GOP Insiders Split on Madigan Messaging
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Building following a court hearing last month. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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As jury selection begins in the corruption trial of longtime former House Speaker Michael Madigan, it isn’t yet clear if Republican campaigns will return to one of their favorite messaging villains for the final four weeks of the fall campaign.
Numerous GOP insiders are split on the idea of rehashing Madigan, who has been out of office for nearly four years, in front of voters again.
There appear to be two schools of thought among the GOP officials we spoke to Monday.
The first is polling shows Republicans have an advantage on economic issues like cost of living and inflation and smart GOP campaigns won’t dilute that message, especially when being outspent dramatically in most cases.
The second is also related to money. Others believe Republicans are so outgunned financially they need to take advantage of every issue in the news to piggy-back on.
“Why not?,” asked former House GOP Leader Jim Durkin, calling the issue “fair game.” “Illinoisans are very tuned into this trial, or they will be when opening arguments start.”
But a top suburban Republican says the Madigan issue doesn’t work for GOP campaigns.
“The Madigan line of attack is played out,” the official said, speaking freely on the condition of anonymity. “Republicans have tried for repeated cycles to make the [corruption] stick, but it has not worked. They should focus attacks on affordability if they want to hit opponents. But even that will be tough when Democrats can just leverage Donald Trump's unpopularity.”
Former Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady agrees, saying GOP campaigns should focus on the issues facing voters in their lives.
“I think that ship has sailed,” Brady said. “And the "corrupt Democrats" message further loses steam when the GOAT [greatest of all time] of Illinois political corruption, Rod Blagojevich, is supporting Trump.”
A former GOP legislator says the Madigan issue has worked over the years and Republicans
“It [usually wasn’t] used properly,” the legislator said. “But when something that big is in the press and so many people are in Springfield solely because of [Madigan’s] dirty money, I think it should be used. Especially against any candidate who took a lot of money from him. "
But another GOP operative says the time for effective Madigan messaging has passed.
“The Madigan obsession worked in a couple of races when Madigan was actually in power, but now that voters have moved on, it's not going to move the needle at all,” the operative said. “Especially since corruption hasn't proven to be a top concern among voters in this state.”
A top southern Illinois GOP insider says there are too many challenges stacking up against Republicans not to take advantage of any issue they can find.
“With gerrymandered districts, [Democrats] changing the rules in the middle of the game, and fundraising chasms, Republicans need to use whatever they have,” the insider said. “If this still plays in polling, then yes, they should use it.”
Another GOP operative said voters aren’t and won’t be thinking about Madigan.
“Unless Madigan’s showing up on their doorstep demanding a ghost job, undecided voters aren’t making decisions based on him,” the operative said. “Republicans have a hard enough time staying on message on the issues we win on. We don’t have the time or resources to throw in another bankshot attack.”
A different operative said the GOP needs to stay laser focused on an economic message.
“Republicans should stay far away from corruption and Madigan,” the operative said. “All Republicans should do is focus on cost of living and the economy. Anyone who does not do that is committing campaign malpractice.”
But another longtime GOP operative says with banks of cameras gathered each day at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago during the trial, Republicans should take advantage.
“[Republicans] need to deliver a contrasting message and they will not be able to do that through paid media, so they should go to where the cameras are and the cameras will be at the trial,” the operative said.
Madigan’s trial is expected to last up to three months.