Democratic gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard has asked Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to be featured in a television commercial for his campaign, attempting to put to rest lingering questions about the depth of the mayor’s support for the Downstate congressman.
Poshard aides said Wednesday they made the request of the mayor after Daley publicly indicated he would be willing to do a commercial for Poshard but hadn’t been asked.
“I’ll do anything for Glenn Poshard,” Daley said in response to reporters’ questions. “If they asked me, I’d do it.”
It would be the first time that Daley has appeared in a commercial for a gubernatorial contender since he became mayor.
Aides to Republican contender George Ryan said they did not view Daley’s decision as surprising.
Still, Ryan had hoped that aside from a few fundraising appearances, Daley would do little to enhance Poshard’s candidacy and attempt to energize Democratic voters in Chicago.
Daley already has been the guest of honor at a Poshard fundraising dinner at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and was a featured guest on Saturday at a Poshard gathering of precinct workers and union members.
But even after making those appearances, Daley’s support for Poshard has remained subject to questioning. Daley’s friend and first chief of staff, John Schmidt, ran unsuccessfully against Poshard in the March 17 primary, though the mayor did little publicly to help him.
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And the mayor also has appeared with Ryan, the current secretary of state and state librarian, at numerous civic functions and library-related events.
The Poshard campaign hopes to end any speculation about Daley’s support and use the mayor to symbolize the unity of Democrats behind their candidate.
Poshard’s candidacy has suffered among some traditional Democratic constituencies because of his socially conservative positions, such as supporting abortion restrictions and opposing most gun-control legislation while serving in the state Senate and Congress.
“We’re working with the mayor’s staff to set it up,” Poshard spokesman Jim Merriner said of Daley’s prospective commercial appearance. “We’re delighted that the mayor, who is the most popular and respected public official in Illinois, is going to help us out.”
Daley also sounded a Poshard campaign theme in lashing out at Ryan’s ability to spend heavily on television ads in the general election. Poshard has imposed donation limits on his campaign.
“What happens is people spend $10 (million) or $15 (million) or $20 million on campaign ads, and to me, the public is much smarter than that,” the mayor said. “I think they underestimate the voters of Illinois.”
Ryan aides sought to downplay the potential impact of a Daley commercial.
“We’re not surprised that the Democratic mayor of Chicago would assist the Democratic nominee for governor,” said Ryan spokesman John Torre. “He has helped him raise money. He appeared at a weekend rally. I think Daley has made it clear he is supporting Poshard.”
Daley’s decision to appear in Poshard’s advertising came as the Democratic contender unleashed his first attack ad of the general election campaign.
The commercial, which began airing Wednesday and will run through July 26, criticizes Ryan for accepting more than $250,000 from the medical community, including health-maintenance organizations. The commercial said Poshard will fight the “HMO bureaucrats” to make sure patients and doctors make health-related decisions.
Poshard’s campaign said the $170,000 ad will air in television markets in Chicago and north of Springfield.
“This isn’t a negative ad,” said Joshua Silverman, Poshard’s campaign manager. “We’re talking about Glenn’s positive record fighting for Medicaid, fighting for Medicare and fighting HMO abuses. We’re drawing a contrast.”
Silverman denied the ad was a quick response to Ryan’s first attack ad of the fall gubernatorial campaign, which criticizes Poshard’s general pro-gun owner positions.
But Torre contended the ad “is a feeble attempt” by Poshard “to divert attention away from his miserable record on guns.”