CHICAGO — Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey on Sunday opened a new avenue in his attacks on Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, questioning the patriotism of Illinois' first-term governor.
In a video on Facebook as Bailey was preparing for his annual fundraiser at his farm in downstate Xenia, the GOP state senator noted the setup for the event included a stage featuring a large American flag.
“There’s the stage again. Amazing, beautiful American flag back there,” Bailey said. “I want to share something with you. J.B. Pritzker’s rallies and his events, I don’t, I don’t often see the flag flying in a prominent position, just keep that in mind.”
Bailey has sought to use his conservative rural grassroots and religious-based campaign to repeatedly attack Pritzker as a wealthy liberal Chicagoan who is out of touch with average working people.
In a prayer he offered during his Facebook post, Bailey offered thanks for “the bountiful harvest across Illinois” and added for Election Day, “Father God, I pray that on Nov. 8, we have another harvest, and that’s a harvest of good people being elected to positions in a state that is going to change the course of this nation.”
He went on to pray for God’s help to “remove evil, wicked and corruption from our government.”
In a posting on Twitter, Pritzker’s campaign manager, Mike Ollen, said Bailey “will say absolutely anything but the truth.”
Ollen’s tweet featured a photo from the first debate between Pritzker and Bailey, which occurred on Friday. During the virtual event, Bailey appeared in a room with no background while Pritzker was flanked by both the U.S. and Illinois flags.
“And don’t get me started on his election denial and support for Jan. 6th insurrectionists,” Ollen said.
Bailey, who supported and was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, had initially urged prayers for Trump and contended “all this fraudulent activity is absolutely disgusting” despite the former president’s baseless claims of voting fraud.
In the general election, Bailey has said the “constitutional” transition process was followed and that Democrat Joe Biden “was president.”
But on Thursday, appearing before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Bailey declined to say whether the House select committee hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection had shown Trump’s culpability in trying to overturn the popular election results.
“I’m not educated enough or informed enough to give you an answer on that,” Bailey said.
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