A few odds and ends from Illinois' embryonic 2010 electoral landscape.

State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) -- whose statements on the budget deficit we've roundly criticized -- announced that he plans to run for governor:

"If you're a Republican and afraid of anything in 2010, you shouldn't be running," said Murphy, who considered a bid for Cook County Board chairman. "The time to be afraid is over. What do we have to lose? If you're not afraid to lose, you're a whole lot better candidate. I think a compelling message is that there's an electorate that is ready to fire these [Democrats], but we need to step up and see that we earn that piece of respect."

The Lee Newspapers team notes that, when you add Murphy to GOP Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard -- who have also indicated they plan to run for governor -- that means 13.6 percent of the IL Senate Republican caucus is now seeking the office.

Earlier in the year, Murphy was rumored to be considering a run for Cook County Board President.  But like Forest Claypool and Paul Vallas, he ultimately steered clear of that race.  In the meantime, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle has continued to plow ahead and appeared on Fox Chicago Sunday yesterday to discuss her bid.  She expressed support for gradually rolling back the controversial sales tax increase instituted by current Board President Todd Stroger. In response to questions about whether Cook Co. Sheriff Tom Dart might jump in the contest, Preckwinkle responded, "I think he has been a regular organization guy for most of his life.  And my record is one of progressive independence and reform. ... I'm just going to do what I need to do and I have no control over the decisions other makes or their political calculations." Watch it:

No big news to report regarding the U.S. Senate Race.  Laura Washington devoted her most recent Sun-Times column to Attorney General Lisa Madigan's potential run.  And WBEZ reports today that Sen. Roland Burris remaining mum about his plans, despite a campaign website that states "Support Roland Burris In 2010."

On a related note, in response to the news late last week that the Sangamon County states attorney had declined to pursue perjury charges against Burris, the State Journal-Register wrote that "[t]ruth, in its purest sense, has been a victim of this sorry debacle from the start."  And Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown states: "It's still plain as day Burris intentionally misled everyone about his dalliances with disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in pursuit of the Senate seat until the job was safely his."

Finally, Abdon Pallasch profiled possible comptroller candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi over the weekend.