–So it’s funny for Rauner and his cohorts to laugh?–
By now, I think it’s clear that’s his nervous tic when scared, a flight-response when he knows he probably shouldn’t talk because he’s not on-script.
Because you know how well he does off-script….
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:33 pm
Please change your mind Brucie. You could pay off our deficit with a wicked pay-per-view debate. Double revenues if you do a cage match.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:35 pm
“What I’m gonna do is win this general election and beat the Chicago machine.”
He needs to have a t-shirt made with this phrase on it, and just point at it every time he’s asked a question for the next 11 months. Maybe have it embroidered on his biker vest.
Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Rauner couldn’t even out debate a mope like Quinn…
That being said, can Jeanne really say she’s leading a charge when no one is following?
Comment by Morty Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:36 pm
Reporter to John Tillman: Has Rauner asked you to give him is money back? Tillman: Crickets. Reporter to Tillman: How much money has Rauner given you? Tillman: Crickets.
Comment by Chicagoing Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:36 pm
So even the answer to whether or not he will debate Ives is “because Madigan”?
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:40 pm
===Rauner couldn’t even out debate a mope like Quinn…===
The last debate, the “Pat Quinn fails” to start nearly every answer did what it was suppose to do;
Brand Quinn a failure, the rest hopefully won’t be remembered.
Now? Now Rauner IS Quinn, can’t think on his feet, has few answer for his reasoning….
===Reporter: Gov. Rauner, will you commit to debating your Republican primary opponent?===
Fake Rauner: No. Next question.
That’s it. That’s the only answer.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:40 pm
Since Rauner is afraid to debate Ives, maybe suggest a televised “coffee klatsch” with Ives and various guests.
I would especially look forward to Ives speaking with Reps and Senators that are leaving, or have already left, the Statehouse. Re-create those moments when the goal posts were moved by Rauner.
Also, Ives could maybe discuss things with some people that have been victimized by the professional victim, Rauner.
Do like Trump and put a name place and an empty chair for the absent Rauner.
I’d watch and it would probably sell a lot of advertising.
Comment by cdog Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:43 pm
Ives is right.
When has Rauner ever been in charge?
In 2014, he was a weak challenger with millions running against a weak governor. Remember how awful he was? Prairie chickens anyone?
So it’s unsurprising that he can’t tell us why we should reelect him. The hurtles are higher. He can’t jump. He’s never been in charge.
Sheesh, this man is determined to lose big time.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:51 pm
>Rauner aide: We have time for one more question.
I know it’s inappropriate to “out” real identities of people on this blog, but the same question dodged three times in a row followed with a line that that…who could the aide be but Michelle Flaherty.
Comment by Earnest Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:52 pm
–It generally takes him a few ums before he finds the right track and pushes play–
LOL.
Comment by King Louis XVI Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:53 pm
Did anyone really expect him to answer, let alone answer yes? Give as little credit and relevance to Ives as much as possible. That’s his strategy here, it seems.
Comment by People Over Parties Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:54 pm
Ives will just get better. Rauner has had three years to get better and he has gotten worse.
Willie is right the only possible answer is a straight “No” Reiterate with fringe candidate. Quote some of her more obnoxious sayings and then figure out how to get out of debating in the general.
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 3:57 pm
If I were Rauner, and thank God I’m not, I wouldn’t bother mentioning Ives either. Why? Just sayin.
Comment by Chicagoing Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:03 pm
Wouldn’t seem to be a heavy lift for Rep. Ives to enlist editorial boards across the state to urge the governor to debate her. That’s a perfectly reasonable position for her, and them, to take.
By pretending that she doesn’t exist and refusing to engage in a policy exchange, he is handing her an opportunity to position him as the unreasonable party.
Comment by Louis Capricious Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:12 pm
–By pretending that she doesn’t exist and refusing to engage in a policy exchange, he is handing her an opportunity to position him as the unreasonable party.–
And chicken.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:14 pm
Jeanne start wearing fringe
Comment by Rabid Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:19 pm
===By pretending that she doesn’t exist and refusing to engage in a policy exchange, he is handing her an opportunity to position him as the unreasonable party.===
Maybe, maybe not.
Rauner has $60 million banked for what amounts to be a 10 week sprint.
If Rauner decides to spend $30 million in 10 weeks to frame, define, and pivot off what Ives has says already in ads, and not face any debate questions, that may turn out to be money well spent in the Primary and long term too.
Rauner polled at 61% for a Primary.
Rauner gets to 65%, Ives gets to an “impressive” 35% against the incumbent… she still loses by 30 points, and Rauner used 10 weeks to reintroduce himself with Ives as the foil.
Why debate and gum up the works?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:20 pm
Cowardness
Comment by Rabid Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:27 pm
girly man is afraid
Comment by Rabid Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:31 pm
==she doesn’t exist and refusing to engage in a policy exchange, he is handing her an opportunity to position him as the unreasonable party.–
And chicken.==
The chicken part is the most damaging. Weakness. That is how Ives can really hurt the Guv. Being weak is far worse than being unreasonable. Heck, being unreasonable doesn’t necessarily hold people back in the GOP.
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:31 pm
…”By pretending that she doesn’t exist and refusing to engage in a policy exchange…”
Why does his refusal feel like a slap to fairness?
It seems undemocratic to me.
Comment by cdog Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:32 pm
I agree with Oswego Willy. There’s no need to debate Ives.
/wink
/wink
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:33 pm
===/wink
/wink===
You forgot “nudge-nudge”
Rauner could get shamed into avoiding a woman, could get called out for ignoring conservatives… Rauner could get Ives to speak “crazy talk” and just keep repeating his blandness, and use the “crazy” in those ads…
… that’s of course hoping Rauner doesn’t implode…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:40 pm
JB call him a coward for not facing his own party like you are
Comment by Rabid Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:40 pm
Perhaps Madigan can order GovJunk to submit and debate. Teehee
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:43 pm
“I think it’s clear that’s his nervous tic when scared, a flight-response”
Laughter is to Rauner as clucking is to a chicken.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Dec 8, 17 @ 4:46 pm