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* Tina Sfondeles…
Vowing to repeal key abortion rights protections in Illinois solely by communicating the “ideals of hope,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey on Thursday touted the endorsements of three leading anti-abortion groups — further solidifying his conservative support in a heated primary race. […]
Bailey was less clear how he proposed to outlaw abortion in a state in which Democrats hold supermajorities in both the Illinois House and Senate.
“With communication to the people,” Bailey said. “After all, we are in this position because I’ve been expelling truth, hope, the possibility of restoring them on the way. That’s what’s got us here.
“So, actually standing up and not threatening people but letting them know the ideals of hope, the possibilities of the policy that we can bring together and how we can ultimately work together for actually what everyone’s fighting for, which is women’s health. We can do that without threatening life.”
* More from Tina Sfondeles…
Bailey’s campaign staff is minimal, and he communicates to his supporters via his Twitter and Facebook pages. According to a campaign filing on April 18, Bailey reported $1,039,054.16 cash on hand. A day later, Lake Forest mega donor Richard Uihlein donated an additional $2.5 million.
Still, the cash flow is less than Irvin’s seemingly unlimited campaign coffers from billionaire funder Ken Griffin, who has already given Irvin $20 million. Irvin had about half of that left on March 31, but Griffin is expected to give him more if it’s needed. […]
n stump speeches in Republican-friendly towns Anna, Metropolis and Marion on April 18, Bailey defended himself against what he called “lies” and “nonsense” in statewide television ads. Calling his supporters “great patriots” – borrowing another Trump tactic – Bailey also painted himself as a unifier for those in the state who believe in what he believes in — “conservative, common sense solutions.”
He’s telling his supporters he’s “leading in the polls drastically” and says he thinks it’s “awesome” that Pritzker would rather face him than Irvin in the November election.
While campaigns are conducting polling internally, no independent surveys have been released publicly. Bailey told the Sun-Times he was referring to early surveys that showed him with support in the 30% point range.
* Related…
* Another billionaire throws major cash into the race for Illinois governor: Late Wednesday, conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein, founder of the privately held Uline office supply business, gave $2.5 million to state Sen. Darren Bailey’s effort for the GOP governor nomination. That’s on top of $1 million Uihlein already contributed to Bailey’s campaign.
* Illinois anti-abortion groups back Bailey campaign for governor: The Illinois Federation for Right to Life, Illinois Citizens For Life, and Illinois Family Action joined the downstate Republican for the announcement at Trump Tower. Advocates say Bailey has shown a strong commitment to life and is unafraid to speak about his opinions on abortion.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:19 am
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After all, we are in this position because I’ve been expelling truth…
Expelling truth, is that what that is called? Expelling truth? I guess that sounds better than ‘a lot of hot air’.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:30 am
Here’s the thing I don’t understand. Does Bailey actually want to win the general? Abortion polls pretty well in this state and in this post-Roe environment, I would imagine support will be stronger and the average IL voter is going to react to this position rather negatively.
Remember no more pivotting back to the center like in earlier eons. With the internet every statement is forever.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:37 am
“Crime, amirite?”
Abortion will be that sneaky issue that *might* overwhelm a great deal of things, and let’s say Irvin is the nominee… does he try the “it’s settled in Illinois”… alienating pro-lifers…
…
… like Rauner did?
Does Irvin go the way of Bailey here, as a nominee… how will that work out with suburban women?
But… “crime, amirite?”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:38 am
I guess that sounds better than ‘a lot of hot air’. That’s not the word I would have used, but I agree with the sentiment.
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:38 am
Stumping in Anna after it was the subject of a big feature story on “sundown towns” is no mere coincidence, I think.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:40 am
did not need the morning coffee to wake me up after reading this.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:40 am
Griffin can spend till his heart desires.
I-70 south is Baileyberg.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:51 am
“expelling truth” and “drastically leading in the polls”. Bailey’s English needs some work, although it possibly appeals to his base.
Comment by My 2 Cents Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:53 am
– Griffin can spend till his heart desires.
I-70 south is Baileyberg. –
And that is too bad..
Comment by Anthony Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:57 am
Expelling the truth, like a demon.
Comment by bkhartbnjo Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 9:57 am
“”ideals of hope”" is a head scratcher as well
Comment by walker Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:02 am
===I-70 south is Baileyberg===
Ain’t many people down yonder.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:03 am
If Trump has a rally in Illinois and endorses Bailey, will that be fun.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:03 am
“And that is too bad…”
Not according to the DGA.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:03 am
“because I’ve been expelling truth”
Suddenly Rauner droppin g’s makes him sounds like a genius.
Darren… ‘espousing’ was the word you were looking for here.
But honestly, his hard core supports probably don’t even know its the wrong word.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:04 am
“ain’t many people down yonder”
Doesn’t take too many in a six man race.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:05 am
I’m not sure the IL general assembly has quite steeled the state yet for the out-of-state lawsuits and harassment that may be coming our way, from Missouri say, should _Roe_ be overturned in two months. Bailey might do a lot just by vetoing further legislation.
Comment by ZC Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:07 am
==I-70 south is Baileyberg==
Bailey’s stance on pensions will put a huge dent in his support south of I-70. Many voters don’t pay attention until the elections get close.
Comment by South Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:19 am
Highlighting abortion puts Irvin in an awkward spot, because unlike Bailey, he does have an eye on shifting to the center in the fall. I suspect Bailey/Proft will try the same with immigration in the next few weeks by focusing on Aurora as a sanctuary city.
Rauner showed that a Republican can spend his way out of these vulnerabilities in a primary (barely.) We’ll see if Irvin/Griffin can do the same. If it doesn’t kill Irvin in the primary, it will make him stronger in the general.
Comment by Roman Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:26 am
=== If it doesn’t kill Irvin in the primary, it will make him stronger in the general.===
Hmm.
“Irvin is dangerous to women’s health”
Or
“Irvin is like Rauner, he won’t protect the unborn”
Pick your poison, I don’t think there’s much strength for a GOP nominee… in Illinois… thinking it’s “settled” here in Illinois, or a want to have greater restrictions *on* abortion.
Prolly why crime is such the slam dunk want to discuss.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 10:31 am
Consults dictionary [for dramatic effect]…
“Expel: to drive or force out or away; discharge or eject:”
Darren finally tells the truth about his expelling truth. Freudian slip anyone…
Comment by New Day Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:02 am
==I’ve been expelling truth,==
He’s just puking truth all over. /S
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:05 am
“Freudian slip anyone…”
Bailey seems more like the type of guy to make an Oedipal slip.
Still technically Freudian though, so yeah.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:07 am
@Willy
I suspect if Irvin is the nominee he will give a whole lot of “it’s settled law in Illinois” statements and maybe even attempt to redefine himself along the lines of “What I’ve said in the past is I’m *personally* opposed to abortion, but…”
Don’t get me wrong, this going to be a big problem for him and all Republicans in the fall if the Supreme Court overturns Roe — which his team is well aware of. I think Bailey is going to try to draw him into making absolutist anti-abortion statements, and then pounce if he doesn’t.
Comment by Roman Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:10 am
This is why I think the late primary is beneficial for Irvin, and not just because Griffin’s money won’t run out. There’s going to be a month-plus of warm weather weekend wilding in downtown Chicago making the top story on local TV news that will do plenty to scare the far-flung whites who haven’t set foot in the Loop since the store was actually called Marshall Field’s anyway. Lightfoot and Brown’s inept flailing at controlling the problem and attempting to pin the blame for it will also provide valuable assists, free of charge.
I am also of the belief that scary minority youths on the TV every weekend could bring out the fear vote more than the one-time June bomb of the Supreme Court overturning or gutting Roe.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:10 am
==He’s just puking truth all over.==
Well, that certainly explains why he was so terrified of wearing a mask.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:12 am
While expelling truth, maybe Bailey can appoint an “overseer” to guide people to discover hope and abandon their support of abortion. /s
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:13 am
Is English not his first language?
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:19 am
I-70 south is Bailyberg. Prediction. Schimpf win Madison,St. Clair. Monroe, Randdlph,Jackson and Perry.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:22 am
===I am also of the belief that scary minority youths on the TV every weekend could bring out the fear vote more than the one-time June bomb of the Supreme Court overturning or gutting Roe.===
Irvin will likely already have a fair amount of the rural racist thinkers… they are literally pandering to these racist thinkers in ads now.
The real issue is getting suburban women to buy into Irvin while the base bails on Irvin for being “settled” with abortion.., not great, even if they plan for it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:44 am
Roadrager nailed it. Never underestimate the impact crime/race on state elections…voters react viscerally on these issues and regard them as Gov’s problem much more than they do economy (where the rage can be directed to Pres/Congress/Fed Res).
Comment by WestBurbs Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:47 am
===Never underestimate the impact crime/race===
We have no idea what the electorate will do if Roe is all but gutted…
Suburban women facing Roe being taken down, in actuality…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 11:56 am
=== I-70 South is Baileyberg. ===
I think you mean “I-80 South.”
Biden only won four counties south of I-80: Union-heavy Peoria County; McLean and Champaign County where public universities are the largest employer, and legendary St. Clair County, the best GOTV operation in the state.
Rural Illinois is Trump Country. Blue-collar industrial towns are Trump Country.
Bailey is the Trumpiest of the candidates, and Irvin and Sullivan are both in their own way anti-trump candidates.
Will Irvin’s ads convince voters otherwise? Maybe but I kinda doubt it.
Comment by Bruce Wayne Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:04 pm
==Doesn’t take too many in a six man race.==
Still takes a majority though
Comment by SAP Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:31 pm
===Still takes a majority though===
Really? You sure?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:32 pm
=== Biden only won four counties===
Counties don’t vote.
Biden won Illinois very comfortably
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:36 pm
“Still takes a majority though”
Er, what?
Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:39 pm
“Bailey’s stance on pensions”
If you think that state employees in southern Illinois don’t constantly vote to cut their own throats I’ve got two words for you-
Bruce Rauner
Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:41 pm
Bailey is not only “expelling truth”, he’s expelled logic and reason as well from his campaign.
Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 12:49 pm
And to think, only two weeks ago we were insisting that any talk of rolling back abortion rights in IL was just the Dems fear-mongering.
Nope. It’s the Republican Agenda. They’re saying so.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 1:48 pm
Clarification of earlier comment. South of I-70 can Baileyburg all it wants, there are not enough votes down yonder for him to win the nomination.
Comment by SAP Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 2:08 pm
=Stumping in Anna after it was the subject of a big feature story on “sundown towns” is no mere coincidence, I think=
These are three of the more populous towns close to I-57 and I-24 in Little Egypt.
One could make the argument though why he is still spending time down there when he’s going to need win the hearts and minds of people all over IL. He’d be better spending time in Peoria, Bloomington, and Champaign, but all his time should be spent in Chicago and the collars. Less travel time and larger media markets. Seems he’s going for the strategy of winning counties, which Trump likes to talk about in his 2020 election fallacy.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 2:08 pm
== There’s going to be a month-plus of warm weather weekend wilding in downtown Chicago making the top story on local TV news==
Hell of a thing, that Irvin has to hope for a summer crime spree to win. Maybe he can call some of his old clients.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 2:10 pm
Bailey’s phrase of expelling truth…has a biblical ring as in expelling demons.
Bailey’s references to the word are not very subtle.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 2:25 pm
–I-70 South is Baileyberg– But it will take more than that. Unlike a Democrat, Bailey does not have to win Cook or the collars in order to win his primary. Mathematically, in 2018, Cook, plus the collars only total 50 percent of the GOP primary vote when you throw in Winnebago and Kendall. Bailey just has to not get completely blown out of the water in the northeast corner of the state. If he carries south of I-80 by the margins that it seems like he might, he could win a multi-candidate primary. Unless Irvin can make some inroads in the larger downstate counties, e.g. Champaign, Peoria, McLean, and/or the metro east…. geez, I’m starting to scare myself. I’m gonna shut up now.
Comment by The Ford Lawyer Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 4:31 pm
=== South of I-70 can Baileyburg all it wants ===
Again, it’s south of I-80, not south of I-70.
88% of the Democratic Primary vote is in Cook County and the Collar Counties.
54% of the GOP Primary vote is outside of Cook County and the Collar Counties.
While it is fine to say “counties dont vote”, maps of counties are an important tool for visualizing data as long as you keep in mind what that map represents.
In the GOP primary, if you get blown-out downstate, there are just not enough votes to make up the difference in Chicago and the suburbs. Thats because voters there are very diverse and its tough to win both the gay Republican vote in Boystown and the 2A Teamster in Lake County in a contested GOP primary.
Comment by Bruce Wayne Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 5:02 pm
===While it is fine to say “counties dont vote”,===
They don’t vote, fine or not fine, they don’t. Land doesn’t vote in Illinois.
=== maps of counties are an important tool for visualizing data as long as you keep in mind what that map represents.===
This is truly ignorant to *any* representation to voters At all. It’s not anything close to showing strength. It actually skews reality.
=== In the GOP primary, if you get blown-out downstate, there are just not enough votes to make up the difference in Chicago and the suburbs. Thats because voters there are very diverse and its tough to win both the gay Republican vote in Boystown and the 2A Teamster in Lake County in a contested GOP primary.===
Where to even begins. Wow. I mean… whew.
The old, angry, white, republicans are the base.
Your silly idea of trying to make Chicago gay Republicans an actual powerful voting base, that kinda mocking the idea of those Republicans.
Further?
Further, if you’re talking 2A “Lake County” Republicans as different from “downstate”… are there anti-2A downstate Republicans? Where are these Republicans exactly?
I think you wanna have land matter and… “moderate to liberal” Republicans… are some sort of real thing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 25, 22 @ 5:14 pm