GOP targets Manar in new anti-Madigan ad campaign | Courtesy of Shutterstock
GOP targets Manar in new anti-Madigan ad campaign | Courtesy of Shutterstock
The Illinois Republican Party released the first video of a new ad campaign on Feb. 1.
With the 2016 election in the rearview mirror, the GOP is targeting potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates for 2018, including state Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill).
Manar began his rise through the political ranks with his 1997 election to the Bunker Hill City Council. He defeated the incumbent mayor in 2001, at the age of 25. He moved on to the Macoupin County Board in 2003, where he served as a board member and then chairman until 2012, when he took the newly created 48th District seat in the state Senate.
The new GOP "Drop the Mike" ad campaign included Manar in the Mike Madigan "rap," picturing him as one of Madigan's "boys." The rap includes, "I'm Mike Madigan and I rock Illinois. I'm the Speaker of the House and these are my boys."
Illinois GOP Spokesman Steven Yaffe said in a prepared statement that the "prospective gubernatorial candidates are working for the Chicago machine and against the people."
The GOP previously targeted Manar on its "Boss Madigan" website, which exposed alleged political connections and campaign donations between Madigan and the senator.
Yaffe questioned the ability of Manar and the other Democratic candidates to remain independent of Madigan's political influence while working on behalf of Illinois' citizens.
"They can either stand for reform or continue to stand with the Madigan machine," he said.
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