Now it's getting nasty.
Embattled Republican candidate for Bruce Rauner is fighting back over a new line of attack -- this one about his use of clout.
Just last week, Rauner suffered through a firestorm of sorts defending and then reversing comments he made pertaining to the state's minimum wage. His republican primary opponents Bill Brady, Dan Ruterhford and Kirk Dillard, piled on.
This week, Rauner faces questions about whether he used political clout to gain admission to Walter Payton Prep for his daughter -- a nearly year-old story.
Monday, Rauner's campaign fired a press release entitled: "Brady, Dillard and Rutherford Exposed in Clout Scandal," which reprints headlines showing that all three of his opponents have been tied to clout for admission schemes themselves.
The tone of the press release is downright nasty, and should set up the tone for the remainder of the primary season -- which ends in March.
BRADY, DILLARD AND RUTHERFORD EXPOSED IN CLOUT SCANDAL
Local
“Kirk Dillard is the worst type of career politician. He's double-talking and has more clout baggage than O’Hare during a snowstorm. The fact is Kirk Dillard and the other career politicians repeatedly clouted people into the University of Illinois and never thought twice about it. Voters know he is a hypocrite and will reject him.” – Mike Schrimpf, Rauner Campaign Spokesperson
BRADY, DILLARD AND RUTHERFORD USED THEIR CLOUT AS STATE LAWMAKERS TO GAIN EDGE FOR POTENTIAL U. OF I. ENTRANTS
“The politicians have been named as part of an investigation by the Chicago Tribune into the use of clout in the admission process at the state's flagship university. ... Others on the list include: state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington; state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa...” [The Pantagraph, Local lawmakers on alleged U of I 'clout list', 06/12/2009]
“In Order Of Most To Least %% Lawmaker # Requests # Known # Known Admissions Denials … Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) 7 3 1 …” [Chicago Tribune, Who made admissions requests, 06/11/2009]
“…University logs obtained by the Tribune show that Dillard's name was tied to seven students on the clout list since 2005.” [Chicago Tribune, Bill would fire beleaguered U.ofI. trustees, 7/16/09]
