Gov says he'll give to Stroger, urges others to

Gov says he'll give to Stroger, urges other
October 22, 2006
BY MARK J. KONKOL Staff Reporter

Last week, Chicago Ald. William Beavers (7th) publicly put the arm on Gov. Blagojevich to give cash-strapped Cook County Board president candidate Todd Stroger $100,000 from his campaign war chest.
Saturday morning, Blagojevich said he had talked with Beavers and agreed to help Stroger but hadn't cut a check just yet.

During a South Side campaign stop, Blagojevich wouldn't talk about how much money he has pledged to the Stroger campaign

Instead, he urged other Democrats -- specifically Illinois Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan and his daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan -- to start throwing campaign cash Stroger's way.

"We are working on gathering contributions for Todd," he said. "We are in the process of getting . . . Mike Madigan to be a good party chairman and help. . .. We're looking to get ... Lisa Madigan to help Todd Stroger because she doesn't have a race of any consequence. We want the other candidates who . . . don't have hard races to help. . .. If they'll help, we'll help."

House Speaker Michael Madigan's spokesman Steve Brown said his boss has supported Stroger financially and has "no idea what the governor is talking about."

Stroger himself said he expects Blagojevich will donate "something" to the campaign, but one politician shouldn't have to shoulder the brunt of his campaign need.

"We are asking all elected officials not in tough races for campaign contributions. This is an unusual circumstance. We are in great need in a short amount of time," he said. "I understand [Blagojevich] wants to contribute in a group."

Stroger said he has "called everybody" and that several Democrats have stepped up to the plate with donations -- U.S. Representatives Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Gutierrez and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, among them.

Stroger said he needs as "much as we can get."

"There's never enough campaign money, never enough commercials, never enough time," he said.

mkonkol@suntimes.com