Progress Illinois

The latest from the Illinois electoral landscape ...

IL GOVERNOR

A poll released by the Paul Simon Institute on Public Policy late last week showed Gov. Pat Quinn with a sizeable lead over comptroller and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Dan Hynes:

Quinn:  33.9%
Hynes: 16.5%
Someone else: 14.2%
Don't know/No answer: 35.4%
MOE +/- 5/4%

Since our last 2010 round-up, this race has also seen its share of additional endorsements.  A week ago, Quinn accepted the backing of Rep. Phil Hare, who said that the "Illinois Congressional delegation finally has a partner inSpringfield, instead of a punch line."  Watch a video put together by the campaign: 

Today, Quinn is scheduled to receive the endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. Last week, that same union's state council announced their support for challenger Dan Hynes, who also received the endorsement of the sheet metal workers union.

IL SENATE

In the nation's Capitol last week, reporters spotted Alexi Giannoulias leaving the White House where he told them he'd been huddling with senior adviser David Axelrod to discuss the Democratic Senate primary. At this point, Giannoulias is leading in the polls and in the fundraising race, but doubts remain about his viability among the Democratic establishment in D.C. Yesterday, the Washington Post reported on that dynamic:

Sources familiar with the thinking of the White House and Durbin say Madigan was an obvious choice who would have kept the Democratic seat from being in play in a year when the party will be fighting across the country to retain the gains of the last two election cycles.

Giannoulias, in this view, was not a bad candidate, but he was not considered a sure thing. And this is a race that the White House, whose upper ranks are packed with Chicagoans, is determined not to lose.

On WTTW's Chicago Tonight last week, ABC 7 political reporter Charles Thomas also alluded to these vague concerns about Giannoulias, saying: "Something could come up -- and you know what I'm talking about here -- and that could really torpedo his campaign."  CBS 2's Mike Flannery took issue, responding: "No, it's not fair to say that. What are you talking about?" Watch it (full video here):

Moving on, David Hoffman released his tax returns last week and challenged Giannoulias to follow suit:

"It's a simple request -- full and complete transparency of personal tax returns," Hoffman said in a statement distributed by the campaign. "After the recent problems and scandals in Illinois, that's the very least that candidates for U.S. Senate owe the voters." [...]

In the last five years, Hoffman made between $247,726 (2008) and $630,034 (2007), the most fluctuation coming in capital gains. He inherited a sizeable trust from his grandfather, a former CEO of GEICO Insurance.

Furthermore, Cheryle Robinson Jackson finally announced her third quarter fundraising totals last week, saying she has reported $354,000 in contributions with $322,000 on hand. The Sun-Times also reported on Friday that a database maintained by Rod Blagojevich's offices suggested that she had secured an administration job for her husband in 2003. This only led to more questions regarding her ties to the disgraced former governor (she worked as an aide during his first term). Bernie Schoenberg has more:

Jackson told reporters last week she did nothing inappropriate to get her husband the state job, and didn’t lobby Blagojevich for it. [...]

“Charles Jackson was interviewed and hired by ERIC WHITAKER, former director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, based on his experience, reputation and longstanding relationships in the public health field,” said Jackson spokesman BOB KETTLEWELL. “Cheryle did not have any influence on the public health director’s decision to hire Charles and was not aware of the existence of a hiring list.”

COOK CO. BOARD PRESIDENT

Despite holding a press conference a week ago touting support for his county board president candidacy, Rep. Danny Davis continues to take his time deciding whether he plans to run for that office of for reelection to Congress. The Chicago Defender has the latest statement from him:

For now Davis is circulating petitions for his congressional seat and for Cook County board president.

Nov. 9 is when candidates have to declare what office they are seeking. Davis said he may announce before then which office he would be a candidate for but don’t be surprised if he takes his time.

“I am going to say what I am going to do when it’s time,” Davis told the Defender. “I am under no pressure to make a decision on which office to pursue. If someone wants to run for my congressional seat they are free to do so. I am not preventing anyone from getting out here circulating petitions and raising money to run.”

As we've said repeatedly, this is beyond ridiculous. The good news is it will be finally resolved exactly three weeks from today.

Full Disclosure: The SEIU Illinois State Council, which sponsors this website, has endorsed Pat Quinn in the Democratic primary for governor and Alexi Giannoulias in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.