Pritzker’s subtle political theater

Recently, I watched a television commercial by Gov. JB Pritzker about Gov. JB Pritzker. Once the campaign ad finished, I spent a few moments analyzing what I saw. He didn’t overtly promote himself running for any political office (reelection) this year. He wasn’t endorsing any candidate running for any office this year. He wasn’t promoting the Democratic Party either. He showed himself jogging along the lakefront in his orange University of Illinois sweatshirt, meeting with constituents, making speeches. Pritzker was touting his record of accomplishments.

That’s when it hit me. This was a movie trailer for his upcoming 2028 film, “Pritzker for POTUS.” The governor was testing the waters to vie for the Democratic nomination in what really is the worst-kept secret of his laying a presidential foundation. Look at how he orchestrated his nomination for Best Actor in a Dramatic Political Leadership Role during the 2024 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Look at how he has played the oppositional tough guy standing up to President Donald Trump in media appearances during the last decade.

Of course, he must do it now because the Chicago Bears organization is pressing him and using the turbulent political climate as leverage. They likely remember what happened to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley when hizzoner effectively lost the bid in 2009 to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The Bears leaving Illinois for northwest Indiana on Pritzker’s watch would damage his credibility and candidacy.

Deep down, Pritzker can play hardball as the taxpayers’ champion, but it’s nothing more than political theater. Pritzker can’t lose the Bears for Illinois because that will damage his (until now) well-paved yellow brick road to the White House from Chicago through Springfield. Still, most Illinoisans know that the roads here are seasoned with potholes.

R.D. Barlow

Schaumburg