Illinois Democratic Primary For Governor - Following The Money
[Cross-posted at WurfWhile.com]
Susan Manilow, a Chicago philanthropist and Democratic Party supporter, has financially supported her son Edwin Eisendrath's gubernatorial candidacy. Last December she gave $10,000 to his campaign and loaned it an additional $40,000. For a single donor that's quite a bit. Her husband and Eisendrath's step-father, Lewis Manilow, also gave $50,000 in loans and donations.
Last Friday, however, Susan Manilow got serious about her son to the tune of $500,000 (yes, all those zeros are correct).
That eclipses (there's no other word) all other previous donations to Eisendrath, who had raised only a fifth of that ($100,950) in donations by the end of the December filing - and who's previous single highest donation had been $15,000 from a relative.
Not surprisingly, Eisendrath's campaign started looking for ad time the same day as the mega-donation (last Friday). Rich Miller has said the ad buy was supposed to be for $1 million - which is more than Eisendrath has reported on hand, so it will be interesting to see where the other money comes from - although it looks like it will mainly be from family for now.
The temptation is to treat this as a horse race and analyze what Governor Rod Blagojevich recently raised - but while I touch on Blagojevich's money below, a "horse race" isn't the right metaphor. This is more like a poker game, with Blagojevich sitting at the table with deep pockets, and Eisendrath finally getting enough money together to ante up. Eisendrath can now get some cards - and may even play a good hand if speculation is true (hat tip to Bill Baar).
Blagojevich, likely for the first time, has actually been out-raised by Eisendrath for a current month, March (as of Monday the 6th), for contributions $500 or above, where he has brought in $328,960.
Given Eisendrath's late start, the media campaign on TV with a pick up from the press will be crucial. Eisendrath needs something pretty dramatic to win.
6 comments:
If you look at all the reports now up at the Board of Elections, you'll see that Eisendrath has raised a total of about a million and a quarter. Of that total, about 900,000 came from his family. He can't spend it all on the new ad buy, since he has already spent some on a cable ad buy and he has other expenses. But he might be able to buy 800,000 or so of air time which should give him 9-10 days of full-on statewide exposure. Hard to believe that that would be enough to win.
Funny thing is of all the Democrats I know, and I know a few, none like Blagojevich.
So he wins because of money?
Bill,
I think he wins because the dislike is largely personality-based. I've been in some of the endorsement sessions, there is some grumbling, to be sure. But the consensus always goes back to the record.
Independent organizations have recognized IL for our strides in health care.
Choice groups love Blagojevich.
And you can identify all of the toll and fee increases you like - the fact remains that income and sales taxes were not raised.
At the end of the day - most Democrats realize that the money gives him the ability to go toe-to-toe with anyone the GOP sends at him - to tout his record and pick apart theirs.
He may have warts - but so does every GOP hopeful. Better to try and keep the fight internal than air out dirty laundry for all to see (as the GOP repeatedly does - with nary a good result to show for it).
The money is only part of the equasion.
Six figure donations from guys like Eychaner, Rauner, Dennis, Driehaus.
10k from Mell, four six figure donors...
Sounds like Mr. Reform is already bought and paid for.
The republicans I feel want Blago to win. With Blago in the sites of the feds and a grand jury here and there on a local basis at the very minimum his campaign committee and some of his top people get indicted sometime this summer. The election will be over when that happens and Karl Rove and crew will have outsmarted the blue state. Public official A, does that not ring a bell with anyone? If George takes a hit or two, look out. If George walks it might help Blago but I think he is a had lad. Too many investigations to not nab somebody close to him and when they do they will eventually talk. Fawell said he would never rat George out but he did just that. Democrats would be smart to nominate EE.
I'm a student at the school at which Eisendrath is the Vice President. He's a deserving man. Someone who is generally concerned with the needs of the individual as well as the population. Trust me, he needs your vote. Do you want a governer that wins solely on name recognition and a terrible medicare system (I worked at a pharmacy as well). Or do you want someone that has been in positions of power and knows how to handle them. VOTE FOR EISENDRATH.
Post a Comment