Rabine Meets with Trump in Hopes of Long-Shot Endorsement
Suburban businessman Gary Rabine met privately with former President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, FL this week, according to sources familiar with the meeting. Rabine is hoping to provide a late injection of momentum into a campaign that has been struggling in the single digits.
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
Sources tell The Illinoize that longshot GOP candidate for Governor Gary Rabine held a private meeting with former President Donald Trump Wednesday seeking Trump’s endorsement in the June 28 primary.
Rabine, a suburban businessman, has been a longtime Trump supporter, bundling “millions” in campaign cash for the former President’s campaigns, we’re told. The two held their private confab at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, FL.
A Trump endorsement would be a big boost for Rabine’s fledgling campaign, which has been outspent by millions and has failed to gain traction outside of a chunk of conservative voters in the Chicago suburbs. Recent polling shows Rabine struggling to crack 10% in the crowded GOP field.
We’re told Rabine was joined in the meeting by former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his dealings with high level Russian government officials. He was pardoned by Trump in 2020 and later came out in support of the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy group.
Rabine has also been endorsed by another high-profile Trump supporter, Illinois native and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a controversial and outspoken Trump supporter, hosts a national radio show and has been found to contribute to numerous far-right conspiracy theories. Rabine has said he is a large donor to Kirk’s Turning Point organization.
Neither Rabine or his campaign responded to our inquiries Thursday about his meeting with Trump. Sen. Darren Bailey was also seeking a meeting with Trump when the former President hosted a fundraiser for Bailey ally Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland) last month.
Rabine’s latest TV commercial taps into political culture wars, using many Trump campaign buzzwords, including his “America First” slogan.