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Robin Kelly with free pass? Maybe not for long

Posted in:

* This is true

Political newcomer Kip Kirkpatrick, the co-founder of a private health-care equity firm, is expected to pull the plug on his bid for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, sources familiar with the campaign said today.

That leaves just one Democrat running in the primary, Robin Kelly. JB Pritzker, who ran for Congress unsuccessfully several years ago and has since focused on his business, might run, although that seems somewhat in doubt. But it is within reason to assume that Democrats will look at Kelly’s current free pass and somebody will decide to jump in.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:40 am

Comments

  1. No way she gets a free pass. There are like 10 Dems running for Lt. Governor. One of them will shift gears no doubt.

    Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:44 am

  2. And she shouldn’t get a free pass. We should have competitive races across the board. AG excepted of course.

    Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:45 am

  3. ===AG excepted of course. ===

    lol.

    I think Jesse White might disagree with you. :)

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:46 am

  4. KK’s staff have been let go

    Comment by very southsider Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:47 am

  5. I doubt if a Pritzker would run that far down the ballot.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:49 am

  6. Aren’t all the dems running for Lt Gov Robin Kelly-allies? Anybody know if the Speaker is backing Kelly? If so, she could get a free pass…

    Comment by TTL, III Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:53 am

  7. No way she gets a free pass, not with $71,000 raised in four months. She’s a very weak candidate.

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:53 am

  8. Speaker not backing Kelly.

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:54 am

  9. i saw her state fair video on this blog, thoroughly unimpressed.

    Comment by Shore Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:57 am

  10. Shore, what did you think of Kirkpatrick?

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:04 am

  11. If JB runs, can he please use the same footage from that awful commercial of his when he ran for Congress? He is wearing a Bears jersey throwing a football to some kids in a front yard, that was clealry not his front yard, i.e., it was a modest home. I loved that commercial, great comedy.

    Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:04 am

  12. Disappointed Kirpatrick isn’t running. Bright guy who is very likeable, involved. He had a great campaign manager in Brendan Hostetler and a cool half a mil in the bank. I think the race was his for the taking. Wonder what happened.

    Comment by Johnnyc Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:08 am

  13. kirkpatrick was my camp counselor at ricky birdsong northwestern basketball camp-they people you meet in life, so the last time I saw him was doing figure 8’s in welsh ryan arena. I didn’t see his tape here.

    Comment by Shore Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:08 am

  14. Free pass?

    We’re talking about a candidate who is working in the office that she’s running for, correct?

    Comment by 2010 Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:11 am

  15. I’m thinking someone dug up dirt on him. He was looking like a very strong candidate.

    Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:15 am

  16. If Alexi is hard at work on the campaign trail for the Senate seat, and his COS, Robin, is doing the same for the Treasurer’s race… who is in charge of the Treasurer’s office?

    Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:34 am

  17. And who’s getting paid state $$ to campaign?

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:35 am

  18. i am hoping that everyone sees the contradiction in these two comments:

    Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:53 am:

    No way she gets a free pass, not with $71,000 raised in four months. She’s a very weak candidate.

    and:

    Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:35 am:

    And who’s getting paid state $$ to campaign?

    yes, robin kelly raised less money than many believe she should have because she wasn’t campaigning on the state’s dime. it is certainly far easier to be unethical in illinois. but that’s not robin kelly . i can say with absolute certainty that robin has not been campaigning while on the public payroll. which is why she hasn’t raised more money!

    (full and complete disclosure: i am working for the kelly campaign)

    Comment by bored now Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:42 am

  19. I’m sure you guys are very happy today BoredNow

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:47 am

  20. I agree with 2010. Robin is clearly a good candidate considering she is running for the same office that she is currently the Chief of Staff for. She is also a former State Rep, she has the experience to run the Treasurer’s Office.

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:49 am

  21. She may not have raised a huge dollar amount, but she is definitely a strong candidate.

    She has been all over the state and is continuing to hit location after location. She is putting in the work right now and has been.

    She could definitely take this opportunity to pull in some big contributions as well, while sitting alone on the democratic ballot.

    Comment by John Bracamontes Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:32 pm

  22. My nickel says that if Pritzker does not run for ST, Jeff Schoenberg does.

    Comment by Capitol View Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 2:32 pm

  23. This is very, very strange. I know he was planning multiple fundraisers and looking to staff up just two weeks ago.

    Comment by North Shore Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 2:58 pm

  24. Kirkpatrick seemed to be an uncomfortable candidate when he was in Springfield for the Dem Day events. First time candidate hesitation, I think. He had a lot of people already on staff, kind of Blair Hull like.

    Comment by Tom Joad Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 3:24 pm

  25. …”If Alexi is hard at work on the campaign trail for the Senate seat, and his COS, Robin, is doing the same for the Treasurer’s race… who is in charge of the Treasurer’s office?”

    Silly question — the Deputy Treasurer, Raja K. Oh wait …

    Comment by Beans Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 4:37 pm

  26. KK was thoroughly boring candidate who loaded up too quickly on staff who were looking for big $$… glad he’s dropping out. Robin Kelly is outstanding candidate with strong support. I hope she wins!!

    Comment by dupage progressive Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 7:19 pm

  27. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a candidate with a financial background? Robin Kelly doesn’t have any. Of course, with all that experience Alexi got loaning money out to the mob, see how he lost $100,000,000.00 in less than 3 years with Bright Start. One hack wants to replace another hack.

    Comment by ANON13 Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 8:06 pm

  28. dupage progressive and Tom joad,

    I’m not sure six staff members for a statewide campaign can be called loading up on staff. And trust me, they weren’t remotely paid big $$$.

    Kirkpatrick was an ok candidate with an interesting background who probably didn’t really understand what he was getting into. Robin is a weak candidate afraid to ask for the green. I’m sure someone better will be getting in the race soon.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:56 pm

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