Posted on 03/07/2014 4:30:18 PM PST by mandaladon
(Reuters) - Illinois, the longtime home of President Barack Obama, has chosen Democrats for president in every election since 1992 and for governor since 2002. But this year Republicans, finding a weak incumbent in Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, see an opening.
The Republican front-runner ahead of the March 18 primary, venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, has emerged as a deep-pocketed and potentially formidable rival. The Republican National Committee already has staff on the ground in Illinois and plans to add more this spring.
Quinn eked out a victory four years ago by less than 1 percentage point and his job approval rating has hovered around 34 percent as voters complain about the state's anemic job growth and hobbled economic recovery. In recent months, Quinn's fortunes have improved thanks to passage of a pension reform bill and after former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, brother of the longtime Chicago mayor, abandoned a short-lived primary challenge. But political insiders still view Quinn as vulnerable.
"Quinn is in deep trouble and the closer we get to November, the more vulnerable he looks," said RNC spokesman Ryan Mahoney.
Public Policy Polling has called Quinn's re-election chances a "toss-up," while the Cook Political Report favors Quinn based on Democrats' heavy registration advantage in the state, much of that in the state's largest city, Chicago.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Another in a long line of politicians of both parties anxious to get in there and make those Illinois license plates.
Fact: Rauner made all of his money giving thousands to Democrats in return for earning millions in managing union pension plans. He is a hypocrite on union issues.
Fact: Rauner is openly pro-abortion and cagey on the issue of gay marriage but says he supports same sex civil unions. Rich Miller of Capitol Fax predicts he will support gay marriage after the primary.
Fact: Rauner is Rahm’s best friend and has been his close political ally for decades. Rahm’s staff has made it clear he wants Rauner to win the governor’s office. One thing Rauner will be pushing through is Rahm’s casino.
Fact: Rahm got Rauner’s firm an FCC exemption to allow the SBC deal to go through - earning Rauner’s firm 1/2 billion in six months - using Rahm’s insider connections.
Fact: Rauner gave Democrat Ed Rendell thousands of dollars in his campaign for governor in Pennsylvania and when Rendell was elected, Rauner’s firm received millions in state pension fee business.
Fact: Rauner used his clout to get his daughter into Walter Payton Prep when she didn’t have the test scores she needed.
Fact: Rauner has given $500K to the Illinois Policy Institute. A Roeser employee said that Rauner has given $500K to Roeser. State Board of Election reports say that Rauner gave Roeser $30K just last fall alone.
Fact: Illinois Policy Institute’s Elizabeth Christie is Rauner’s co-finance chair along with Ron Gidwitz - who heavily funded Joe Walsh’s campaign in 2012.
Fact: Joe Walsh just had a town hall with Rauner and now John Tillman is having a joint appearance with Rauner. Walsh’s main radio sponsor - Dick Uihlein was also on Rauner’s advisory committee for governor and his heavily supporting his campaign. Uihlein is Tillman/Proft’s main donor - almost completely responsible for their funding.
Fact: Until last week, Tillman’s associate Bob Costello was the treasurer of Bruce Rauner’s term limits initiative
Fact: Rauner has also given money to for the Good of Illinois and Adam escorted Rauner to a pro-life dinner in Spring.
Fact: Self-proclaimed conservative leaders are selling out and confusing tea party members and not talking about his background and some of them are getting paid to do it.
Fact: Bruce Rauner is worse than a RINO - he’s Rahm Emanuel’s Democrat in the GOP race for governor.
Fact: Tea party conservatives should be very resentful, angry, and betrayed that these so-called “conservative” leaders are being well-paid to help Rahm’s pal Bruce Rauner win the nomination
http://www.chicagonow.com/kelly-truth-squad/2013/04/time-to-question-bruce-rauner-and-his-rahm-republicans/
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/bill-kellys-truth-squad/2013/apr/4/republicans-selling-out-rahms-billionaire-rauner/
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130606/BLOGS02/130609882/#
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130406/ISSUE01/304069983/rauners-love-hate-relationship-with-pension-fund
http://articles.philly.com/2011-01-14/news/27028303_1_political-fund-raiser-ed-rendell-campaign-money
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130424/BLOGS02/130429892/
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/October-2013/Rahm-Rauner/
http://www.sj-r.com/schoenburg/x450317297/Bernard-Schoenburg-Illinois-Policy-Institute-got-half-million-from-Rauner
http://www.chicagonow.com/kelly-truth-squad/2013/11/former-employee-jack-roeser-also-received-500k-from-bruce-rauner/
http://www.illinoisobserver.net/2013/11/21/campaign-cash-helps-boost-rauner-palatine-gop-endorsement/
Do you mean “RINOs?”
Rauner takes the Combine to a whole new level. But at least Rahm will sleep easy.
In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled Republicans see chance to seize Illinois governor’s seat, chicagolady wrote:
Republicans selling out to Rahm’s billionaire in GOP race
Good stuff! Was worried you were for this piece of work. From my remote location suspected fishy smell. Urged Rutherford to unload on him but I had my share of trying to work with the “Trib” when there were partisan campaigns to know differently. They gave the story to the guy who wound up being Obama’s press guy much later. Who ran the expose the day after the election. Brady is the only choice left....
What’s different this time from any other? Whoever the Combine wants will win.
The demodummies have nothing to worry about, voter fraud will keep the governorship for them once again.
I live near Chicago, and I disagree with the headline. In Nov., Gov. Quinn will get 52%-53% of the vote. Since the race won’t be close, I’ll probably vote for the Constitution Party candidate.
Considering the shape the state is in the question has to be, why would they want it?
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