CHICAGO – One by one, candidates seeking the Republican Party's nomination for attorney general, comptroller and treasurer released statements attacking gubernatorial primary challenger Jeanne Ives – and by extension the IL GOP's conservative base.
The orchestrated statements from what is being called the "Rauner Slate" blasted Ives for airing an ad as "insulting" and "wrong," and "denigrates, mocks and marginalizes groups of Illinoisans."
The Ives campaign ignored the slate's calls to pull the ads over the weekend. The campaign ad was boosted in key state population areas during Super Bowl pre-games, with the help of a $2 Million donation from conservative Dick Uihlein.
The IL GOP base has made it clear that they oppose Governor Rauner signing into law measures forcing taxpayers to fund abortions and providing protection from the law for illegal aliens – two hot topics the Ives ad mentions.
Republican Attorney General Candidate Erika Harold, who has historically held a pro-life position, called for Ives to pull the ad immediately. Harold is heavily financed by the IL GOP, of which Governor Rauner is the key funder. Harold has an opponent in the race, conservative DuPage County attorney Gary Grasso. Harold's statement said:
This ad denigrates, mocks and marginalizes groups of Illinoisans and cannot represent our Republican Party. I call on the Ives campaign to immediately take it off the air. The Republican Party must be about fighting for the ideals and values that have made our country the envy of the world and promoting the dignity and value of every Illinoisan.
Republican Candidate for Treasurer Jim Dodge, who has thus far received little notice in the primary as he is unopposed, issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives' campaign ad:
Our nation's collective diversity gives us our strength and makes us a beacon of freedom to the world. Illinois is a strong and diverse state – a microcosm of America. Representative Ives' campaign advertisement is wrong on so many levels and an insult to everything that makes us Illinoisans and Americans. I believe this advertisement does not represent the Republican Party or our shared American values, and should never again see the light of day.
Republican Candidate for Comptroller Darlene Senger – who is also unopposed in the IL GOP Primary – said:
Illinois is facing real challenges that require common-sense, bi-partisan solutions. Hyper-partisan attacks that focus on our fellow Illinoisans do little to advance debate nor reach consensus. The Republican Party — The Party of Lincoln — has always served as a beacon of freedom and individual rights. Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate our commitment to that standard.
Earlier, IL GOP State Chairman Tim Schneider defended his party's main contributor – Governor Bruce Rauner and called on Ives to pull down the ad, as well.
The ad the Rauner slate is condemning now has over 50,000 views on YouTube:
This state will be better off when Erica Harold goes back to beauty contests. Not that she’s a threat to ever win an election anyway.
Did JB Pritzker write this?
Our nation’s collective diversity gives us our strength and makes us a beacon of freedom to the world. Illinois is a strong and diverse state – a microcosm of America.
Fortunately we won’t have to hear the words “Treasurer Jim Dodge” at any time in our future.
Erika Harold turned out to be a dimwit the last time around. I have no plans on voting for her. I’m not exactly sure what her qualification is.
None of the people listed here have an actual chance of winning a statewide office.
Hey, did Kris Cohn issue a statement yet?
The proof that none of these candidates have an actual chance of winning a statewide office is the fact that they’re all unopposed. In the other party primary, where there is one, there are multiple candidates including ex-governor.
Where were all of these same people when the Raunerbots were smearing State Treasurer Rutherford in the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary? The gossip crippled Rutherford’s candidacy and it was pushed by many noticeable Rauner allies in Cook County.
She’s relatively attractive and a member of two preferred classes. Those are her qualifications.
These guys have lost my support for their races!
I guess some of the mucho macho males posting here about Harold’s incompetency and being a “dimwit” must have recognized it years ago…assuming they were her classmates at Harvard Law School.
Were you guys there after winning a scholarship from “Illinois Mental Midget Foundation?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltqbK8202B8
She must have left her brains at Harvard. They’ve been notably absent since she returned to Illinois.
Intelligence doesn’t seem to be a priority at Harvard, if the activities of any of those Harvard leftist grads currently in government are any indications.
It appears that family. money, and political connections are “qualifications” enough.
Rauner is a looser. His values are closer to Mao, Madigan and Cullerton.
Clearly we need Jeanne Ives
Love Saves Lives
Carl Lambrecht
Who Rodney David handed her purse to. Lol.
Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action immediately trumps all of that. We’ll never ever ever see Obama’s application because of everything written on it. My guess is he had multiple affirmative actions. Nation of origin, orientation, race, religion…….who the hecks knows.
Excellent point.
Erika Harold has lost my vote in the 2018 GOP primary. I proudly stand with Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad.
I guess Erika supports Illegals, tax increases and KILLING babies.
Vote for Gary Grasso for AG.
Obama also went to Harvard Law and admitted that Affirmative Action may have played a role in his acceptance. After eight years of reading from a teleprompter, he strikes me as a lawyer who could not make an honest dollar in private practice.
I stand with Ives. Keep the ad don’t cave.
I entirely agree. Erika Harold was always touted to us as a conservative. Well, I hope she enjoys all that Rauner cash – because her snowball’s chance in hell of winning has just melted with the evaporation of 35% of the conservative base who might have been inclined to vote for her – but now will simply avoid her line on election day. What a silly political neophyte!
Sorry – we mental midget white males were not entitled to racially discriminatory affirmative action preference to Harvard admissions, as was this black girl beauty queen.
Can you tell us what her SATs and LSATs were?
Hear! Hear! I entirely agree with you.
Remember, Rauner is a friend of Rahm’s and his wife is a Democrat! No surprise that he would deceive to win! As far as these other three, I’ll write in “None of the above”! Go Jeanne!
I cannot support Erika Harold because after hearing her speak several times I have yet to hear her say anything specific about her plans for the Attorney General’s office. She is personable and attractive, but I have no idea about her legal experience other than she attended a famous law school.