June 13, 2018
NICHES, 27% MARKET SHARE ARE KEY TO 2019 CHICAGO MAYORAL RACE
Multiple niches + 27% market share = 150,000 votes = runoff = next Chicago mayor. That's the formula for defeating Rahm Emanuel. A niche is defined as a unique place or position. Politically, there are multiple niches in Chicago, which consist of voting blocs ranging from 3-25%, all of whom vote their self-interest. They include LGBTQ, Republicans, union members, Our Revolution, #MeToo, blacks, Hispanics, feminists, cops and a host of others. The magic number is 150,000 votes, which will get that candidate into the 4/19 runoff with the mayor, who is eminently defeatable. However, all contenders except for Paul Vallas are polarizing, although each has a niche. Here's an early analysis. Full Article...
June 6, 2018
MONEY MATTERS -- PRITZKER SPENDS $62.3 MILLION AND WILL SPEND A LOT MORE
Money matters. J.B. Pritzker spent $62.3 million in his yearlong quest for the Democratic governor's nomination, or about $167,000-per day. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) has $38.5 million on-hand. ATTACHED IS A FUNDRAISING CHART for the period 7/1/17 to 3/31/18 for candidates in the 2018 primary, 2018 election, and 2019 Chicago election. Mayor Emanuel has just $2.2 million on-hand, while Speaker Madigan has $7.8 million. Ald. Ed Burke has $9.2 million, but that may not save him. In two Northwest Side state representative contests, incumbents John D'Amico (D-15) and Rob Martwick (D-19) have huge fundraising advantages. State Rep. Lou Lang (D-16) once aspired to be speaker, but a recent "harassment" scrum caused him to quit as deputy majority leader, so his $1.4 million campaign kitty is now useless. Full Article...
May 30, 2018
'PACKING,' 'CRACKING' STILL PREVAILS IN ILLINOIS POLITICS
Political correctness under the guise of "proportionality" is creeping into the process by which congressional and state legislative districts are reconfigured every decade after each census. Historically the party that controls a state's legislature and governorship draws the congressional and legislative map, and does so to maximize their party's congressional representation and maintain legislative control. They do so by a process called "packing" and "cracking." The former means that they "pack" as many opposition party voters into as few districts as possible, and then they "crack" enclaves of opposition party support and then disperse them among other districts with the goal being to create a 55 to 60 percent majority in winnable districts, and a 75 to 80 percent majority in opposition districts. Full Article...
May 23, 2018
DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS IN LOGJAM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS
Democrats in Illinois and Cook County have a logjam of epic proportions on their hands. There are too few available offices to satisfy too many ambitious candidates. If Governor Bruce Rauner loses, there will be no prominent Republican anywhere to beat. For the foreseeable future it will be "hurry up and wait." It will not be "step aside," as no white guys are doing that. And it will definitely not be "have it your way." Webster's Dictionary defines logjam as an over-accumulation of cut logs in streams on their way to a sawmill. It also defines logjam as "an obstacle formed by the accumulation of many items to deal with," which in Illinois means Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). They are not stepping aside anytime soon. Full Article...
Previous Articles