Dan Proft, Merle Widmer’s favorite GOP candidate for governor, doesn’t think much of primary foe Andy McKenna’s new ad (referenced here). Proft says the ad is short on specifics and shows shows McKenna’s Blago-like tendencies:
And that brings me to the subject of Andy McKenna, the latest candidate to enter the Republican primary for governor. His expensive new campaign video and television commercial hail him as the “Quiet Cure” for our state’s problems, but the solutions he offers are so quiet as to be inaudible. This may be unorthodox for a rival candidate to say, but I urge you to watch it. In doing so, after the entertaining intro, you will discover that not one policy position is offered, not one specific solution is advanced or even alluded to by McKenna. Lots of gauzy images of him in imaginary board rooms, strolling down Chicago streets, and winding down the day at his deluxe apartment in the sky in front of a crackling fire.
McKenna offers only poll-tested buzzwords.
In 2006, Rod Blagojevich’s re-election theme was, “Getting Things Done for People”. The details of what things and for which people were purposely absent. It was all about Rod.
Andy McKenna has borrowed that template. He touts himself as “the quiet cure”. What specifically is the cure and who gets it? Why, of course, Andy is the cure. It is all about Andy. Don’t fret about the details.
Hat tip: Illinois’ best political blog.
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Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Proft is delusional if he thinks he eve qualifies as a “rival candidate” to anyone in the Republican primary. The sooner we can get through the primary and put jokers like him behind us, the better.
Bravo, whether you like Proft or not the points he raises about the ad are valid.
Actually, no, they aren’t. McKenna just announced this last week that he was going to run. Proft has spent his entire campaign, and I am using that term loosely, attacking every other candidate in the race whether they are a Republican or Democrat. He realizes he has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning, which is being generous, and has decided to use what incredibly small pulpit he has to attack anyone and everyone. Its quite pathetic and is incredibly desperate. I mean, the Republican party doesn’t even take this guy seriously (Proft) and we’re the party that nominate Allen Keyes for US Senate!!
Have to admit I haven’t been watching the state races very closely. There are so many different candidates its hard to get to know them all. There are a few though that in my opinion stand out in a crowd. Btw, what was wrong with Alan Keyes? I loved Alan Keyes!
Diane — I’ll get the ball rolling on what was wrong with Alan Keyes. Let’s start with the fact that he never lived in Illinois, didn’t know anything about Illinois, and hadn’t a clue what was important to voters in Illinois when he was nominated. Judy Barr Topinka wanted a black Republican to run against Obama, and Maryland-resident Keyes was the only person she could come up with on short notice. That campaign was a joke and an embarrassment to Republicans.
Yeah, basically everything CJ said.