Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Chicago, IL – In the first Democratic debate, JB Pritzker clearly laid out his vision for Illinois while holding his opponents accountable for records that don’t match their rhetoric.

Here’s what Illinoisans are reading and seeing in the news about the NBC 5 / Telemundo debate:

From Chicago Tribune:

Billionaire investor J.B. Pritzker and state Sen. Daniel Biss tried to change the dynamics of the Illinois Democratic governor’s race Tuesday night, attacking each other during the first televised debate and relegating businessman Chris Kennedy largely to the sidelines. […]

Pritzker responded that Biss was “the only candidate on this stage that voted for Mike Madigan for speaker of the House, that ran Mike Madigan’s super (political action committee) in 2016, and you’ve accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from Springfield insiders and bankers and lobbyists.”

“So I don’t think you’re the one to lecture here,” Pritzker said to Biss. “I think you should just be who you are and stop criticizing others.”

Biss served in the House for one term and backed Madigan for speaker before moving to the Senate. In 2016, Madigan’s personal campaign fund gave $500,000 to Leading Illinois for Tomorrow, a federal PAC Biss ran that made about $10 million in independent expenditures, mainly for TV ads seeking to link Rauner to then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

From Chicago Sun-Times:

Just days after he said Gov. Bruce Rauner “should be applauded” for running attack ads and being “willing to speak truth to power,” Democrat Chris Kennedy on Tuesday declined to say anything positive about Democratic rival J.B. Pritzker.

The dramatic moment came as the six Democratic candidates for governor faced off in their first televised debate, tackling thorny issues such as ties to controversial Democratic party heads — and even whether to compliment, or not compliment, one another.

Demonstrating the rough nature of the campaign, Kennedy — of the Kennedy political dynasty — was unable to list a “positive thing” the billionaire philanthropist and entrepreneur had contributed to the campaign.

Kennedy first paused when it was his turn to answer moderator Carol Marin’s question, then he criticized the perceived frontrunner.

From Politico Illinois Playbook:

It was the compliment not heard around Illinois.

In the first televised debate of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, NBC moderator Carol Marin posed a question not infrequently asked at candidate forums.

Marin, turning to J.B. Pritzker and Chris Kennedy asked: “Can each of you name a positive thing your opponent has brought to this race?”

J.B. Pritzker: “I admire very much the work that Mr. Kennedy’s family has done on behalf of the Special Olympics, it’s something very important for us to recognize. I want to congratulate him and his family for the work they have done.”

Mr. Kennedy?: …. Dead air for one-one thousand … two-one thousand … three-one thousand … four-one thousand … then Kennedy began: “I’m challenged in this election because I think that as Democrats we believe government can be our ally and when J.B. emerges as the poster child of all that’s wrong with the corrupt system in our state, it’s difficult for me to heap praise on him,” he said. “And that’s, unfortunately, where I need to end it.”

The moment revealed Kennedy’s deeply-held contempt for his competitor just days after he praised Gov. Bruce Rauner for speaking “truth to power.”

From AP:

“I’ve been an independent leader and an independent thinker my entire life and that won’t change when I become governor.”

He blasted Biss for supporting Madigan in the legislative election for House speaker and for running a super political action committee on Madigan’s behalf.

From CBS 2 Chicago:

The six Democratic candidates for Illinois governor skirmished Tuesday during a fast-moving, televised forum, with billionaire JB Pritzker absorbing most of the blows but also launching a few of his own. […]

It was against Biss that Pritzker chose to return fire.

“You’re the only candidate on this stage that voted for Mike Madigan for Speaker of the House,” he said of Biss, a state lawmaker.

From NBC 5 Chicago:

While the candidates have been regularly conducting internal polls, the general public has yet to see any results since October. The forum gave each of the participants a chance to make a major impression and gave voters an idea of just where each candidate, as well as the race as a whole, stands.

Kennedy was asked why he has turned his criticism to Mayor Rahm Emanuel even tho he had supported him.

All of the Democrats favor sanctuary cities, only Bob Daiber has a Firearm Owners Identification card to carry a gun, and he also supports a gas tax.

Biss had to explain his vote that would have cut pensions.

The most awkward moment was the silence from Kennedy at first when asked to say anything positive about Pritzker.

“It’s difficult for me to heap praise on him,” Kennedy said.

From ABC 7 Chicago:

Each candidate was later asked to say one good thing about the other. Only Chris Kennedy struggled.

“I mean I’m challenged in this election because I think that as Democrats we believe government can be our ally and when JB emerges as the poster child of all that’s wrong with the corrupt system in our state it’s difficult for me to heap praise on him,” Kennedy said.

Afterwards, Kennedy said he regretted his response and apologized to Pritzker. Both Pritzker and Biss said after the forum that they felt being attacked was a good thing.

Pritzker postured that maybe it meant his opponents feel they need to make up some ground.

From WEEK:

On the discussion of higher education, J.B. Pritzker believes those who can pay for college should pay., but he, along with several candidates, support options for free higher education for students.

“Those who cannot afford it, deserve to be able to go to college no matter what their income level is,” Pritzker said.

From WREX:

J.B. Pritzker knows bringing gifted workers to the state is a priority, but emphasizes the importance of knowing the entire state will profit from this deal.

“Talent is what companies are looking for and we’ve got to invest in that. But we’ve got to make sure there’s a real return on investment for the taxpayers for the state of Illinois and that the benefits that we get don’t just go where that headquarters goes but gets spread throughout the state of Illinois,” said Pritzker.

From The Daily Northwestern:

The candidates also discussed Amazon’s bid to build its new headquarters in Chicago. Pritzker said the state needs to ensure there is a return on investment for taxpayers in Illinois and that benefits from the deal would be spread across the state.

The proposal could add up to 50,000 jobs to the state economy, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“It has become a race to the bottom, unfortunately, around the nation … where municipalities and states are offering huge tax benefits to bring companies to their state,” Pritzker said. “Remember what Illinois has to offer.”

The candidates did come together on the issue of immigration — all six said they would risk federal funding to retain Illinois’ status as a sanctuary state.

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