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* This story is so hilarious on so many levels that it ought to win some sort of an award…

SCOOP: If a reality TV star can be president, then there’s nothing stopping radio shock jock Erich “Mancow” Muller from running for governor of Illinois.

The former morning radio host on WLS 890-AM is “exploring” the idea of running as a Republican or Independent in 2022. “I would not be a party-first candidate but a people-first candidate,” Mancow told Playbook in a phone interview.

He says the idea of running for office grew during the pandemic when a restaurant he owns, Marchesa, began struggling. “It’s been impossible to do business. Illinois has become an unhealthy, inhospitable place. Common sense is dead in our state, and I’d like to bring it back,” Mancow said. He questions Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the pandemic, saying, “Covid numbers are greatly exaggerated and killing Chicago businesses.”

Mancow left WLS last month and has long been interested in politics. Along with talking to politicians, he’s been known to carry their banner, too. Last year, he hosted a fundraising dinner to benefit Roger Stone, the friend and former adviser to Donald Trump who was convicted of seven felonies before the president commuted his sentence this summer. […]

Though he hasn’t formed an official exploratory committee, Mancow says he’s spoken to Republicans and to independent politico Willie Wilson, who could help finance such a campaign.

Mancow wants political “wonk” Paul Vallas as his lieutenant governor. Vallas told Playbook that he enjoys talking to Mancow but he’s not interested in running on his ticket. Mancow says he’s working to change Vallas’ mind.

“Too wack for Paul Vallas” would be a fabulous campaign slogan. Also, too, if you act now and purchase our “The Pandemic is Greatly Exaggerated” t-shirt today, we’ll throw in an “I ❤️️ Roger Stone” bumper sticker for $30 shipping and handling.

Not even Illinois is that nuts.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:04 am

Comments

  1. Not even Illinois is that nuts.

    Seems like recent events are making this less and less probable….

    Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:09 am

  2. ===Seems like recent events are making this less and less probable===

    Name one.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:10 am

  3. If he is in the GOP primary without a rich guy I think he is the frontrunner.
    Mancow - Jacobson

    More of a commentary on the GOP in Illinois at this point.

    Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:10 am

  4. He should get Tim Nieukirk to be his running mate.

    Comment by Nat Sound Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:11 am

  5. I see Mancow has already picked out his flack.

    Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:12 am

  6. Put Jay Marvin on the ballot instead.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:12 am

  7. I would like to applaud Nat Sound for the Tim Nieukirk reference. I see you and I appreciate you.

    Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:14 am

  8. I think a lot of people are going to be shocked how far back the pendulum is going to swing after this is over regarding government overreach and rule by fiat. I wouldn’t write him off yet if he’s serious.

    Comment by essentially working Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:14 am

  9. Why not? The absolute rock-bottom floor for an ignorant carnival barker with some money and name recognition in a republican primary is probably 40%. Obviously I don’t think he can win a general but he can absolutely be the republican candidate depending on who else is in the race.

    Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:15 am

  10. Will Mancow seek endorsements from loyal GOP power figures Pat Brady, Jim Edgar, Kirk Dillard, and Oswego Willy endorsement? If he doesn’t he’ll do alright in the GOP primary.

    Comment by Kennilworth Taxpayer Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:15 am

  11. Golden Horseshoe for getting punked?

    I can’t tell which is dumber, that Mancow is serious or that anyone can take him seriously.

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:16 am

  12. Hey at least he got a free plug from Capt. Fax and Paul Vallas got another mention —- 2 in one week. Maybe he can get Blagoof and GovJunk to do a robocall. And Joe Walsh

    Comment by Annoin' Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:16 am

  13. “Not even Illinois is that nuts.”
    Hold my beer and watch this.

    Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:16 am

  14. It’s really not all that far-fetched to think Mancow can win a multi-candidate GOP primary.

    Comment by Roman Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:17 am

  15. ===is probably 40%===

    Name one statewide example of this.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:17 am

  16. I would enjoy it from a true entertainment perspective.

    Comment by ddp76 Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:19 am

  17. I mean dems nominated Scott Lee Cohen for LG in 2010. I think the republicans could be totally this nuts.

    Comment by Anonish Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:20 am

  18. - Kennilworth Taxpayer -

    I dunno which is sadder, you lumping *me* with Jim Edgar as a “power player”, thinking that’s “owning the… whatever”… or that I can be a first thought you have to traditional GOP politics, not the old, angry, white, and those supporting a racist president.

    I’ll let you choose, just let me know where to send that rent check, living in your head for free isn’t right.

    To the post,

    Mancow sees how that 7.78% Dan Proft got, figures that’ll help keep brand “fresh” or sumptin’… plus, the grift side seems endless, why not fleece with the option of a fleece campaign blankie for $199.99, great for the holidays too.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:22 am

  19. Mancow and Willie Wilson. Oy.

    Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:23 am

  20. “Not even Illinois is that nuts.”

    Two Words

    Alan Keyes

    Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:23 am

  21. “Not even Illinois is that nuts.”
    Come spend a week down here in Bailey/Bryant/DeVore - ville…
    You might change your mind.

    Comment by DownSouth Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:24 am

  22. Years ago I remember him saying on air that he couldn’t keep a steady girlfriend because he was too manly and had to play at least 4 times per day. No woman could keep up. Maybe he could get Seka out of retirement for his running mate. The Governor’s mansion would get an interesting remodeling.

    Comment by DEE Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:25 am

  23. “Not even Illinois is that nuts.”
    One more word:
    LaRouchies (1986)

    Comment by jackmac Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:28 am

  24. Good thing Lt Governors no longer run on their own. He could have been a Republican Scott Lee Cohen.

    Comment by Dan Johnson Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:29 am

  25. “I think a lot of people are going to be shocked how far back the pendulum is going to swing after this is over regarding government overreach and rule by fiat. I wouldn’t write him off yet if he’s serious.”

    I think you are focusing on the anecdotal and not the data.

    Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:31 am

  26. From yesterday’s Capitol Fax newsfeed:

    https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/asia-today-vietnam-reports-1st-local-infection-in-89-days/article_b216e6d7-2c9e-5435-bfc8-36d843b3dc0b.html

    Vietnam knows how to deal with unwelcome invasions, whether virus or human.

    Americans are such victims of their own ignorance.

    Comment by Glenn Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:33 am

  27. Essentially Working: government overreach? If you feel that way just look in the mirror and say, “Damn, I’m alive and healthy from too much governmental overreach”….

    Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:33 am

  28. == Name one.==

    We now have 2 QAnon believing Congresswomen, one of which from Colorado.

    I see later in thread you asked for statewide examples, not sure I have a super recent one but Ventura in MN shows it *can* happen. I agree with other commenters that there’s no way he can win general but I wouldn’t be shocked if he wins nomination if he ran.

    But, more likely, this is like when Kid Rock almost ran for senate in Michigan

    Comment by Hmm Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:37 am

  29. Loop Lady: I would be willing to bet that ‘Were the restrictions during the COVID pandemic to restrictive’ is going to poll higher 6 months and 12 months after things return to ‘normal’ than it does today.

    Not saying I agree with that idea (I don’t), just saying it is going to be the reality.

    Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:44 am

  30. I don’t find this funny, actually. Given what our nation has been through with Trump, I wish that in giving valuable column real estate (several paragraphs at the top of the newsletter) to a non-serious person like Mancow, some context could have been given for his remarks. For example, Kapos could note that while Mancow says covid numbers are greatly exaggerated, more than 13,000 people in Illinois have died since March, which is enough to wipe out the entire population of Warrenville, Streator, Riverdale, Chatham, or LaGrange Park, to give a few examples. The media has had some piece of responsibility in the rise of a toxic person like Donald Trump and they have a role to play in learning from that.

    Comment by Andrea Durbin Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:44 am

  31. “Not even Illinois is that nuts.” - I don’t know the GA has continually elected a man to head the party for three decades that has pushed sham budgets and help lead Illinois to the bottom of the fiscal heap. Near Junk Bond status is not a rallying cry that speaks to very competent management by a GA.

    Comment by Arock Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:45 am

  32. === I don’t know the GA has continually elected a man to head the party for three decades that has pushed sham budgets and help lead Illinois to the bottom of the fiscal heap. Near Junk Bond status is not a rallying cry that speaks to very competent management by a GA.===

    … and yet, Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, even Rauner signed those budgets.

    “The End”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:47 am

  33. Doubt this will get any further than Howard Stern for Governor of NY in 1994 and they have much more open ballot laws (fusion tickets between parties, lots of third parties to use their ballot line, etc.)

    Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:47 am

  34. “..one of which from Colorado.” How does that bolster the case that Illinois is that nuts?

    Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:54 am

  35. If Trump can raise millions of dollars off of chumbalones by peddling absolute nonsense, why shouldn’t Mancow try to take a cut of the action? It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Only our democracy and national standing gets hurt…

    Comment by Cha Ching Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:55 am

  36. ==If a reality TV star can be president…==
    …and we now know how that turned out.

    I’m reminded of a Chris Rock joke “You can drive a car with your feet if you want to, that don’t make it a good idea.”

    Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:59 am

  37. “I would not be a party-first candidate but a Mancow-first candidate,”. Fixed.

    Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:04 am

  38. I’m thinking a Mancow-Bailey ticket is a winner.

    Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:12 am

  39. The author of that piece gave bandwidth to someone who’s been irrelevant for 20 years. I guess when you’re a poor impersonator of Howard Stern you’ll copy everything he does.

    Comment by Gary Hart Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:20 am

  40. == “Not even Illinois is that nuts.”
    One more word:
    LaRouchies (1986) ==

    Compare and contrast: Democrats reacted to that by so thoroughly disavowing their nutzis that they set up a third party on the fly.

    Comment by Northsider Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:23 am

  41. So will he be on the stage this weekend at the Rescue Illinois rally with Jacobsen, Mazzochi and Vallas?
    Becoming a heck of a line up.

    Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:25 am

  42. =Not even Illinois is that nuts.”

    Two Words

    Alan Keyes=

    Who got 27% of the vote. I think they were calling that race 5 minutes after the polls closed.

    Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:30 am

  43. === I think they were calling that race 5 minutes after the polls closed===

    Not sure they waited that long.

    Also, Alan Keyes was appointed to the ballot.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:40 am

  44. One Man: you are most probably correct in your assertion…One reason I loath
    Trump is for making the word reality subject to individual interpretation….

    Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:43 am

  45. Mancow, Bailey, Ives and McSweeney. What a fabulously fun primary. Wondering who the Griffin-backed candidate will be.

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:52 am

  46. If I’ve learned anything from the last 4 years, it’s that anyone really can grow up to be president and the definition of kakistocracy.

    Comment by Ryan Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 10:53 am

  47. I remember listening to Mancow’s radio show once back 25 years ago or so when it was the hot new show. He started talking about how aborted babies are used to make hair conditioner. His proof was the list of ingredients in at least one popular conditioner listed placenta. I don’t know if he was serious or making it up to shock people, but I never tuned in again.

    Comment by City Guy Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:05 am

  48. I caught pieces of this guy’s morning program a couple of times on the car radio. I figured his target audience was high school kids driving to school.

    Now that Illinois allows seventeen year olds to vote in primaries, they could be a few percentage points.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:17 am

  49. If you offered a Dahl/Meier ticket you could be on to something…

    Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:30 am

  50. He wants to control the black helicopters that follow him and peer into his condo. Who can blame him for that?

    Comment by Proud Sucker Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:36 am

  51. “Not even Illinois is that nuts.”

    Rich — With all due respect, please don’t say things like this. Some people will take it as a challenge.

    Comment by Flapdoodle Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:43 am

  52. = Common sense is dead in our state, and I’d like to bring it back,” Mancow said=

    Mancow brings back common sense? Said no one ever.

    =I guess when you’re a poor impersonator of Howard Stern you’ll copy everything he does.=

    And Steve Dahl.

    =If you offered a Dahl/Meier ticket you could be on to something…=

    I will walk the state knocking on doors for that ticket. I will also vote. Often.

    Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:55 am

  53. Out of all of the things that you could say are the last thing Illinois needs right now, I would say this is absolutely, positively the last.

    Comment by Father Ted Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 11:59 am

  54. With his running mate being (Howard stern).Rich this article belongs on the store checkout shelf.

    Comment by 14th ward Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 12:00 pm

  55. Worse than Scott Lee Cohen…

    Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 12:08 pm

  56. Oberweis for governor: 32%, second place.

    Comment by Ferris Wheeler Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 12:21 pm

  57. “Though he hasn’t formed an official exploratory committee…”

    And he won’t.

    At most, he’ll start a political action committee instead and take advantage of PACs much looser finance rules, see e.g. Trump’s “recount” fundraising campaign.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 12:24 pm

  58. I almost never intentionally listen to WLS any more but I happened to have left the station on in the car after some Illini sporting event last fall/winter and when I next turned the radio on again it was Mancow’s show on WLS that came on.

    Mancow was in the middle of some unhinged rant promoting QAnon/Pizzagate conspiracy theories and accusing basically all Democrats of engaging in human trafficking of children and worse in graphic specificity.

    Was glad my kid was not in the car with me that morning.

    Hope this trial balloon pops and he can keep his conspiracies and rants confined to Parler or something going forward.

    Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 12:58 pm

  59. Would Mancow campaign against satanists? His daily radio program bordered upon being schizophrenic. It was like Art Bell on steroids.

    Muller can believe that he left WLS 890 AM (the Chicago radio station) to enter politics (departing a few weeks ahead of his contract expiration), but I doubt that his contract was going to be renewed.

    Comment by Practical Politics Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 1:02 pm

  60. I know some voters who might vote for Man Cow, but he probably loses them with Vallas LOL

    Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 1:27 pm

  61. I wonder if he will campaign in his giant fur coat. I met him at a concert last year and he was quite a sight.

    Comment by Cirion Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 2:33 pm

  62. Is he going to waterboard himself again? That might be worth watching.

    Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 2:36 pm

  63. Still say Oberweis and Bill Brady are the clear front runners. Lol

    Comment by BeenThereDoneThat Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 5:18 pm

  64. I got an idea Mancow finds another Lt. Gov. running mate and then Vallas runs for Mayor again.

    Also I’m glad Illinois wasn’t crazy enough to consider Alan Keyes.

    Comment by Levois J Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:55 pm

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