By: Mark Glennon*
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday announced his Think Big America initiative to take his message national on progress his administration has made in Illinois, “right wing extremism” and abortion rights. His Think Big organization, a 501(c)(4), will lobby for passage of pro-choice ballot initiatives around the country.
It’s not hard to see what this is really about — his presidential ambitions.
That’s apparent in the material at the top of Think Big’s new website. First, the website says, “Think Big America builds on the progress that Governor JB Pritzker’s administration and its allies have made in Illinois and takes the fight to right wing extremists all across the country. A sentence on abortion comes next. Then there’s a link to a page labeled “JB Administration’s accomplishments.”
Even the PBS television Chicago affiliate saw what it’s about, beginning it’s story on Think Big with this: “Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker may demure when asked about future presidential ambitions, but the Democrat is raising his profile with a new, national campaign to secure abortion rights.”
It’s actually quite clever, from Pritzker’s perspective. By promoting himself nationally through Think Big, he will still be honoring his public promise not to challenge Joe Biden in the presidential primary. But if Biden drops out, gets pushed out or becomes incapacitated before the November 2024 election, as seems more likely each day, Pritzker’s name will be established nationally.
If Biden drops out before the August Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominee would be chosen by the party’s delegates. If Biden drops out after nomination at the convention but before the election, his replacement would be chosen by the Democratic National Committee — party bigwigs, basically. The exact rules are a bit more complicated but that’s the general idea. Either way, Think Big will have made Pritzker well-known to the decision makers.
Those decision makers will have other reasons to like Pritzker. He’s funding Think Big on his own dime, at least initially, and he has long showered contributions on Democratic candidates and causes, as described in a Wednesday New Yorker column. Most importantly, his net worth is estimated at $3.8 billion, and he doesn’t hesitate to pour money into his own campaigns, having contributed $333 million to his two runs for governor. That’s music to the ears of political kingmakers.
If Biden stays in there’s also the chance he would look to replace Kamala Harris, who is exceptionally unpopular. Pritzker would surely settle on the vice presidential ticket. Failing that, there’s 2028. Plenty of time for Pritzker, age 58.
It’s no surprise that Pritzker would make abortion rights central to his Think Big pitch since that seems to have been an issue of overriding importance in close, recent elections, favoring Democrats.
His strategy of labeling opponents as “right wing extremists,” however, is questionable. That’s getting pretty tired, but divide and label is how he routinely works, as we wrote just this week. His presidential teaser speech in Florida last year was as divisive and vitriolic as could be.
Still more questionable is whether he can get away with claiming success in Illinois. We’ve published hundreds of articles begging to differ, which we won’t revisit for now.
“Illinois is the most progressive state in the nation and damn proud of it,” Pritzker says.
Will that fly?
Even Illinoisans apparently are starting to wonder. An Emerson poll released just this week put Pritzker’s approval rating at a weak 40.5%, down significantly from earlier polls. And a Lincoln Poll published this week says 60% of Illinoisans don’t want him to run for president.
“Think Big” or “Think Again”? That’s what Illinoisans apparently are starting to ask.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Guv Pigchop was Thinking Big when he tried to pay Blago for Obama’s vacated seat in Congress.
Am I the only one who laughed at the slogan *Think Big*?
Absolutely not! LOL
Should be – Think Big, See My Big Belly!!
ThinkBigAmerica.COM. That tells me .org was already taken, which means someone already owned the rights to that name. IIRC, Think Big America was Ben Carson’s platform back when he ran against Trump in 2016. Maybe he got the rights?
Ben Carson has a brain. JB simply spends his daddys money.
Zero-appeal JB has as much traction as fellow pudge-ball Chris Christie – meaning near none, despite his specific ability to self-finance a massive vanity project such as 2024 presidential campaign. Newsom is too pretty, too connected. JB is valued only for his willing billions of campaign dollars.
The only way to think is “big” when you look at Fat Fredo. He has as much chance of being president as does Gavin Newsom. They destroyed their state, then want to do that to the entire country. I think most voters, except for the knuckleheads that are dyed-in-the-wool leftist lunatics, have figured this out.
That said, Democrats steal every election they win, so Republicans have to keep an eye on that.
While I would hope that you are right, remember the US elected community organizer Barack Obama Divider In Chief President not once but Twice! Yes, keep an eye on that!
Obama was genuinely popular in both elections, and McCain and Romney were both dopes. Sure there were shenanigans, as always, but it wasn’t outright stolen. But it’s entirely unbelievable that Biden got more votes than Obama did. Biden got the most votes ever, supposedly.
You need to share the information about which specific election sites had issues leading to a stolen election. Either that or there is the possibility the majority of people voted Democrat. I mean.. it’s possible. Otherwise you are saying every single election should be won by a Republican or it must have been tampered with?
That’s what many of these conspiracy whiny infants think. They just can’t comprehend that other people vote and think differently. Much easier to just cry when you lose.
Just like Billary and the Dem simpletons whined about Russia collusion for 2+ years in 2016.
Living large and enjoying my extra $200K in tax savings because I voted with my feet and left Taxistan over 20 years ago!!
lol
He’s not making a bid out of respect to Joe, but if he was he would call it Go Big. But he’s not. This guy can’t keep himself from being a duplicitous liar. Bad news big parade balloon , in America today it’s all about looks and nothing to do with substance. Worth a chuckle to see him spend billions to lose miserably and have a good cry, though.
pritzker has destroyed small business in illinois; not to mention he profits from dead baby parts. there are no words to describe how evil this guy is. may he get his just rewards.
Yes, he has destroyed small businesses — and the whole state in
general. One can see how all of his plans are self-focused and his policies
are always the worst of the worst. There is no regard for the average
citizen. None at all!
Making plans to exit. Will report back when mission accomplished.
Still here in Illinois ! Looking at Georgia and Costa Rica!! Newsome WILL BE THE MAN! Watch for an illness to start playing a magic role in the 2024 election! Tragedy ?? I don’t think so-given no Obbbbbbbbomba/Clinton candidate yet!
If Mike Oboooooomba gets in the race she/he will WIN HANDS DOWN!
Georgia has been leaning Dem/liberal recently. Suggest you look at other southern states. Also, if you are open to international relocation, consider Asia.
The thought of King Pritzker issuing executive order after executive order as POTUS is the stuff of nightmares. Not sure the Democrats can come together behind a white male billionaire but I don’t want to find out.
I wouldn’t worry about it. California Gov would crush Pritzker if Biden is no longer in race.
LOL That would be the nightmare of all nightmares. His performance during
2020 and all that was a nightmare on a more local level. :/ When speaking
about the latest stoopid thing he’s done, I always refer to him as “the governor who would be king”.
God save us
Ready for Halloween I see, lol…!!!
The biggest thing about Pritzker is his head and I don’t mean physically.
This makes the push to defeat Gotion that much more important!
What, you don’t want taxpayer subsidized projects owned by Chinese companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party all across America?
The Gotion project, I agree, is an important matter that he needs to lose. Hanging around his neck will be a defeat, but more importantly, he’ll forever be remembered as selling out America in favor of the CCP. That should be a campaign ad run endlessly until Pritzker gives up his presidential ambitions.
Sigh, If only Illinois had a opposition party to the party in power.
BTW, I am very impressed with the level of public opposition shown by the residents of Manteno (Gotion) and Joliet (the migrant issue).
Sigh too! I think it’s something they put in the
water. :/
And yes, I am too! Maybe some year that type of
thing will spread; (I can hope can’t I?)