Dillard calls Rauner's .01 percent comment 'out of touch'

(Updated)

State Sen. Kirk Dillard on Monday cast opponent Bruce Rauner as “out of touch” and unable to relate to working families after Rauner, referencing his personal wealth, told the Sun-Times that he was not part of the 1 percent of Americans but part of the “.01 percent.” Rauner made the comment at the same time he worked to distance himself as the Illinois version of failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Dillard’s comments refer to a Sunday story in the Chicago Sun-Times where Rauner was asked if he was part of the so-called 1 percent of the wealthiest Americans.

Rauner responded: “Oh, I’m probably .01 percent.”

(See related: ‘Despite wealth Rauner says he’s no Mitt Romney’)

In a campaign statement today, Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, called Rauner “out of touch,” and said he was concerned with “how” Rauner made his money.

“There’s no way someone who admits being in the top .01 of America’s richest people can relate to working families,” Dillard said. “How can someone with nine luxury homes relate to someone struggling to make ends meet? The answer is obvious: he can’t”

Rauner has said he makes no apologies for his financial success, saying he has built it himself. In response to Dillard, Rauner’s campaign poked at the Republican taking public sector union cash.

“Attacking success, on top of taking hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions from some of Pat Quinn’s biggest allies, is why Kirk Dillard should be running in the Democrat primary,” said Rauner campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf.

With just eight days remaining in the GOP primary race, Dillard has been on the attack, working to build on his upward trajectory in the polls. Surveys of probable voters showed Dillard creeping closer to Rauner’s double-digit lead. However, Rauner’s lead remained strong, according to a Chicago Tribune poll last week, showing Rauner leading with 36 percent of the vote. However, Dillard’s numbers doubled after a series of attack ads have hit Rauner and since pro-union money has gone to back Dillard’s candidacy.