Bailey Goes Up on TV, But Is It "Too Little, Too Late?"
Governor JB Pritzker prepares to deliver his State of the State and Budget Address
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In an effort to turn around the prospects of a fledgling campaign, former state senator and 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey is introducing a fiery ad aimed at his opponent, incumbent Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro).
Bost has made border security his top issue in the race thus far, and Bailey attacks directly at that message, claiming Bost’s record on border security is “shameful.”
“Bost voted to grant citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants,” the ad touts.
It also attacks Bost for supporting aid to Ukraine’s war against a Russian invasion.
Here are their citations.
Sources say the ten day buy will cost around $60,000 in the Paducah-Carbondale-Cape Girardeau market.
Here is the ad:
It comes after Bost and allies haves been essentially unchallenged on television in southern Illinois since the first week of January. Hundreds of thousands have been spent on Bost so far, and the Bailey campaign has spent exactly $15,000 on TV so far, a Super Bowl ad on KFVS in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Bost has far outpaced Bailey in fundraising throughout the campaign, with around $1.3 million in the bank at the end of December, while Bailey had around $117,000 in cash on hand.
But Bailey’s most crushing blow came this week when former President Donald Trump endorsed Bost. Bailey had made his support for Trump, and the desire for Trump’s endorsement, the centerpiece of his campaign.
Even with the disadvantages, Bailey’s campaign released a poll in late January showing the former gubernatorial nominee with a four-point lead.
With all of the chips stacked against Bailey, is an attack ad “too little, too late” for the challenger?
Multiple GOP insiders say “probably.”
“Maybe Bailey should've spent less time worrying about the softness of people's hands and more time raising money,” said one operative, referring to a video where Bailey mocked Bost. “Now he'll have plenty of time to play with his flamethrower on March 20th.”
Bailey’s people privately say, though, they’re still in position to win March 19.
The Bost camp also released a Trump endorsement ad on Thursday featuring clips of Trump from a 2018 visit to Murphysboro.
