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* Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Walter Burnett endorsed Toni Preckwinkle for mayor yesterday. Lori Lightfoot was not impressed…
“We need someone who’s going to run the city of Chicago who has experience,” White said. […]
“Toni Preckwinkle is the epitome of those entrenched political interests, so it’s not surprising to me that she is seeking people who she has worked with for decades,” Lightfoot said.
I do not remember the last time a Democrat said something harsh about Secretary White. Burnett? Sure. White? Nope.
* Secretary White responded today…
Unfortunately, Lori Lightfoot seems to feel like she has to attack everyone who disagrees with her. That’s no way to get things done and that’s not what Chicagoans expect in their elected officials. Like Toni, I’m honored to have been re-elected by my constituents for making real change in Illinois. And I’ve done it by working together with the concerned citizens and other elected officials.
* Toni Preckwinkle…
Corporate lawyer Lori Lightfoot’s attack on Jesse White is almost as disgusting as her making millions as co-owner of a law firm that represents Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, and big polluters. Secretary White is a three-time military veteran — he served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, the Army Reserves, and the National Guard. And as Secretary of State Jesse White has implemented countless programs to improve the lives of Illinoisans including reforming the teen driving program which reduced teen driving deaths by 54 percent. Unfortunately, Lori has made it clear that, instead of listening to folks who disagree with her, she will instead point fingers and attack. That’s no way to lead a city.
* Meanwhile, Lightfoot is staying on message…
Today, Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot released a new TV ad, “Why.” The ad questions the motivations behind Toni Preckwinkle’s recent attacks on Lightfoot and points to Preckwinkle’s history of regressive tax hikes and old-school machine politics. The ad is Lightfoot’s third of the campaign, and second of the runoff. Lightfoot released her first TV ad of the runoff, “Change,” on March 1.
“Why is Toni Preckwinkle launching a ‘full blown,’ and ‘incorrect’ attack against Lori Lightfoot?” asks the narrator. The ad then features news stories about Preckwinkle’s ties to the broken Chicago machine and history of regressive taxation. “An entrenched political insider won’t lead Chicago forward. It’s time to bring in the light,” the narrator concludes as the ad features footage from Lightfoot’s election night celebration.
* The ad…
* Preckwinkle is also staying on message…
Tonight, former teacher Toni Preckwinkle and corporate attorney Lori Lightfoot square off in the first televised debate of the runoff.
The spotlight will be on Lightfoot, whose record is now starting to come into focus for Chicago voters.
Here are five questions she must answer for Chicago voters tonight:
* Does she think it was progressive to defend a Wall Street bank being sued for racial discrimination or to make a profit as equity partner of a firm that represents Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, Wall Street banks, and corporate polluters?
* If she is such a progressive, why would she accept the endorsement of two anti-immigrant aldermen, Anthony Napolitano and Nick Sposato?
* Why did she represent Republican politicians trying to protect their power?
* What was her justification for overruling her own investigators to justify police shootings?
* Why did a political operative for Alderman Scott Waguespack say that she promised him a powerful position on the council if it wasn’t true?
* Lastly, but not leastly…
Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot is leading rival Toni Preckwinkle in nearly every category and has a lead of 30 points more than three weeks before the April 2, according to an internal poll provided by Lightfoot’s campaign.
Lightfoot is leading among union households, self-described liberals as well as those who voted for Bill Daley or Jerry Joyce; Amara Enyia or Willie Wilson; and Susana Mendoza or Gery Chico.
The memo is here.
…Adding… An interesting development…
The Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 endorsed Lori Lightfoot for mayor at a press conference on Thursday. Lightfoot announced the endorsement at the historic formerly all-Black firehouse on 35th and Calumet. Today marked Lightfoot’s second union endorsement. The Illinois Education Association Region 67 endorsed Lightfoot in February.
“It’s my great pleasure to accept this endorsement, and I’m humbled by it,” said Lightfoot. “Our first responders do a tremendous job in our communities and are really part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. We need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to provide them with the support and resources that they need. It is a great honor to be here at this historic firehouse and accept the support of this important group.”
“We are here to throw our support behind Lori Lightfoot for mayor,” said Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 President Jim Tracy. “She comes from a union home and understands the importance of unions and their roles in lifting up the middle class. Lori understands Local 2’s needs when it comes to our staffing, antiquated rigs, and the need for more ambulances. We all understand the roadblocks ahead when it comes to pension payments and higher property taxes, and Lori strikes a balance that can take care of the economic development downtown, and in turn, take care of some of the blighted communities such as Englewood and the West Side. We need that economic development to make the city a more fair and balanced place, and Local 2 is here to support our next mayor, Lori Lightfoot.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 1:57 pm
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Wow, Lightfoot, you really should have let that very mild original statement by Jesse slide.
Or, better yet, just said, “I love Jesse White.”
You would be wise to take the hits from him now silently, and let it be a one-day story.
Don’t get in a fight with Jesse White. Everybody loves Jesse White.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:06 pm
Look, I see this as a tremendous rebuke
to all those
even remotely involved in
any kind of political machine
This is populism it seems to me.
Now honestly
I don’t really know much about either
as I am from the Metro East
but it seems to me
that the one least connected
to any machine
is pounding the one who is.
and again
I don’t know if this is good or bad.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:06 pm
===Everybody loves Jesse White===
Yep.
But Jesse White isn’t exactly the messenger for change now, is he? He’s right though, Toni has more experience. Unfortunately for her, it’s the wrong kind of experience.
I can think of no other Democratic office holder who has benefited more from playing Machine politics than Jesse White. To his credit, he remains a popular pol and a top vote getter. But he is a product of the Machine, likable or not.
Lori should have simply said, White’s endorsement of Preckwinkle speaks for itself.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:14 pm
Messaging is going to win this campaign.
Everyone can agree that this WAS TPs campaign to lose, and she’s losing it. Their constant attacks are a last ditch effort to throw LL off her game and change the narrative.
LL has had the winning message in Feb. But anyone who knows Manny Perez (Chuy’s guy) knows his struggles, messaging. If he truly is the real CM, then it will be interesting to see the team roll out their run-off messaging.
Messaging will win this race. Look for TP to go after Manny Perez in the insider circles to get a reaction (TP fired Manny, as did David Orr)
Comment by Jesus Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:14 pm
Gee Rich, however popular Jesse and his tumblers are, he’s still represents an ‘entrenched’ political interest. He’s been in politics for decades and SOS for roughly 20 years. What is he if not entrenched? Why is stating the obvious “harsh.”
Comment by jim Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:16 pm
weather outside today is “cold.” please forgive that “harsh” rhetoric.
Comment by jim Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:19 pm
– Why is stating the obvious “harsh.”–
Use your head. Lightfoot didn’t have to say anything at all. It’s just not smart to take on Jesse White.
The objective is to win, and getting in a fight with perhaps the most popular Illinois politician ever does not advance the ball a bit.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:21 pm
Jesse is beloved. But he is not sacrosanct. Her point was not wrong, but it may be costly to some extent.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:24 pm
I love Jesse White *and* his staff in the express office in the Loop, where I was in and out in under an hour last month.
I’m still voting for Lightfoot.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:31 pm
Yes, Jesse White is a popular figure and deservedly so, but he is also an old school entrenched politician who plays ball - patronage, nepotism, etc. He’s as much a change agent as Toni is, which isn’t much. Probably best not to get into a war of words with him though.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:31 pm
I lived in Central Illinois and Springfield for 30 years before moving to Chicago for a big job, so I lean Republican.
I’ve been secretly enjoying all my friends who are supporting Lightfoot who are aghast at the way Preckwinkle is treating her. “Dirty” and “corrupt” are words they use frequently. I want to tell them they they are seeing the side of Chicago politics they’ve ignored for years simply because the tactics were being used against Republicans.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:49 pm
Honestly, I don’t see voters rebelling from her because of this. I was hearing quite a few people snickering at a decades-long politician calling anyone the “change candidate,” as SOS White did in his endorsement. Plus….is what Lori said really an “attack?”
I think Team Toni is just swinging at everything here, and I don’t think it’s going to stick with voters. At this juncture she needs to get out there and campaign on the ground, finding ways to connect with voters. From what we saw in the primary…not her specialty.
Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 2:58 pm
–I want to tell them they they are seeing the side of Chicago politics they’ve ignored for years simply because the tactics were being used against Republicans.–
Huh? When have Republicans been a point of discussion in Chicago politics?
As someone from Central Illinois, I imagine you’ve heard “corrupt Chicago Democrats” uttered once or twice by Downstate Republicans.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:01 pm
=Don’t get in a fight with Jesse White. Everybody loves Jesse White.=
Kind of reminds me of the saying “don’t pick fights with people who buy ink by the barrel.”
Jessie is a machine guy, not a change guy and those saying that are right. What I think Word and others are saying is that if Lightfoot wants to get elected, attacking Jessie isn’t a good plan.. Whether or not what she is saying is correct is, in this case, beside the point.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:01 pm
It’s true that Jesse White is the definition of “entrenched,” but he’s entrenched in large part because people just love the guy. Lightfoot might be right, but not exactly a politically savvy move.
I think Preckwinkle is doing about as well as she can do to hammer Lightfoot’s left flank. I personally know a few folks who voted Lightfoot round one who are at least wavering now that more attention is being paid to her record.
Lightfoot is probably smart to keep up with the non-ideological anti-machine theme as her central plank. The only thing Chicagoans across the ideological spectrum can agree on is that “business as usual” stinks, even if the ways they’d like to see it change are quite different.
That said, I think aldermanic races and the overall climate show that there is some good momentum behind explicitly progressive policies, so I think Toni’s strategy is her best bet to overcome the disadvantage that comes with being a known, and therefore disliked, quantity. She’s trying to sell the devil you know over the devil you don’t.
Comment by Actual Red Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:02 pm
Unfortunately, Jesse White must not have seen Preckwinkle’s TV attack ad about Lightfoot. While Lightfoot was running a positive TV ad, saying she talked to residents and we need change, Preckwinkle comes out of the gate negatively.
Comment by Christopher Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:08 pm
Wordslinger- my point is that they have always been under the impression that all the politicians they always agreed with were completely innocent because they were attacking Republicans, and now they’re questioning what they’ve always believed when they see Democrats attacking someone they actually support.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:08 pm
“Unfortunately, Lori Lightfoot seems to feel like she has to attack everyone who disagrees with her. ”
I love me some Jesse White but if that statement applies to anybody, it exponentially applies to Toni.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:15 pm
Fight…fight…fight…the entrenched powers that be…but…Don’t fight with Jesse White.
#GotPoliticalSavvy?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:16 pm
Very awkward to be attacking Lightfoot from the left. The hits just don’t connect with those Taxin’ needs them to.
Comment by Name/Nickname/Anon Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:16 pm
It’s hilarious that LL, who defended the Jefferson Tap cops and made millions defending big corporations, is convincing people she’s a progressive.
Comment by Reo Symes, M.D. Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:32 pm
Over 788,000 Chicagoans voted for Jesse White in November. Does it really make sense to attack him?
Comment by Nick Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:36 pm
Saying Toni is seeking help from people who she has worked with for years doesn’t seem to be much of an attack on Jesse White, although it certainly has caused Toni to clutch her Dorothy Brown pearls. Wonder if anyone will reach out to Dorothy for help?
Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:37 pm
Jesse is personally popular (Madigan was correct to coax White out of retiring as it benefited the entire ticket and avoided a costly primary battle), but certainly not infallible in terms of endorsements and candidates sponsored. Exhibit “A” former Representative Derrick Smith.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 3:54 pm
Walter Burnett does good work in his ward. Walter Burnett is still in the air from that one time Mayor Emmanuel told him to jump and didn’t tell him to come down. He’s not someone I’d point to as a bastion of progressivism or change.
I would’ve bet the house on Toni in September. Guess that’s why I don’t have a house.
If Lori Lightfoot can stand tall and say Ed Burke, John Keller and Joe Berrios on repeat for the next few weeks she’ll be our next mayor.
Comment by Hammer Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 4:11 pm
Yeah, bad move attacking White. It almost reminds me of a Bruce Rauner move — anyone who opposes you = “political insider” or “Madigan.” None of that stuff worked even though it was said a hundred times over. Try listening to Mr. Fahner less Ms. Lightfoot, unless you would like to have as much political power as he does.
Plus, Secretary White is no slouch when it comes to volunteers and political workers. It would have been best to leave him alone instead of poking the bear. In terms of any remaining “machines” that can really turn people out to the polls, Secretary White has one of the bigger ones. Lightfoot would have been better served ignoring the endorsement instead of giving Secretary White a reason to really mobilize.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 4:35 pm
Hope L2 doesn’t let TP define the issues by explaining or apologizing for her representation of certain clients. Often, a lawyer’s values are not defined by the types of cases they take.
Seems like a mild attack on White, but I expect that L2 learned a valuable lesson that even mild rebukes can have unintended repercussions.
Comment by Bourbon Street Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 4:44 pm
My concern about a Lightfoot administration is it will be like the Jane Byrne administration.
Comment by A 400lb. Guy on a bed Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 4:47 pm
Number of Chicagoans that will understand/comprehend this inside baseball back and forth: 1,430
Number of Chicagoans that will make a decision based on it: 19
Number of Chicagoans that appear to be quite excited about someone throwing full haymakers at whatever they envision the “machine” to be: apparently 20% more than those that are not.
Comment by Michigan Man Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 4:56 pm