EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Illinois Future PAC, the super PAC backing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s candidacy for U.S. Senate, is up with a new ad highlighting Gov. JB Pritzker’s endorsement of his No. 2.
SCRIPT: The ad begins with video of Pritzker saying “Illinois deserves a United States Senator who knows how to fight for us. Who will never cower when the moment calls for courage.”
“No one knows Juliana Stratton better,” a narrator says next, before listing off accomplishments of the Pritzker-Stratton administration over b-roll of the pair. It ends with Pritzker saying he’s “proud to endorse Juliana Stratton for United States Senate.”
WHY IT MATTERS: Pritzker is among the most popular elected officials among Democratic primary voters in Illinois. If anyone’s endorsement can move the needle in a close race, it’s his.
Stratton’s campaign has lagged in fundraising, but Illinois Future PAC has filled the void, spending more than $10 million to boost her name recognition and candidacy. Pritzker has funded the PAC to the tune of at least $5 million.
NEW POLL: A Public Policy Poll commissioned by the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association, released Tuesday, showed Stratton leading for the first time with 33% over longtime frontrunner Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, at 30%. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Lynwood, was at 11%.
GRAIN OF SALT: The DLGA is backing Stratton and it’s essentially an internal poll — one that has consistently shown a closer race than other public polling and Krishnamoorthi’s own internals.
That said, the movement is notable. In January, before Illinois Future PAC began running ads, PPP had Krishnamoorthi at 32% and Stratton at 20%. And just last week, Krishnamoorthi was at 29% to Stratton’s 27%.
LOOKING FORWARD: We’re less than two weeks from a primary election that increasingly looks close — or at least getting closer.
