The race for Gov

[Tvandermyde]

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/national/government-and-politics/elections/article_2625a8dc-128c-11df-8537-001cc4c03286.html

 

 

SPRINGFIELD -- Although the outcome of the Republican race for governor remains in flux, state Sen. Bill Brady headed out on the campaign trail Friday.

 

With just a 406-vote lead over his closest rival, Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, Brady took a short break from campaigning Thursday to check on his Bloomington real estate business and rest his vocal cords.

 

For now, Brady and Dillard are waiting for final ballots to roll in from absentee and provisional voters. If an official count in March shows the two still neck and neck, a recount process could be launched, forcing an even longer delay in determining who will represent the GOP in November.

 

That's not stopping Brady from plotting his run against Quinn.

 

In an interview, Brady chuckled when asked how a downstate conservative would fare in the Democratic bastion of Chicago. He said he's heard that question more than once since a late surge put him at the top of the GOP primary race late Tuesday night.

 

His strategy: Downplay the social issues like abortion and guns and get voters to focus on fiscal matters.

 

"I'm pro-life and I believe in the Second Amendment. But our focus is going to be what's most on people's minds," Brady said. "This is all about taxes and the economy and jobs."

 

"Gov. Quinn wants to increase your taxes by half -if not double them -and I'm not going to do that," he said.

 

Chris Mooney, a political scientist at the University of Illinois-Springfield, said Brady is trying to define himself before Quinn gets a chance.

 

"As a relatively unknown quantity, he is open to be defined," Mooney said. "The Quinn camp will try to paint him as this right wing guy."

 

"It's a matter of who wins that 'defining' war," Mooney added.

 

The last downstate candidate to run for governor was Democrat Glenn Poshard, who narrowly lost in 1998 to Republican George Ryan.

 

Poshard ran a similar primary campaign to Brady's, using downstate as his base to defeat three Chicago-area candidates.

 

But, once the general election starts, the equation changes, said Poshard, who is now president of Southern Illinois University.

 

"Just because you win the primary with a huge plurality downstate, that doesn't mean you're going to rack up huge numbers in the general election," Poshard said.

 

Although the two come from different parties, Poshard and Brady share conservative views on guns and abortion.

 

Poshard, however, said he moderated his position on gun control during that election because the issues facing Chicago voters, where handgun violence is a threat to residents, are different from those downstate.

 

"Illinois is one state, but its two different regions," Poshard said. "In the general election, you can't just speak to your base. You have to speak to everyone."

 

Brady said his task will be to keep the voters focused on the contrasts between him and Quinn, rather than on his conservative leanings.

 

"Quinn obviously thinks it's positive to raise taxes or he wouldn't be doing it. I think its negative," Brady said.

 

Brady says his success Tuesday started more than six years ago when he first began running for governor in the 2006 Republican primary a race in which he finished third.

 

"We built a grassroots organization that we knew would give us credibility statewide," Brady said.

 

As the 2010 race took shape, money was tight with six people in the race. His team decided that an early round of negative ads by his opponents, combined with the holiday season, would keep Republican voters undecided for a longer period of time.

 

With less money than some of his opponents, he saved his cash for an advertising blitz that ran in the final week of the campaign.

 

"We just had to take our shot at the end," Brady said.

[abolt243]

http://www.pantagrap...1cc4c03286.html

 

 

SPRINGFIELD -- Although the outcome of the Republican race for governor remains in flux, state Sen. Bill Brady headed out on the campaign trail Friday.

 

With just a 406-vote lead over his closest rival, Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, Brady took a short break from campaigning Thursday to check on his Bloomington real estate business and rest his vocal cords.

 

For now, Brady and Dillard are waiting for final ballots to roll in from absentee and provisional voters. If an official count in March shows the two still neck and neck, a recount process could be launched, forcing an even longer delay in determining who will represent the GOP in November.

 

That's not stopping Brady from plotting his run against Quinn.

 

In an interview, Brady chuckled when asked how a downstate conservative would fare in the Democratic bastion of Chicago. He said he's heard that question more than once since a late surge put him at the top of the GOP primary race late Tuesday night.

 

His strategy: Downplay the social issues like abortion and guns and get voters to focus on fiscal matters.

"I'm pro-life and I believe in the Second Amendment. But our focus is going to be what's most on people's minds," Brady said. "This is all about taxes and the economy and jobs."

"Gov. Quinn wants to increase your taxes by half -if not double them -and I'm not going to do that," he said.

 

Chris Mooney, a political scientist at the University of Illinois-Springfield, said Brady is trying to define himself before Quinn gets a chance.

 

"As a relatively unknown quantity, he is open to be defined," Mooney said. "The Quinn camp will try to paint him as this right wing guy."

 

"It's a matter of who wins that 'defining' war," Mooney added.

 

The last downstate candidate to run for governor was Democrat Glenn Poshard, who narrowly lost in 1998 to Republican George Ryan.

 

Poshard ran a similar primary campaign to Brady's, using downstate as his base to defeat three Chicago-area candidates.

 

But, once the general election starts, the equation changes, said Poshard, who is now president of Southern Illinois University.

 

"Just because you win the primary with a huge plurality downstate, that doesn't mean you're going to rack up huge numbers in the general election," Poshard said.

 

Although the two come from different parties, Poshard and Brady share conservative views on guns and abortion.

 

Poshard, however, said he moderated his position on gun control during that election because the issues facing Chicago voters, where handgun violence is a threat to residents, are different from those downstate.

 

"Illinois is one state, but its two different regions," Poshard said. "In the general election, you can't just speak to your base. You have to speak to everyone."

 

Brady said his task will be to keep the voters focused on the contrasts between him and Quinn, rather than on his conservative leanings.

 

"Quinn obviously thinks it's positive to raise taxes or he wouldn't be doing it. I think its negative," Brady said.

 

Brady says his success Tuesday started more than six years ago when he first began running for governor in the 2006 Republican primary a race in which he finished third.

 

"We built a grassroots organization that we knew would give us credibility statewide," Brady said.

 

As the 2010 race took shape, money was tight with six people in the race. His team decided that an early round of negative ads by his opponents, combined with the holiday season, would keep Republican voters undecided for a longer period of time.

 

With less money than some of his opponents, he saved his cash for an advertising blitz that ran in the final week of the campaign.

 

"We just had to take our shot at the end," Brady said.

 

 

 

And THAT my friends is what we should expect and, yes, applaud from either of these candidates. We won't hear about RTC, dumping the FOID and blocking AWB everytime they talk. We don't need to. We know where they stand. They must talk to the masses, the folks that will get them elected.

I'm saying that so that the first time one of these guys stands up (whichever ends up as winner) and makes some almost moderate comments on a 2A issue, somebody doesn't jump up and down and call them wishy-washy or a flip-flopper. They gotta talk about the hot issues, which to the vast majority of folks in this state is NOT gun issues. When a gun issue comes up, they must answer in a truthful way, but not a way that can be viewed as "extremist" or "right wing" or "tea bagger". Get used to it, that's what it will take to get either one of these fine gentlemen in the "Big House".

AB

[Tvandermyde]

I expect us to get pummled on guns in the media in the short term.

 

Orals next month may slow that down.

 

And it will become front and center once McDonald is decided. With a good court ruling we can blunt part of it. But they will try and hammer us at some point and define Brady as wanting machineguns in every home.

[Don Gwinn]

They can try.

[Tvandermyde]

Don I agree they can try.

 

The real important part is how the campaign responds and how Quinn's people act. If Quinn distances himself from over the top attacks, then Daley looks even wackier.

 

WE will need to get our message down, and hit the talking points. I've got a couple of ideas but we'll see.

 

Hope to see you wednesday night.

[abolt243]

Don I agree they can try.

 

The real important part is how the campaign responds and how Quinn's people act. If Quinn distances himself from over the top attacks, then Daley looks even wackier.

 

WE will need to get our message down, and hit the talking points. I've got a couple of ideas but we'll see.

 

Hope to see you wednesday night.

 

Wednesday night still on?? What time?? Brown"s??

[Tvandermyde]

Brown's 6:30/7 what ever works best for people.

 

Should have a better handle on things then.

 

let everyone know

[johnyt101]

Browns where? Or is this a private VIP meeting?

[Tvandermyde]

DH Brown's tavern in Springfield

 

No it's not private. yes you can come.

[Ashrak]

They can try.

 

+1

 

Standing down is not standing up. Right now, this Governor's race is the prime opportunity to reach out to the so called black community.

 

An Amendment to the Constitution that was directed at that group of people specifically, that was intended to declare once and for all that they are full and equal citizens holding all rights due every American, is in play a the Supreme Court. The opportunity to educate the public about this is ripe and germane to this election.

 

The reformation of this State's laws is going to be required. If that isn't a serious campaign issue, there isn't one.

To stand down and let it pass is the ultimate example of what is wrong with Illinois government.

 

In a nutshell, I think it wise to outwardly campaign on the 14th Amendment angle so as to avoid being hammered by the media as a "gun nut". Concede that the object is firearms but drive home the fact that individual Liberty and Equality is the subject.

 

If a candidate for Governor campaigns on this,embraces this, then media will have to cover it. If media refuses to do so, then Brady/Plummer can hammer the media and media will not be able to employ the "defend Quinn and Democrats" line in response.

 

A campaign on support for issues, as opposed to against the other candidates, is exactly what Illinois needs. It worked in Massachusetts and it will work here.

[Tvandermyde]

Ash --

 

don't misstake my idea of tryign to layout a comprehensive response to what is going to happen over the next couple of months as standing down.

 

In an article in the paper today Brady talks about de-ephising (sp) social issues and focusing on fiscal issues. Right now the country is fixated on the over all economic health of the country/state. We are focused on McDonald.

[Ashrak]

Ash --

 

don't misstake my idea of tryign to layout a comprehensive response to what is going to happen over the next couple of months as standing down.

 

In an article in the paper today Brady talks about de-ephising (sp) social issues and focusing on fiscal issues. Right now the country is fixated on the over all economic health of the country/state. We are focused on McDonald.

There is nothing wrong with a comprehensive plan.

Don't mistake what I just said to be a singular focus. Fixating only on economic health is what happened in the '08 cycle. The dangers of that should be obvious.

 

The whole TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party movement is demonstrating it's growing influence. Concentration on the Constitution, focus on adherence to it, is the wisest comprehensive plan and it includes economic health and individual Liberty.

 

A campaign opening up the realities of the day, exposing the dangers of microfinance - especially as it relates to Sharia compliant banking- and case law lording over and rendering useless the most basic tenets of the Constitution will win because the American people, the people of Illinois, will reject that when it it put to them in that way.

 

Example: When you go vote, are you going to vote for the candidate who supports the Constitution or are you going to vote for the candidate who supports case law that undermines it?

 

Are you going to vote for the candidate who supports the notion that the Bill of Rights doesn't apply here in Illinois or are you going to vote for the candidate who knows it does?

 

Are you going to vote for the person who will ignore the boundaries set forth in our Constitution or are you going to vote the for the person who will respect, protect and defend it?

 

Are you going to vote for your freedom or are you going to vote for being controlled by government?