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* Here you go…
Dick Durbin. Jesse White. Bobby Rush. Sophia King. Silvana Tabares. All of these Democratic leaders and more are supporting our campaign, because they know that I will be a Mayor for all of Chicago. pic.twitter.com/h7AbRFRFam
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 29, 2023
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:16 am
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“My ‘I am a Democrat’ shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by my shirt.”
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:24 am
it’s giving ‘I swear I’m a democrat, look at all my friends’ vibes
Comment by S.S. Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:25 am
A- Gives those with a guilty conscience some balm for voting Vallas despite knowing he is, at a minimum, a MAGA solicitor.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:27 am
F-. Closeted Republican who believes in gov’mint oversight of your personal life.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:27 am
Keep repeating it: Democrat Paul Vallas. It’s a great ad and great campaign. Rated A. The Vallas campaign got ahead of the negative oppo early by branding him as the “lifelong Democrat/liberal, when other contenders were attacking each other.
The high grade is also for the comedic element, because Vallas used Proft, “Awake” and any other right wing organizations, and now he’s dumping on them by shouting out what a Democrat and liberal he is.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:28 am
The Jesse White stand alone Ad was considerably better than this, and Jesse was a wee bit stilted in his own ad.
Why do I feel this way, and the rating?
This ad feels like an “answer” ad to a question, not an ad designed to reinforce known bona fides.
Feeling like a response and not a strengthening, it loses a bit to the impact… so it’s a B-
Plus… “the tired ole politicians backing a politician” schtick with some folks in the ad with “decades” of office holding… Vallas should already have the “Daley Daydreamers”… so it’s kinda not adding… as voting is already begun.
B-… the Jesse White stand alone ad was better, that’s kind of losing in this run.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:30 am
It’s a solid closing ad. It answers the attacks that Johnson has been using down the stretch effectively and well.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:33 am
well, it puts Democrat on repeat so that’s good. but it’s kinda wooden and desperate. B. But at least it is better than the Paul in casual wear ad I saw yesterday which even a Vallas voter I was with laughed at as AWKWARD.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:39 am
A, A+ for timing. Feels like ballgame. The average voter doesn’t have the same knowledge that we do here on this message board.
One half of Vallas’ supporters will be verrrrry disappointed by his term in office as Mayor, though. And I have no inkling of an idea which way he’ll lean.
Comment by The Truth Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:39 am
==F-. Closeted Republican who believes in gov’mint oversight of your personal life>==
Seems like a review of the candidate rather than the ad.
As to the ad, it’s fine. I think 47th Ward and lake county dem have it right: it’s a solid closing ad that seems aimed at calming fears for people leaning his way who are unsure. Probably a B- overall, with a B+/A- for the intended audience.
Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:41 am
Politics sure makes strange bedfellows.
Unfortunately, Fred Hampton was unable to be included in this endorsement.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:42 am
B+/A- Range. Better production than the original Jesse Ad, but that ad was rushed for strategic purposes. Not sure I love the changing backgrounds, a bit visually jarring. I’d call it a powerful rejection of the Johnson attacks (which are basically “look at who he’s been seen with!?!”) by showing “other” people “he’s been seen with”. Only one missing is Obama. Frankly, Johnson’s campaign has been pretty flat for me. I don’t get their strategy and their messaging seems tailor made to turn off older black voters, who Johnson can ill afford to lose. Maybe that picks up some of the north shore white vote, but is that enough to offset the loss? Turnout will tell.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:44 am
===for timing===
LOL, it’s a “closing” ad.
===One half of Vallas’ supporters will be verrrrry disappointed by his term in office as Mayor===
It likely won’t be the racist thinkers, insurrection apologists, and conspiracy theorists… unless Vallas suddenly decides these folks he courted hosting Dan Proft’s show are now bad.
Then there’s the Daley Daydreamers… which include Dominic Longo and the “Daley 95” types still around that I’m told are the bad folks that shouldn’t be remembered with nostalgia and rose colored glasses.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:45 am
Solid B, good closing ad and helps with some of the doubters a bit. It isn’t going to switch hard Johnson votes to him, but it helps with the ‘is he really’ doubters.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:48 am
If Vallas loses, his endorsers really need to do some soul-searching.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:51 am
Downstate senator thinks he lives in Chicago
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 9:59 am
A-. Very good spot. Con. Rush is not sounding good though.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:04 am
==It likely won’t be the racist thinkers, insurrection apologists, and conspiracy theorists==
You keep hammering this line, but going off the 2020 election, “MAGA” is only 15-17% of the Chicago voting population. For Vallas to win, he needs to around 40% of the people who voted for Biden (remaining 85%). That would considerably outweigh the “MAGA” vote.
Comment by supplied_demand Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:09 am
B+
Good closing ad.
It’s just so depressing to know that perhaps half or more of Chicago voters don’t believe Vallas is actually Darren Bailey in a Democrat suit, even though *we* all know it to be true.
Amirite?
Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:11 am
Solid A-/B+ commercial. It knocks out one of Johnson’s key talking points Brandon is not being helped by the continued crime reporting in the city in the run up to April 4th. The arrests serve to reinforce the calls for more cops and traditional policing by Vallas. If Johnson loses narrowly he can blame his defeat of Kim Foxx.
Comment by Gravitas Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:16 am
C — I am torn on this ad because I wouldn’t write it, wouldn’t run it, and wouldn’t ask for it. If you’re explaining, you’re losing and the sole purpose of this ad and the twitter post seems to be to try to convince people that Paul Vallas really is a Democrat. No. Really. He is. Lets use the word Democrat as many times as we can without making it sound like a musical number written by Meredith Willson and performed by Robert Preston. Never mind that if we did that, it’d be a better ad. If you’re going to do this, lets at least bring back the campaign song. If we’re going to try to be the Democratic Party of the 1970s and ignore a half century of progress in order to implement the Chicago Southern Strategy, lets bring back the catchy campaign song. There’s a better way to do this ad, and that’s why it’s a C.
Who is this ad for? Certainly not the folks who are very conscious of tokenism.
I’m not giving this an F because there is every indication that everyone in Paul Vallas camp is aware of where public opinion is on Paul Vallas’ troubling statements. Looking on the bright side, at least the support of the alt-right allies and groups have killed the discussion that Paul Vallas so loved the City of Chicago that he didn’t live there until he decided to run for mayor.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:16 am
===You keep hammering this line, but going off the 2020 election, “MAGA” is only 15-17% of the Chicago voting population===
I hammer it because Vallas purposely, intentionally courts these folks as part of his coalition.
I know it’s inconvenient, but it’s true all the same.
Reminds me of *ALL* the Democrats that would hammer about Bailey being bad for this state, now it’s inconvenient that they are in the same side with Bailey.
You can’t deny the courting of these folks by Vallas.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:17 am
===It’s just so depressing to know that perhaps half or more of Chicago voters don’t believe Vallas is actually Darren Bailey in a Democrat suit, even though *we* all know it to be true.
Amirite?===
Prolly why this very specific and pointed ad is designed to fend off the truth of Vallas courting the worst elements of Bailey’s coalition.
I rated the ad a B-, well above merely passing… exactly why your “amirite” exists in this discussion.
It’s the convincing of the nostalgic “Daley Daydreamers” to feel good about a Vallas that isn’t wholly what he’s been portraying. In that, this ad works. I just felt the Jesse White ad was better in a context to “decades of friendship” that can’t be thrown away when the most popular politician in all of Illinois supports.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:22 am
Who does Kim Foxx endorse?
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:22 am
h/t to OW as always, a B- grade plus excellent analysis
Vallas is not a MAGA type, or “Darren Bailey in a Democrat suit” - he is a wishy-washy say whatever it takes to be the hero of a room type. What used to be called shameless self promoters if you didnt have a personal stake, or spineless if you felt you were more principles than them.
Plenty of shameless panderers have been decent at coalition building in history, but mostly before everyone had the town square at their fingertips.
The ad speaks to the positives of shamelessness, looking at the roster of endorsers who often can say both things out of either side of their mouth.
Comment by sewer thoughts Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:23 am
I’m finding myself entertained that Dick Durbin and Jesse White both agreed to be in an ad where someone felt it was necessary to specifically introduce them as Democrats and no one went “Do we really need to remind people that Dick Durbin and Jesse White are Democrats?”
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:26 am
All this ad tells me is we should start recruiting someone left of Durbin for primaries. I’m still not happy with his kowtowing to Republicans regarding federal judicial appointments.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:28 am
As a closing ad, this is really just designed to make his voters feel comfortable and, hopefully, get them to the polls. As a persuasive ad to win voters, it doesn’t do anything.
Comment by Hump Day Harry Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:29 am
For folks not following the campaign closely, the ad gets an A. The “Why, SURE, he’s a Democrat effect.”
For CapFaxers and other serious students of Illinois politics, it gets a C. Meh, we know his background.
Still waiting to see who gets the crucial Oscar Miller endorsement. /s
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:34 am
A+. Reinforces the idea that most Dems in Chicago trust Dick Durbin or Jesse White over Bernie Sanders.
Now I just wonder when AOC from NY will come and endorse Johnson. The Bernie Bro activists will be out, no question.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:44 am
==You can’t deny the courting of these folks by Vallas. ==
I never saw where Vallas “courted” Darren Bailey’s endorsement, can you share that? At the same time, we should also assume he “courted” the endorsements of all the people listed in this ad (i.e. elected Democrats). None of them supported Bailey, and this is where your narrative falls apart.
You want to world to be black-and-white. I can tell you from living in a progressive Chicago neighborhood (not the suburbs), that many people who had Biden signs, now have Vallas signs.
Vallas is to the right of Johnson, so obviously people on the right will choose Vallas when presented only two options. This is the same dynamic we saw when people on the right endorsed Lightfoot against a more progressive candidate 4 years ago.
Comment by supplied_demand Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:45 am
Easy A. The extremely online trust fund transplants in Logan Square stay mad as they keep losing more and more progressives to Vallas.
Comment by Hot Taeks Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:46 am
It’s a good closing ad particularly given where things stand at the moment. I believe it will all come down to turnout which may be historically low. Vallas needs to get his 50+ year old demo to get out and vote and an ad featuring old school pols is probably the best way to accomplish that.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:46 am
===Now I just wonder when AOC from NY will come and endorse Johnson. The Bernie Bro activists will be out, no question.===
lol
You’re as much if a Democrat as Bailey
It’s very telling… “AOC”… very telling.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:48 am
===I never saw where Vallas “courted” Darren Bailey’s endorsement, can you share that?===
No. Keep up or be honest.
Vallas, at every turn, has courted Bailey supporters, guest hosted for Proft, embraces the FOP Prez.
I know, all inconveniences, LOL
Supporting Vallas is welcoming and siding with the worst of Bailey supporters. Own it.
===You want to world to be black-and-white. I can tell you from living in a progressive Chicago neighborhood (not the suburbs), that many people who had Biden signs, now have Vallas signs.===
I don’t. I can’t help that Vallas purposely courts racist thinkers, insurrection apologists, and conspiracy theorists.
If you side them, then I’d be careful when the righteous indignation comes about… democracy, as an example.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:54 am
Vallas took a smiling pic with Bailey, liked his hellhole comment on others on SM.
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 10:59 am
* and others
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:00 am
==Vallas, at every turn, has courted Bailey supporters, guest hosted for Proft, embraces the FOP Prez.==
You keep acting like people deny he courted the FOP and guest hosted for Proft. Nobody denies this because they happend. The denial is something you created in your head to turn into an easy attack.
==Supporting Vallas is welcoming and siding with the worst of Bailey supporters. Own it.==
He is also siding with known Democratic leaders in the state, non-Bailey supporters. You need to own that. Even if it is “inconvenient” for you.
You should also own that he denounced Cantazarra and never courted Bailey.
==I don’t. I can’t help that Vallas purposely courts racist thinkers, insurrection apologists, and conspiracy theorists.==
I think a strong case could be made that Johnson has some racist thinkers supporting him, as well. He received an endorsement from pastors who denounce same-sex marriage. Does voting for him mean one supports those pastors line of thinking? Is there any “righteous indignation” for that?
==If you side them, then I’d be careful when the righteous indignation comes about… democracy, as an example.==
What is this supposed to even mean? It’s hard to have a real conversation with your ChatGPT responses.
Comment by supplied_demand Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:07 am
Good ad for where he’s at. Reaction to perceived weaknesses more than call to action on positives.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:12 am
===Nobody denies this===
He doesn’t own anything. Ever.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:14 am
==You keep acting like people deny he courted the FOP and guest hosted for Proft. Nobody denies this because they happend.==
I think pretending something never happened is more or less the same as denying.
Attacking OW makes sense given the denial, I suppose.
Comment by SWSider Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:15 am
This post is about rating the ad. Get back to that.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:16 am
Just a few short years ago the Leader of the Democratic Party in Illinois described it as “reasonable and moderate.”
Sound like Brandon Johnson to you?
Everyone to the right of Brandon is not a closeted Republican no matter what his supporters say
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:16 am
===Everyone to the right of Brandon is not a closeted Republican===
1) Get back to the post;
2) Awake Illinois, Dan Proft, Amy Jacobsen, John Catanzara and on and on and on are the problem for Vallas, not the moderate Dems who are either ignorantly or deliberately overlooking or excusing his bizarre behavior during the pandemic.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:22 am
That is why it is a good ad because Vallas has mainstream Democratic support from longtime office holders.
Brandon’s hard left policies, particularly on crime, as well the falling approval of his largest benefactor is what is hurting him with the critical Hispanic community that is more moderate.
It is Chuy that it out of step with his community, not Vallas
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:29 am
B
Gives some credibility to Vallas and helps to cast doubt on Johnson’s charges that Vallas is a Republican.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:38 am
==Democrats for Democrat Paul Vallas==
The Ad is an A. If Paul were any more opaque …he’d be a cardboard cutout.
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:39 am
== I can tell you from living in a progressive Chicago neighborhood (not the suburbs), that many people who had Biden signs, now have Vallas signs.==.
Exactly what Im seeing as well.
== That is why it is a good ad because Vallas has mainstream Democratic support from longtime office holders.==.
Ones who actually live in the city and can vote in its elections, as opposed to the Senior Senator from Vermont.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:46 am
I’ll give it an A.
Almost ridiculous in its lack of subtleness, but that’s just something we insiders notice. Convincing liberals that they’re not Trumpsters if they vote for Vallas is the main charge of his campaign right now and this ad does that well. I also think it’s better stylistically than a lot of Vallas’ ads, some of which have looked a little dated and slightly amateurish in their production quality.
Comment by TNR Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:56 am
C doesn’t move the needle. The ad itself reinforces the Vallas is a Republican attack. The biggest strategic mistake made this election was a campaign or organization not attacking Vallas with a seven figure media buy for being incompetent and a Republican starting in early January when they could have stopped him from making the runoff. The other campaigns thought he would be the easiest to beat in the Runoff and now he has a coin flip chance of winning. Hopefully a lesson learned for the progressive ecosystem.
Comment by Lakeview Lou Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 12:06 pm
== I can tell you from living in a progressive Chicago neighborhood (not the suburbs), that many people who had Biden signs, now have Vallas signs.==.
Chicago households with Biden yard signs (as opposed to, say, Bernie or Warren) are centrist/center-right indicators, not progressive ones. Not surprising that those same yards would have Vallas signs now.
Comment by Mark Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 12:33 pm
@Candy
Let’s bring back the catchy campaign song.
You thinking more “Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy” or more “I like Ike”? I’m trying to figure out a way to work Brandon Johnson’s name into “The MTA” but it’s tough to break the rhyme structure.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 12:36 pm
B. It is a defensive ad against a false charge.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 1:49 pm
Vignettes make for pretty bad ads. People don’t remember them if you’re constantly changing the scene and visuals. I get what they went for, but it’s kind of a mess.
Comment by Left of what Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 2:40 pm
Hey, you know who’s NOT a Democrat? Bernie Sanders! but, I guess that’s cool
Comment by McGruff Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 3:38 pm
===Bernie Sanders===
Good point. Now, get back to the topic at hand.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 3:40 pm
“Who does Kim Foxx endorse?”
Kim should fly the false flag, and throw down hard for Vallas.
Comment by Chris Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 4:18 pm
Durbin, Rush, White…242 years old…combined.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 6:29 pm
==Durbin, Rush, White…242 years old…combined.==
Vallas will be 70 in June so they are peers.
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Mar 29, 23 @ 11:01 pm