I’m told that Governor Blagojevich has a new 60-second TV ad up about education and jobs. Rate it here if you’ve seen it.
UPDATE: His campaign website is here. The ad isn’t up yet, but keep an eye on it today. The guv has a press conference planned for this afternoon morning.
UPDATE: I’m guessing that since he has a fly-around scheduled for Monday that he finally announces his candidacy on Sunday. We’ll see.
UPDATE: The ad will be on the governor’s campaign website tonight, I’m told.
UPDATE: From the AP.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich will formally announce his re-election campaign this weekend with a two-day, eight-city tour of the state.
Blagojevich will visit Springfield, Marion and Chicago on Sunday, and on Monday he will travel to Rockford, Rock Island, Quincy, Cahokia and Peoria.
Today Blagojevich debuted his first campaign ad of the primary season, however his campaign spokesman Doug Scofield said the governor does not plan to debate his challenger, Edwin Eisendrath.
UPDATE: I’ve asked the campaign to reconsider its decision to post the ad on the web tonight and instead make it available much earlier. We’ll see. Meantime, here’s Topinka’s new ad. Discuss as well.
UPDATE: If you’re not in the Chicago area or in the Springfield/Champaign/Decatur market, you can probably quit looking for the ad on TV. Doesn’t appear that they’ve bought anywhere but those two markets.
UPDATE: From the Sun-Times.
Acknowledging to viewers that he has “ruffled feathers and had some rocky moments,†Gov. Blagojevich launched his re-election campaign today with a round of television commercials that tout his tax, healthcare and education policies but makes no mention of the federal investigation dogging his administration.
“I know sometimes you wonder what the governor’s up to,†Blagojevich says into the camera in the 60-second ad. “Well, four years ago in the face of a $5 billion deficit and job losses, you had asked me to get things done. It might surprise you to learn the progress we’ve made.â€
And the AP:
“I’m a little older and hopefully wiser, but one thing hasn’t changed. I’m as committed as ever to work for you. Thanks for the chance,” Blagojevich says in the ad
UPDATE: Edwin Eisendrath press release:
“Today a coal industry lobbyist who moonlights as the governor’s spokesman tells us the governor was running for re-election. In fact, he’s running for cover. Just like George Bush, who loves a good photo op, the governor is opting to avoid his record and hide behind his special interest funded ads. Next thing you know, Pat Quinn will have to shoot someone!” Eisendrath said.