Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn on ILGOP: Stop Fighting Yesterday's War

We've long talked here on the Truth Team about how we 'grow' the ILGOP and how we're supporting candidates who are doing just that:  making moves to ensure the Republican Party in Illinois survives.  There are others who aren't interested in growing the party.

Those 'platform Republicans' as they like to be called would have the smallest, most pure Republican party that would surely win a ton of arguments but loose a ton of elections.

Using the Ron Sandack/Keith Matune slugfest as the prism to examine how the ILGOP can move forward, Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn put (pardon the usage...) a 'fine line' on it:

What's pathetic is that all the righteous venom is in the service of an ultimately lost cause. Gay marriage is here, it's fast spreading beyond Illinois, and the sooner the so-called "pro-family" groups and perpetually seething activists who have focused their money and wrath on this DuPage County district get their minds around this fact and stop fighting yesterday's war, the sooner the GOP will emerge into the 21st century.

Robling And Zorn Write The Dan Rutherford Campaign 'Obituary'

In the past 24 hours, two pieces have been posted to two different, yet distinctly important outlets that have the same basic message:  The Dan Rutherford Campaign for Governor is coming to a close.

Those aren't our words here at the Truth Team.  We've consistently said that we're standing by Dan Rutherford's statement and we believe he's innocent until proven guilty.  To reinforce that, here's what we said weeks ago and still believe.  We're not trying to pile on here.

To be clear, Dan Rutherford has categorically denied any and all of the things he's been alleged to have done. We can only operate on that assertion from the Treasurer. We have to take and trust his word until this fully plays out. Innocent until proven guilt has never been more true - especially in light of the Governor's primary race playing out over the next four weeks.

Back to the two stories.  First, it was Chicago Tribune Columnist/Blogger Eric Zorn.  In a piece titled:  Poll Position, he lays out the case for Bruce Rauner winning the primary.

And yes, bombshells can detonate around campaigns, rendering previous opinion surveys obsolete. 

But so far the only bombshell in the 2014 GOP primary has been the federal lawsuit that a former employee filed earlier this week against third-place candidate Rutherford, alleging that Rutherford sexually harassed him and pressured him to do political work on government time. 

If Rutherford's popularity falls or if he withdraws from the gubernatorial race, it's by no means clear that all or most of the 13 percent of Republican voters who backed him in our recent poll will transfer their allegiance to Brady or Dillard. Rauner had the highest favorability rating in the field at 48 percent. 

History teases us with suggestions that it ain't over 'til it's over. 

But this one looks like it's over. 

The other piece was posted on the Illinois Review this morning.  Home to the conservative discussion on the web in Illinois, he byline'd piece entitled: "And Then There Were Three...".  If it wasn't the content in the post, it was the venue it was published.  If there is a touch-stone for the traditional conservative GOP operatives in Illinois, it is on the Review.  This lede can't help the Rutherford campaign pick up support amongst the activist base:

It is time for Dan Rutherford to internalize the fact that he will never be the Republican nominee for governor, let alone governor. 

It cannot be easy for him to do so, in fact, it is probably painful. For his many supporters, it must be a flattening disappointment. 

Such is politics, and Rutherford’s own choices.

Can Dan Rutherford and his campaign recover?  We think so.  For his sake and the amount of effort he's put into his political career, we hope so.  But it will probably take something else outside his campaign to drive Bruce Rauner down so he can move up?  Yeah....Probably.

Eric Zorn: "Rauner lapping GOP Field"

Over on his long-standing (longest standing?!?) blog on the Tribune's site, Eric Zorn wraps up the Tribune's lead political story with a nice neat bow in his headline:

Rauner lapping GOP field -- Tribune poll

Zorn goes on to point out the 2:1 margin was about the same as last month.  The Dan Rutherford storyline - with his former employee - certainly isn't helping him gain ground, but maybe Kirk Dillard can make it a race?  To do that?  He needs an influx of cash, we thinks....  Why?  Because Rauner is going to make himself hard to hit.  See exhibit A:  Illinois Review reports that Bruce Rauner skipped a debate last night.   Running out the clock isn't easy, but if Rauner's campaign thus far is any indication, he's up for the challenge.  Look!  Coach is calling the '4 corners'.