Look who supported Rahm Emanuel in his recent Chicago mayoral re-election:
Over the last six weeks, it was impossible to turn on the TV and not be besieged by political spots in Chicago’s mayor’s race. But another component of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s fiercely fought re-election campaign appeared elsewhere.
Digital media boosting Emanuel showed up on smartphones, tablets and in online video ads. It specifically targeted digital devices in 38 of the city’s 50 wards. It targeted younger voters and didn’t really bother with Hispanic wards, guessing those would go for Jesus “Chuy” Garcia anyway.
None of that is very surprising except when you find out this: Republicans paid for it.
Don’t you wish GOP donors would be so happy to open their wallets for conservative candidates? Yeah, right:
A group founded by Ron Gidwitz – co-chair of Bruce Rauner’s campaign for governor, and a onetime Republican gubernatorial candidate himself — was behind Emanuel’s digital advertising. Gidwitz used as a vehicle his onetime federal political action committee, the Economic Freedom Alliance.
In the six weeks between the Feb. 24 first round and April 7 runoff: Republican donor David Herro, portfolio manager of Harris Associates LP’s Oakmark international funds, was in for $12,500. Muneer Satter, a Chicago investor who has put more than $1 million behind Republicans in the last several years, gave $30,000 to Gidwitz’s group. Satter gave another $20o,000 directly to Emanuel in this cycle.
All of this, of course, is a drop in the bucket when looking at the broader picture of the some $30 million behind Emanuel’s campaign fund. Since January, Republican donor and billionaire Ken Griffin gave more than $1.1 million to Emanuel and a pro-Emanuel PAC. “It’s not like Gidwitz tipped the scales for Republicans,” said SEIU political chief Jerry Morrison. “Republicans gave millions upon millions for Rahm.”
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