In the Chicago election, money couldn't buy you love.

In the run up to the recent Chicago mayoral election between the frequently fired Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner (and former middle school teacher) Brandon Johnson, it was back to back tv ads and fancy glossy four color mailbox fillers.

I ignored most of the tv ads and threw out the mailers.

I doubt I’m alone.

One of the advantages of streaming the shows I watch is that I can fast forward past all the ads including the political ones.

I doubt I’m alone.

I’ll leave it to the paid consultants to figure out the return on investment in what I consider the over reliance of this kind of campaigning.

But in a story in this morning’s Chicago Tribune by A.D. Quig and Gregory Pratt the numbers kind of support my theory that money alone can’t buy you love.

Loser Paul Vallas raised and spent twice as much money on the campaign as Brandon Johnson did.

Not to be one-sided, Vallas came a lot closer than he did four years ago with the backing of big bucks from corporate billionaires.

When he ran in 2019 Vallas only got 5% of the vote and didn’t even make the run-off.

This time he got the most votes in the primary and 48% in the run-off.

Of course, Vallas had the right-wing, white lane all to himself. And in the general election it was clear that the third of the vote he received in the primary was close to his ceiling.

Johnson, who received just 24% in a the multi-candidate primary, doubled his vote in the general and got 52%.

According to the Tribune, Johnson spent more than $4.8 million on television ads and another $944,000-plus on digital ads while Vallas spent more than $7.6 million on TV ads.

I never saw one of the ads. I just hit the fast forward button.

Another interesting fact from the Trib article: Vallas lost to Johnson in all the wards where he helped the aldermen or allies except for the 13th and 15th Wards.

Vallas’ campaign also contributed nearly $315,000 to aldermen or their allies who endorsed him, the campaign records show. Most of the contributions were made to ward organizations that have historically paid precinct workers or galvanized volunteers to get out the vote.

The Vallas for Mayor campaign contributed about $68,000 to the ward organization run by Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, his former mayoral rival who endorsed Vallas during the runoff. Vallas’ campaign also gave between $15,000 and $30,000 each to ward organizations run by Aldermen Michelle Harris, 8th, Anthony Beale, 9th, Raymond Lopez, 15th, David Moore, 17th, Derrick Curtis, 18th, and Emma Mitts, 37th.

Vallas also contributed $60,000 to 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn’s campaign committee. Quinn has been a close ally of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and the two have benefited from one of the city’s most vaunted ward organizations. Vallas also gave $60,000 to Prentice Butler’s campaign committee for 4th Ward alderman. Butler is the outgoing chief of staff for Ald. Sophia King, who endorsed Vallas after losing in the first round of the mayor’s race. Butler lost his runoff election to state Rep. Lamont Robinson..

In my younger days when I knocked on doors for the candidates I supported I wasn’t paid a dime.

Yes. There were always some Dunkin’ Donuts and KFC back at the office, but that was usually supplied by other volunteers.

To be clear, I’m not saying money means nothing in politics.

Because of Citizens United there’s way too much of it in election campaigns.

But in the words of John, Paul, George and Ringo:

I'll give you all I've got to give
If you say you love me too.
I may not have a lot to give
But what I got I'll give to you.
I don't care too much for money
Money can't buy me love.