Democrats say Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois GOP are “trying to escape (Donald) Trump”. The Illinois Republican Party put out a term limits news release Wednesday with a picture of a young Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan calling him a “career politician since 1971”. He says Trump will be a drag on the GOP ticket this fall in IL, where polls show Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is a heavy favorite. “They’re trying to think of anything they can say”.
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The Democrats will have their day at the fair Thursday.
Kirk is facing a tough re-election challenge from Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno warned that a vote against Trump shouldn’t mean a vote against Republicans across the state. But Kirk changed his mind after multiple controversial statements by Trump. He then said he would write in David Petraus, the retired U.S. Army general and former Central Intelligence Agency director who pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information.
Asked Wednesday if he would rebound to Petraus, Kirk said only, “I like him”, but noted write-in votes for people who haven’t declared their candidacies don’t count in IL. But Powell supports that plan.
“I’m not there yet”, Durkin told reporters.
Speaking to his party, Rauner said Republicans need to join together to take power away from the political machine that controls the state, which in turn will lead to economic growth.
Consistent rain has prompted the Illinois State Fair to alter their Monday event schedule. He says Democrats have far outspent his party in recent elections.
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At the fair later, he promised GOP efforts this fall will be the “biggest ground game (that’s) ever been done for legislative races in state history”. Meanwhile, Rauner and his supports have galvanized organized labor behind the Democrats in opposition to the governor’s pro-business, union-weakening “turnaround agenda”.
