Illinois Democrats put another $ 3 million into anti- Trump/ Rauner ads
WASHINGTON— One week before Election Day, the Illinois Democratic super PAC targeting Donald Trump and Gov. Bruce Rauner poured another $ 3 million into an ad buy on Monday.
The new spot aims at Rauner’s female support by raising the question of where he stands on Trump in the wake of women coming forward telling about the GOP presidential nominee’s sexual advances and his boasts about forcing himself on women in that “Access Hollywood” tape.
Since Oct. 11, LIFT— Leading Illinois for Tomorrow— has pumped $ 8,822,302.50 into spots to run through Election Day, according to Federal Election Commission independent expenditure records.
The Monday buy for TV, radio and digital ads amounted to $ 2,926,445.50.
The new spot, titled “Test,” features pictures of Trump and Rauner and takes on Rauner over his trying to have it both ways on Trump— supporting the nominee and at the same time keeping his distance. Rauner is trying to not anger voters downstate where Trump has support.
A narrator in the spot says “We face an historic test as a nation. . . . Do we want leaders who . . . demean people . . . condone sexual assault . . . punish women” as the scenes go to a series of Trump soundbites.
The narrator ends the ad asking, “And Bruce Rauner’s position?”
Rauner had said that Trump’s comments on “Access Hollywood” were “appalling” and “disgusting.”
LIFT was organized in September and, as first reported in the Chicago Sun- Times, is bankrolled by major Democratic donors. Chicago media executive Fred Eychaner donated $ 1 million, according to the Oct. 19 FEC filing; Michael Sacks gave $ 2.5 million.
Sacks is chairman and CEO of GCM Grosvenor, is close to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and is a member of the Barack Obama Foundation board. Sacks is also an investor in the company that owns the Chicago Sun- Times.