"You need to have money. It's necessary; you need it to get your message out. But it's not always enough," Kaplan continued."If your message doesn't resonate with people, it doesn't matter how often it's on TV or how often you see it on the internet. It's not going to get you votes."
How did Johnson get the advantage? Kaplan said that while raising money is important - it's how candidates spend it that can really make a difference. Johnson's campaign transferred $308,000 to the United Working Families political action committee, records show, with most of those funds earmarked for field operations. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates chairs that PAC, which also reported an additional $137,000 in in-kind contributions to Johnson's campaign.
As a watchdog organization, Kaplan noted that Johnson's labor support - like any winning candidates and their financial backers - deserves careful study as they navigate the move from campaigning to day-to-day governing.