By: Mark Glennon* | Wirepoints
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday announced his Think Big America initiative that will focus on the 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. “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,” comes first, followed by abortion. Then there’s a link to a page labeled JB Administration’s accomplishments.”
Even Public TV’s Chicago affiliate, WTTW, 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.
To be specific, 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.
Read more here.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
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