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We’re number one!

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* Brace yourselves

The whopping $66 million spent on ads in the Democratic and Republican primaries for Illinois governor made it the most expensive non-presidential primary of all time, according to the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics.

And because of the winners last night — incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner (who spent more than $16 million over the airwaves) and Democrat J.B. Pritzker (who spent more than $33 million on ads) — the general election is likely destined to be the most expensive gubernatorial contest in history.

Advertising Analytics projects total spending could exceed $150 million.

…Adding… The Illinois Chamber’s Independent Expenditure PAC has reported spending $183,783.19 on former Rep. Ken Dunkin’s primary race. Dunkin came in third out of four with 18 percent, receiving 3,097 votes. That works out to $59.24 per vote.

* Related…

* Tribune Editorial: Rauner, Pritzker and ‘whatever it takes’

* Tired of hearing from rich white guys? Get ready for $300 million more, Illinois

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:46 pm

Comments

  1. Heard last night that they spent more than Trump in his presidential, is that possible?

    Comment by NorthsideNoMore Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:49 pm

  2. You take ‘em (highest, most, #1 …) where you get ‘em.

    Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:49 pm

  3. All that money spent, what’s the value?

    Comment by jimk849 Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:53 pm

  4. AWillyWord Consulting misses out on the Primary windfall.

    I hope - AA - can find us some of that zillion dollars…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:53 pm

  5. Rauner’s campaign spending is probably the best, most tangible thing he has done for Illinois’ economy.

    Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:55 pm

  6. Finally Bruce has us number one in something

    Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:57 pm

  7. As long as the spending is in-state, I have no complaints.

    Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 3:58 pm

  8. The Chamber is very successful at everything it does.

    Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:02 pm

  9. If you had $66 million, in dollar bills, you could wallpaper a pretty big house with those bills…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:02 pm

  10. Trump had tons of free media.

    Comment by Real Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:02 pm

  11. ===If you had $66 million, in dollar bills,===

    If you laid them end to end, it would stretch for 6,250 miles, or roughly the distance between Chicago and Tokyo.

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:10 pm

  12. ===If you laid them end to end, it would stretch for 6,250 miles, or roughly the distance between Chicago and Tokyo.===

    So you’re saying it could be a big house?

    :)

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:11 pm

  13. ==Rauner’s campaign spending is probably the best, most tangible thing he has done for Illinois’ economy. ==

    True, but he spent some of that money on tv advertising in St. Louis.

    Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:12 pm

  14. OW that number of bills would cover about 2000 acres

    Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:13 pm

  15. Out by us, - OneMan - that’s still a lot of real estate.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:16 pm

  16. Imagine how much would have been available to spend if the tax rates hadn’t gone up. I mean now everyone, even the Chamber, is just scraping by to find a few million here or there to contribute. These taxes are killing the business of politics. Just killing it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the campaigns left for other states.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:21 pm

  17. ==Finally Bruce has us number one in something==

    “Thanks to my leadership, millions of dollars in investments are pouring in to local media all over the state.” - Fake Bruce Rauner

    Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:22 pm

  18. To bad the state cannot put a ten per cent tax on campaign spending and dedicate it to something way underfunded

    Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:24 pm

  19. According to USA Today Trump spent $66.1 million of his own money.

    Comment by 37B Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:30 pm

  20. I’d like to see Pritzker issue a press release saying that for each dollar Rauner spends on ad space, Pritzker will donate the same amount to a charitable organization. Every time a Rauner ad pops up on TV, there’s a social media blurb about which charity benefitted. Whether or not it slows the insanity, at least the money isn’t being fast-forwarded into nothing.

    Comment by tmfbitu Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:32 pm

  21. Oh to be the sales director for a TV or radio group over the next seven months…

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:41 pm

  22. And if you stack them, they’d be nearly a mile higher than the top of Denali.

    Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:41 pm

  23. ==To bad the state cannot put a ten per cent tax on campaign spending and dedicate it to something way underfunded ==
    The state, for example.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:44 pm

  24. This is the unions last stand. All in.

    Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:47 pm

  25. .. . charitable donation *instead* of Pritzker responding with an ad, I mean.

    Comment by tmfbitu Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 4:50 pm

  26. ===charitable donation *instead* of Pritzker responding with an ad===

    A donation to Ounce of Prevention maybe? Is that you, Diana? Lol.

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 5:04 pm

  27. Not a bad situation for Illinois. Libertarian-learning Republican Rauner vs neoliberal/pro-market Democrat. Could be much worse.

    Comment by California Guy Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 6:29 pm

  28. I have a feeling madigan’s already calling him ‘Gov”

    Comment by Thomas Zane Stepp Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 6:40 pm

  29. Dunkin is glazed. Hope I never hear his name again.

    Comment by Molly Maguire Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 6:51 pm

  30. – The Illinois Chamber’s Independent Expenditure PAC has reported spending $183,783.19 on former Rep. Ken Dunkin’s primary race. Dunkin came in third out of four with 18 percent, receiving 3,097 votes. That works out to $59.24 per vote.–

    This just in…

    Springfield Police report that former Illinois Chamber CEO Zombie Les Brann is on the loose and is going to punch current Illinois Chamber CEO Todd Maisch in the face.

    Former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has also been alerted, as his punch-face resembles that of the Maisch punch-face.

    Both Maisch and Cutler have been advised not to stick out their lower lips until further notice, as it would alert Zombie Les Brann to their punch-faces.

    Illinois businesses that fund the Illinois Chamber had no comment, as they are thoroughly confused as to why they keep pouring money into Ken Dunkin.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 7:24 pm

  31. It is unfortunately a vicious circle. If the other guy is spending you have to spend, too. We will see what unlimited spending looks like through November.

    Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 7:43 pm

  32. This is what we get because of Citizens United: when money equals speech, money talks and does ALL the talking.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 21, 18 @ 10:01 pm

  33. Can the TV and radio stations vary their fees by ad content? 50% more for negative campaigning. $1000 every time Madigans’ name is mentioned? A 10% Discount if the ad only mentions the candidate and their actual goals?

    Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 7:07 am

  34. ===If you laid them end to end, it would stretch for 6,250 miles, or roughly the distance between Chicago and Tokyo.===

    So you’re saying it could be a big house? ===

    If you weighed that stack of bills, it’d be around 145,000 lbs.

    …. or just about 3 1/2 SUVs less than the weight of an average house.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 7:43 am

  35. We’re also number one in population loss. Again.

    Comment by Ron Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 7:56 am

  36. Not sure why Pritzker would have to spend $100 million during this campaign season. Most people didn’t know who Ives was several months ago and she had barely any funding compared to the Governor and she ended up coming within a few points of primarying the guy.

    At this point, people already know who Pritzker is after his primary ad blitzes and the Governor is still deeply unpopular. One would think a blitz in the fall with an occasional response ad here or there would be more than enough to take down an extremely underwater GOP governor in a blue state in this particular election cycle.

    Comment by Benniefly2 Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 8:28 am

  37. JB should donate $1 for every time Rauner says the word Madigan to the Illinois veterans home in Quincy. Our Vets would have gold pipes providing them water!

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 8:37 am

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