Republican Governor Candidates Make Case Why They're Best To Beat Quinn
From the Chicago Tribune
The four candidates for the Illinois Republican governor nomination used a Downstate debate Thursday night to try to sell themselves as the most electable party standard bearer in a November showdown against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.
Bruce Rauner, who’s raised and spent the most ahead of the March 18 primary, contended rivals state Sens. Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford were creatures of a bureaucratic government while he presented himself as a “unique” candidate and an outsider.
“I am the solution for our problems and I know how to implement it,” Rauner, a private equity manager from Winnetka. “I am not the problem. Everyone I’m running against has been there for decades.”
But Dillard, who narrowly lost the 2010 GOP governor primary to Brady, shot back that he had not supported tax hikes and budgets approved by Democrats who control the legislature.
Dillard, a veteran lawmaker from Hinsdale, said Rauner’s unvetted background risks seeing GOP hopes of wresting the governor’s office from Quinn “wash away.”
The debate marked the second time in a week that the four candidates got together, this time at a forum sponsored by Downstate public television and radio stations and the League of Women Voters. Rauner had labeled last week’s forum in Mount Prospect as a “beat up Brucey” event. But on Thursday night, opponents took only minor shots at Rauner, looking for a free media opportunity to sell themselves since they have been unable to compete with his vast personal wealth and healthy fundraising.
As of Thursday, has raised more than $8.6 million, including $2.25 million of his own money, since he launched his bid for governor last March, state records show.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
The four candidates for the Illinois Republican governor nomination used a Downstate debate Thursday night to try to sell themselves as the most electable party standard bearer in a November showdown against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.
Bruce Rauner, who’s raised and spent the most ahead of the March 18 primary, contended rivals state Sens. Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford were creatures of a bureaucratic government while he presented himself as a “unique” candidate and an outsider.
“I am the solution for our problems and I know how to implement it,” Rauner, a private equity manager from Winnetka. “I am not the problem. Everyone I’m running against has been there for decades.”
But Dillard, who narrowly lost the 2010 GOP governor primary to Brady, shot back that he had not supported tax hikes and budgets approved by Democrats who control the legislature.
Dillard, a veteran lawmaker from Hinsdale, said Rauner’s unvetted background risks seeing GOP hopes of wresting the governor’s office from Quinn “wash away.”
The debate marked the second time in a week that the four candidates got together, this time at a forum sponsored by Downstate public television and radio stations and the League of Women Voters. Rauner had labeled last week’s forum in Mount Prospect as a “beat up Brucey” event. But on Thursday night, opponents took only minor shots at Rauner, looking for a free media opportunity to sell themselves since they have been unable to compete with his vast personal wealth and healthy fundraising.
As of Thursday, has raised more than $8.6 million, including $2.25 million of his own money, since he launched his bid for governor last March, state records show.
Read more in our daily News Update...