Rauner gives his campaign $50 million almost 2 years before election
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, nearly two years away from Election Day 2018, deposited $50 million into his campaign account this week in what party operatives billed as a "first installment" in the effort to win a second term for the wealthy former venture capitalist.
The contribution — nearly double what Rauner spent personally on his entire 2014 campaign — is an early indication of the massive amount of money that's expected to be spent on the 2018 election, even as it remains unclear who will emerge on the Democratic side to challenge him.
Made Tuesday and disclosed Thursday, the contribution comes as the Illinois Republican Party has already launched pre-emptive strikes against two Democrats considered potential contenders — J.B. Pritzker, an entrepreneur and investor from a well-known Chicago family, and Chris Kennedy, a former owner of the Merchandise Mart and son of Robert F. Kennedy.
Rauner spent a record $65.3 million — or nearly $36 a vote — in his 2014 campaign against then-Gov. Pat Quinn. Of that, nearly $28 million came from his own pocket. Since then, Rauner and his wife, Diana, have spent more than $32.5 million to support the Republican Party, GOP candidates and conservative groups in Illinois.
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-50-million-met-20161222-story.html
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He bought off everybody in his initial run for the election. His ass was even calling my house and that's a first for a Republic0n. 