SCHOCK-ING DROPOUT BOLSTERS RAUNER’S POTENTIAL GOV BID
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s departure from the cadre of GOP contenders for the Illinois governor’s race has those remaining sizing each other up and ready to dress each other down.
And if you ask them to define their opponents, this is essentially how they boil it down: rich guy vs. career politicians.
The rich guy is venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, a self-made millionaire who has already stockpiled more than $1.2 million, even as he’s on a “listening tour” of the state before making a formal announcement. Other contenders are already accusing him of trying to buy the governor’s seat and predicting he’ll fall the way of others who’ve historically tried doing that in Illinois — flat on his face.
The so-called career politicians?
That’s how Rauner depicts the likes of state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady as well as state Treasurer Dan Rutherford — all of whom told the Chicago Sun-Times on Friday they remain serious about a gubernatorial run. Rauner lumps them together as being part of the problem in a state with plenty of fiscal troubles.
Finally, there’s WLS Radio Talk show host Dan Proft, who isn’t appropriately tossed in with either side. Proft, a conservative, has a $400,000 balance in his campaign fund — more than Dillard or Brady.
Proft says he’s the fresh face who isn’t apologetic of his conservative leanings. He can’t be pinned as a Springfield creature who is part of the financial mess in which the state finds itself.
“The people who say they know they know how to work with Mike Madigan are the people who’ve been getting their brains beat in by Mike Madigan for the last two decades,” says Proft.
Still, on its face, Schock’s departure most easily clears a path for Rauner.
When it comes to fundraising, accomplishment and a fresh face for a statewide contest, Schock posed the biggest threat to Rauner. Though Rauner denies it, Downstate Republicans are convinced it was Rauner who was behind a series of recent scathing attacks questioning Schock’s true Republican commitment.
Club for Growth, the group behind the ads, is also the beneficiary of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from Rauner.
“That’s all false rumors. I like Aaron, I supported Aaron for Congress in the past,” Rauner told the Chicago SunTimes. Rauner says others may badmouth him “because I’m a leader in the clubhouse — I’ve been raising more money than any other candidate. Frankly, I scare politicians in both parties.”
When asked how he would contend with the likes of the Michael Madigan political force, Rauner says simply, but confidently: “I have a plan.” And he’ll only reveal that after he announces? “Indeed.”