Obama backs Pritzker in new video
WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama taped a testimonial video touting Democratic governor nominee J.B. Pritzker, released on Monday, the first candidate-specific video Obama has made ahead of the November mid-term elections.
“I know JB, I trust JB,” Obama said in the video, describing him as “someone who’s always thinking about how he can make a difference. Someone who identifies the right problems and brings the right people together to solve them, and that’s something we can use in Illinois.”
Obama does not mention Pritzker’s opponent, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, in the video.
The upbeat Obama video will be used on various Pritzker cam- paign social media platforms, according to Pritzker spokeswoman Galia Slayen.
Obama taped the video in his personal office in Washington a few weeks ago.
Obama spokesman Eric Schultz told the Sun-Times, “President Obama of course wants to be helpful to Democrats as we approach the midterm elections. President Obama wants to help Democrats win at every level this year. He’ll ask voters to take a good look at candidates and their records — not just the top of the ticket — but critical local races, too. We need a strong pipeline to help the Party grow beyond 2018. We need activists poised to engage, volunteers motivated to mobilize and voters motivated to vote.”
Obama on Aug. 1 endorsed 81 Democrats, including many from Illinois: Pritzker, Kwame Raoul, who is running for Illinois attorney general, and U.S. House hopefuls Sean Casten, Lauren Underwood and Brendan Kelly.
Obama’s backing will help get out the vote in Illinois — but that does not guarantee victory. In 2014, Obama and then-first lady Michelle stumped for Gov. Pat Quinn, and he lost to Rauner.