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* Can this path work?…
With new poll showing @RichardIrvin4IL trailing @DarrenBaileyIL by 15 points with just over two weeks to go until the primary Irvin tells Republicans “A vote for Darren Bailey is a vote for JB Pritzker” @ABC7Chicago pic.twitter.com/dIJGAEXVBr
— Craig Wall ABC 7 (@craigrwall) June 10, 2022
By the way, Irvin is having a press conference this afternoon at 1:30 pm with AG Candidate Steve Kim, SoS candidate John Milhiser and law enforcement folks. Click here to watch it.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor was asked today about Irvin’s claim that a vote for Bailey is a vote for Pritzker…
Well, it’s a ridiculous statement. The idea of equating the most conservative person on the Republican side with me. I’m a Democrat. I believe in the values of the Democratic Party. He’s a right-wing conservative. He’s anti choice. I’m pro choice. He’s pro Trump. I clearly have not been an ally of former President Trump. And so there’s just no equating the two.
Oh, please.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Irvin’s running mate Rep. Avery Bourne just repeated the line today during the above-mentioned press conference.
…Adding… Irvin is continuing to repeat the line.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From Irvin’s Q&A…
Q: Why do you think your message hasn’t resonated with primary voters, and what will you do over the next few weeks to try and win them over?
A: Let me be clear, a vote for Darren Bailey is a vote for JB Pritzker. Let me say that one more time: A vote for Darren Bailey is a vote for JB Pritzker. You know we’ve got two and a half weeks left in this campaign. So that’s it’s a lifetime in politics. And I’m confident that my team will continue to get our message out and it will resonate because as I drive around the state I hear the same thing. People concerned that under JB Pritzker crime is out of control, taxes and wasteful spending is out of control. Corruption is out of control. And they want somebody to address it head on. That person is me, the Irvin-Bourne team. That’s my record. That’s my record as a prosecutor. That’s my record as mayor of the second largest city in the state of Illinois. Getting things done, reducing crime by supporting our men and women in blue, reducing property taxes every single year, by expanding our tax base and attracting new businesses and new residents and fighting against that Madigan Pritzker corruption that’s plagued our state for decades. Look, you know, as we work to make sure we get our message across and we’ve changed our plan you know, how we’re gonna get our message message across over the over the next couple of weeks, you know, as we look to cross that finish line first on June 28. You know, it’s necessary for us to reassess, just like all the other campaigns are changing their message. But let me tell you who’s not changing and who’s not reassessing. That’s JB Pritzker. JB Pritzker has spent, is on track to spend over $35 million in a Republican primary. A Democrat, a Democrat meddling in the Republican primary with negative campaign ads against me. 10s of millions of dollars to take me down and prop up Darren Baley. So you got to ask the question. Why is he doing? Why is he spending 10s of million dollars in negative ads against me? Because he doesn’t want to face me in the general election. That’s exactly why he’s doing it. And why is he spending just as much money to prop Darren Bailey up? Because he’s trying to choose the Republican candidate that he faces in the general, one that he knows he can beat. I’ll say it again. A vote for Darren Bailey is a vote to reelect JB Pritzker.
Q: Mayor Irvin, do you trust the poll numbers are showing or is your polling showing something different.
A: Look a poll is a snapshot in time. We’ve got two and a half weeks left. You know, polls will change you know daily. But as I said, we’re going to continue to send out our message. We’ve got we’ve just in this last week alone, we’ve had 200,000 calls and texts out to residents of Illinois. We’re on track to knock on 30,000 doors in central and southern Illinois. We’re gonna get our message out, you know, we’re gonna get it out strong and make sure people hear our message. But again, I can’t say this enough. This is JB Pritzker spending 10s of millions of dollars meddling in the Republican primary to prop up a Republican thaet knows he can beat. A vote for Darren Bailey is a vote for JB Pritzker. Period. […]
Q: Why do you need to reassess?
A: Again, as I said, over the next couple days we’ll change just like all the other campaigns have changed. I’ll say this one more time. What hasn’t changed is JB Pritzker’s position to spend 10s of millions of dollars in the Republican primary meddling in the Republican primary to take me down, to take our team down because he knows that if we face him in the general we will beat him. So he’s propping up a candidate and Darren Bailey that he knows he can be a vote for. A vote for Darren Bailey is a vote to reelect JB Pritzker.
He ran a ton of TV ads attacking Pritzker almost from the get-go. He should have known that Pritzker wouldn’t allow those attacks to go unanswered. I mean, OK, Pritzker would’ve undoubtedly jumped in anyway, but just sayin.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:52 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Spoiler: no.
Comment by LOL Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:56 am
Maybe. Darren Bailey is certainly unelectable, so fact check: True. Gotta try something.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:57 am
No. It’s basically over unless Richard Irvin can convince people they should vote for Richard Irvin, not vote against anyone else.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:59 am
It depends how close the race truly is and how many undecided voters remain. The poll results have varied significantly.
Richard Irvin doesn’t pass the purity test with the roughly 50% or so that identify with the former President. If purity is more important than electability than Irvin is sunk.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:59 am
Where’s demmer? Gone with the downstate ads
Comment by Rabid Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:01 pm
Because the rest of the Griffin ticket wants to be seen with Irvin these days?
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:02 pm
Jesse needs to get up north and campaign like hell. He has all the southern voters he is going to get. He needs to pounce on Irvin’s failing.
Comment by Lurker Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:03 pm
No, that’s basically Bailey’s successful message against Irvin.
Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:03 pm
It could’ve worked if Irvin didn’t blow his credibility on the subject first. “Bailey is funded by Pritzker” is truer and will resonate more than “Bailey voted for Biden in 2008.” But at this point calling him a closet Democrat is the boy crying wolf.
Having a press conference on a subject voters rank 3rd, in a city you’re not advertising in, that’ll do the trick though (/s)
Comment by vern Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:07 pm
I wonder how it’s going to feel when the ILGOP has Darren Bailey, Peggy Hubbard, Mary Miller, and Tom Devore on the ballot in November. I mean, I know how I will feel. But can’t help but wonder how Ken Griffin is going to feel, other than $50 million poorer.
Comment by Ainsley Hayes Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:07 pm
I’m pretty sure Irvin is almost finished.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:10 pm
Unless those law enforcement officers are going to talk about his plans to help Illinois families in this economy, I don’t see how this is supposed to help him.
Comment by LOL Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:10 pm
Uh, no. Next question.
Comment by King Louis XVI Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:11 pm
=== It’s basically over unless Richard Irvin can convince people they should vote for Richard Irvin, not vote against anyone else.===
This. Irvin’s campaign apparatus has spent a literal fortune telling us what they’re against. Anti-BLM, anti-Pritzker, anti-Bailey. But when it comes to what they’re for, all we get are platitudes. And then they wonder why their campaign is flailing.
Comment by One hand //ing Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:11 pm
He chose an odd moment to start making clear and factual statements.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:13 pm
I think the problem Mayor Irvin will face with this line of attack is that the folks who are voting for Darren Baily think Mayor Irvin is a democrat.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:13 pm
No, because saying that is basically saying vote for none of the above. I don’t see how this changes anything with barely over 2 weeks to go. Morale in that campaign must be just awful and I bet Bourne is really having serious regrets.
Comment by Baloneymous Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:13 pm
Well what he’s been doing has clearly not resonated with potential voters. Might as well start actually answering questions that have been posed to him for months.
Comment by Alice Childress Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:15 pm
===Can this path work?===
A great many comments are already on it, I’ll just add this;
You can’t try the same message with a different tact to its worth.
Meaning… first it was this message to discredit… “Pritzker’s favorite whatever”… now it’s to stave off Pritzker, with the intensity “seemingly” desperate.
You can try anything…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:17 pm
Nope. Folks are voting for Bailey because he’s Bailey.
If Irvin had been Irvin from day 1, he’d probably be doing much better. If Irvin wants to win, he needs to run as Irvin; all that other messaging has told the voters very little about Irvin.
==Because the rest of the Griffin ticket wants to be seen with Irvin these days? ==
I think they just want to be seen by someone, anyone. Also, maybe Irvin promised a transfer of campaign cash to anyone who shows up.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:20 pm
And a vote for Irvin is a vote for Ken Griffin.
Comment by Real Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:22 pm
He may as well get the fork out. His campaign is cooked.
Comment by Glengarry Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:22 pm
I see campaign signs for “Darren Bailey” and I see campaign signs for “Bailey Trussell.” People tell me its the same person….but how could that be?
Comment by Confused Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:23 pm
What exactly will TrickyDick say this time? And why would the rest of ‘Riffies “clown car” want to unload at this demo derby? Mandated event? The guy will have to first spend some time answering ALL the questions, promising to buy spring/summer wardrobe for Avery, remembering the names of the rest of the ‘Riffie slate, firing Mr. Z. Way too much. Is there time for the Billionairs Buy A Government League to file a malpractice claim?
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:24 pm
If memory serves (sorry, too many TV ads seen already) Irvin has been doing this type of thing already (Pritzker is for Bailey), and it doesn’t seem to be working. Irvin is getting hit very hard on multiple fronts and campaigns, over the pay to play appearance/clout stuff as well as BLM, hating the ex-president, supporting Pritzker, etc. The real Irvin looks very much like the kind of Democrat the GOP base despises. He is manufactured, and that just doesn’t resonate well with many people, from any ideological or partisan side.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:29 pm
In theory, yes. He tried too hard to be everything to everyone (not speak his stance on abortion, not say who he voted for) and it all came undone.
At one point I would’ve agreed with him - he’s the only leading GOP candidate who had a shot against Pritzker but now that the anti-Trump texts have surfaced, there might be a lot of Never Irvin voters in November even if he does pull it off (still possible, seeing as Rabine, Sullivan and others will likely siphon votes from Bailey).
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:30 pm
Rauner reboot complete.
Rauner also said a vote for Ives was a vote for Pritzker.
Fact of the matter is Irvin is unelectable.
Comment by Real Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:38 pm
Maybe shaving off the goatee and answering questions about where you stand on issues might help but it’s safe to say Mayor Griffin lost the race. Question is will Griffin support Bailey in the general?
Comment by Chrishope Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:43 pm
=If Irvin had been Irvin from day 1, he’d probably be doing much better.=
This is the REAL Irvin. He is a defense attorney and a chameleon to whatever his client needs. This time around Uncle Griffie is the client.
I have not seen a campaign lose energy like this in recent memory. The only one I can think of to compare it to is John Edwards. And you don’t want that comparison.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:44 pm
Is it time for the rest of the Griffin slate to distance themselves from Richard Irvin?
Comment by Richard Swervin' Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:49 pm
What’s the chance of an Irvin 3rd party run?
Comment by Publius Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:51 pm
I don’t understand the folks Irvin is courting, but would they vote for a Rhino? Especially one that (his words) looks like him? Or would they just sit home and complain or write in someone?
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:52 pm
Repubs tried this with Alan Keyes. In a map year with Dems tied to their own primary with so many contested races exactly how many cross overs was Richard expected to get? I don’t wish bad things on people but I laugh at the people who were so smart and arrogant about their choices. Enjoy Bailey in the general.
Comment by Galway Bay Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 12:52 pm
As Dandy Don Meridith would say, “turn out the lights, the party’s over”
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:03 pm
How is a photo op with law enforcement officers going to put voters in Irvin’s column instead of in the Bailey or Sullivan column?
Are Bailey or Sullivan pro-crime?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:18 pm
The problem with goofball billionaires like Griffin and Musk is they believe their own hype.
Comment by Big Dipper Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:18 pm
1. No.
A. “Electability” is not a great issue for primary voters. When you call someone “electable” you are calling them a moderate.
B. Why should voters start believing Irvin now?
C. See Irvin’s net positives, and ask B again.
D. GOP primary voters were told Trump was unelectable in 2016, what did they do with that info and how did it end?
E. These folks still believe Trump won in 2020.
Sullivan is going to finish ahead of Irvin, you heard it here first.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:32 pm
maybe. but he’s so all over the place in debates I wonder if people will think he’s able to govern. and he’s not compelling in a cartoon dictator way like Trump.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:39 pm
“This is the REAL Irvin. He is a defense attorney and a chameleon to whatever his client needs. This time around Uncle Griffie is the client.”
Bingo, it reminds me of my favorite, clean lawyer joke:
CLIENT: What’s two plus two?
LAWYER: What do you want it to be?
Comment by Proud Sucker Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:41 pm
We haven’t seen Demmer standing near Irvin, even though they’re on the same ticket…that might be the clearest sign.
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:00 pm
I agree with the mayor. Voting for the guy courting the criminal former president assures the Governor and Lieutenant Governor win re-election given the political climate in the State of Illinois.
Oh wait, Bailey is a liberal Democrat. Sorry, I keep forgetting that lately. There used to be reminders in the mail about it.
Comment by Diirty Red Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:06 pm
Pritzker obviously believes that’s true. Nearly all the anti Irvin are JB’s or the Dem Governor’s Association. They even run a faux attack on Bailey for how conservative he is in full color instead of the grey used in real attack ads. Calling him “pro-life” instead of the usual “anti-choice.” Pretty funny really.
Comment by What's the point? Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:08 pm
Griffin must be so angry, he’ll have to leave the state.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:11 pm
They set pritzker up perfectly for that response
Comment by Nick Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:14 pm
Irvin campaign is in panick mode so they are claiming a vote for Baiely is a vote for Pritzker. As of Irvin has any chance when despite $50 million he can’t even find a base within his own party.
Comment by Real Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:23 pm
===Pretty funny really===
Not to Irvin, Bourne, Z, Griffin…
If polls are true, the point was to get whom Pritzker might want.
That’s actually genius.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:24 pm
-Oh wait, Bailey is a liberal Democrat. Sorry, I keep forgetting that lately. There used to be reminders in the mail about it.-
Irvin campaign reminded us that Bailey is an Obama liberal so what’s the problem now Irvin?
Comment by Real Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:26 pm
The Bourne (Re)Identity
Comment by Emmerder Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:37 pm
I dunno if today could help Irvin or would help Irvin… but it’s another day over, and that’s not helping Irvin no matter the messaging.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:37 pm
The electability argument is an anti-Trump argument. A guy that also was considered unelectable. His supporters wear that like a badge of honor. And 50% of Republican voters say that matters.
Griffin’s team is being outplayed here on something that should have been fairly obvious. They assumed that Trump’s lack of popularity in the state would somehow be reflective of how GOP primary voters see him. It looks like they may be wrong.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 2:53 pm
To Update x3
If the base of the party is squarely with a candidate like Bailey (if you believe any/all of the polling) what Irvin is doing is telling the GOP base as it exists now… they can’t win elections being who they are.
Now, you say that quiet part out loud, it’ll backfire.
Jim Edgar says that in 1990, 1994… that works.
The rank and file party isn’t supporting Bailey… the rank and file party IS one Darren Bailey.
I’m trying to figure out 17 or days to go, early voting well underway… which GOP voters will or could be swayed with a rebranding of the same messaging on Bailey, as Bailey is now the presumed (polling supported) front runner?
Three… three whole extra months… and time might sink the whole thing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:05 pm
The Irvin campaign has been toxic from the start and nobody wants a toxic Gov.
Comment by Real Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:06 pm
While traveling through central and southern Illinois over the past week I saw many Bailey signs. I didn’t see a single sign for Irvin.
Comment by historic66 Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:11 pm
You know, too many =you knows= makes it sound like you are not sure of what you know, you know?
Irvin needs to attack Bailey a lot more than he needs to attack Pritzker. Blaming Pritzker does not bring down Bailey any more than Pritzker campaigning for Bailey brings down Bailey. Tell the voters why they should vote for you and against Bailey. Early on, that was working.
Comment by H-W Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:15 pm
The latest update really gives you a sense of desperation with the whole thing.
Comment by Nick Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:23 pm
=Irvin needs to attack Bailey a lot more than he needs to attack Pritzker.=
He’s underestimated Bailey from the start and now he’s resorted to insulting Bailey’s supporters. He doesn’t know how to beat Bailey because he never planned for this scenario. Blame that on arrogance. So he might say that he’s “reassessing” but it’s nothing more than doubling down on what he’s already done.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:26 pm
== You know, it’s necessary for us to reassess, just like all the other campaigns are changing their message. But let me tell you who’s not changing and who’s not reassessing. That’s JB Pritzker.==
This makes JB sound awesome, lol.
In any competition, you want to make your opponent react to you. You want to make his adjust to you. If there was any doubt that JB had done that with Irvin, Irvin just admitted it, lol.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:31 pm
JB’s not reassessing?
Is he the only Democrat in America who is not worried about running for reelection in the midst of a 40 year high in inflation?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:35 pm
=What’s the chance of an Irvin 3rd party run?=
Zero. Illinois has a sore loser law that prevents it
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:36 pm
To Update x3:
I have to agree with Oswego Willy.
Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne are arguing that fundamentally, Bailey and the GOP are too conservative to govern.
Irvin is making the same argument that the DGA ads are making now, that Bailey is too Conservative for Illinois, and that is a real head scratcher.
On the one hand you say DGA ads are killing you, but now you are repeating them?
Also, I am gonna trust that OW knows that of which he speaks, but I can talk you that in a Democratic primary, when you complain that your opponent is too liberal, the liberals turn out for them in massive numbers…just ask John Fetterman.
Finally, if Bailey is too conservative, why is Avery Bourne on the ticket?
If Bailey has any sense, he is going back to the same message “This is a battle for the heart and soul of the GOP, and it’s pretty clear that the real Richard Irvin hates conservatives.”
Bailey will get to 50% pretty fast.
This is how sore losers close out their campaigns.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:39 pm
=== Is he the only Democrat in America who is not worried about running for reelection===
Who exactly is poised to beat Pritzker?
“Someone… No One… “
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 4:07 pm
What I don’t get is even Irvin’s lame framing re voting for Trump “that’s what JB Pritzker wants” is better suited here, if ever so slightly, than “a vote for Bailey is a vote for JB.”
Comment by Nick Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 4:20 pm
=Is he the only Democrat in America who is not worried about running for reelection=
The ILGOP has not shown that it’s capable of turning the Democrats weaknesses into its own strength. Your comments epitomize the problem. You can only identify the “problems” Democrats face but never offer any viable solutions or options. Voters want to vote “for” something as much as they want to vote “against” something. There’s very little “for” when it comes to the ILGOP. And JB has a message that’s generally positive particularly when compared to his predecessor.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 4:20 pm
JB is out to humiliate griffin, Irvin is JB’s tool
Comment by Rabid Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 4:22 pm
== JB’s not reassessing?==
Correct, he’s not. You even concede as much, because in your second sentence you change the verb to “worry”, as if we wouldn’t notice.
I can’t speak to whether or not he’s “worried”, but he’s clearly not reassessing- he’s running the same game plan he has since Irvin announced. And since it’s working, of course he is.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 5:40 pm