National Football League

Ditka in ad for Republican gubernatorial candidate

Published Sep. 7, 2014 5:24 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

CHICAGO (AP) Da Coach has weighed in on Da Campaign for Illinois governor.

Former Chicago Bears football coach Mike Ditka appears in a new TV ad for Republican candidate Bruce. It aired Sunday during a broadcast of the Bears game against the Buffalo Bills.

The 30-second spot plays off Ditka's reputation as a tough, no-nonsense task master.

In it, the Super Bowl-winning coach sits across a table at a restaurant and tells Rauner he likes him because he opposes special interests. Ditka slams his clenched fist and adds, ''Bam, hit `em right in the mouth.''

When Rauner responds that maybe he's ''been too hard'' on special interests, Ditka gives him a 10-second, silent, cold stare before the Republican backtracks, saying, ''OK. You're right. I don't know what I was thinking.''

''Yeah, stick to the game plan, Bruce!'' Ditka barks. ''Stick to the game plan!''

Rauner, a multimillionaire businessman, is locked in a tight campaign race against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Quinn's campaign responded to the ad in a statement later in the day, drawing attention to the Republican challenger's wealth.

''Only a billionaire ... could afford to run such expensive ads during the Bears game,'' the Quinn campaign said.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League