THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER
Governor General 2010
Illinois Election Results 2010: Progressive, Conservative, and Tea Party Voters Help Hand Governor Pat Quinn Victory on Election Day
(Chicago, IL) — November 3, 2010. First, let us be clear: Pat Quinn won. Second, progressive, conservative, and tea party voters helped him do it. Continue reading
Illinois Election Results 2010: Governor Pat Quinn Defeats Senator Bill Brady
(Chicago, IL) – November 3, 2010. While the bean counters and lawyers at the Cook County and Chicago Board of Elections continue to sift through the uncounted absentee and other ballots in the Illinois Governor’s race, it is clear that Governor Pat Quinn has defeated GOP State Senator Bill Brady. Continue reading
Illinois Election Results 2010: Governor Pat Quinn’s Claim on Victory Strengthens
(Chicago, IL) – November 3, 2010. With 99% of the precincts counted and with approximately 15,000 absentee ballots in Cook County and Chicago yet to be counted, Governor Pat Quinn’s current 8,349 edge will likely provide sufficient buffer to claim victory in the race against State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington). Continue reading
Illinois Exit Poll Results 2010: Governor Pat Quinn Leads Bill Brady by 10 Points among Women, Exit Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) — November 2, 2010. In pre-election polls, Governor Pat Quinn was leading GOP rival Bill Brady by 1 to 2 points among women, but an ABC News exit poll has Quinn leading Brady by 10 points among women, giving the Governor an overall two-point edge in the exit poll. But it is only … Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Senator Bill Brady Leads Governor Pat Quinn by 3 Points, New Internal Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) — November 2, 2010. State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) is leading Governor Pat Quinn in the Illinois governor race by three points, according to a source privy to a recent internal Brady tracking poll. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: GOP Leads Dems 6 to 15 Points, New Polls Say
(Chicago, IL) – November 1, 2010. The nation’s two polling giants—Gallup and Pew—are out with new polls that differ significantly on the GOP advantage on the national generic ballot, a difference that has consequences for close races in Illinois. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Despite Visits by Barack, Michelle Obama, Likely Illinois Democratic Turnout Stagnates, Poll Data Says
(Chicago, IL) — October 27, 2010. Further depressing polling news is rolling in for Illinois Democratic candidates–likely Democratic voter turnout has stagnated, according to a review of polling data. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bucking National Trend, Self-Identified Illinois Tea Party Members Surge, Poll Data Says
(Chicago, IL) – October 27, 2010. Despite slumping support nationally since last spring, the Tea Party movement in Illinois has gained strength, an analysis of polling data has revealed. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bill Brady Distances Himself from Tea Party as Key-Voting Groups Abandon Protest Movement, New Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) — October 27, 2010. Illinois GOP governor candidate Bill Brady is bringing conservative GOP southern governors to a campaign Tea Party rally in Will County while downplaying the event’s “Tea Party” sponsorship, a distancing which comes on the heels of new polling data that reveals that self-identified Tea Party membership is slumping nationally, particularly among key voting groups. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Independent Voters Stampeding to GOP, Sinking Democrats Nationally, Gov. Pat Quinn in Illinois, New Polls Say
(Chicago, IL) – October 26, 2010. Independent voters are turning even more sharply in recent days against Democratic candidates—if that was possible—nationally and in Illinois, with Governor Pat Quinn looking more-and-more like a casualty here. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Conservative Southern Governors to Campaign for Bill Brady in Will County
(Chicago, IL) — October 25, 2010. Illinois GOP governor candidate Bill Brady on Wednesday will be bringing conservative GOP southern governors to campaign with him at a rally in Will County. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Outpacing Bill Brady, Gov. Pat Quinn Reports $1.2 Million in Campaign Cash within 48 Hours
(Chicago, IL) — October 22, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn reported late tonight that his campaign hauled in a whopping $1.2 million in campaign cash within the last 48 hours, according to state election records. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Chicago Tribune Owner Sam Zell Donates $65,000 to Paper’s Endorsed Candidate, Bill Brady
(Chicago, IL) — October 22, 2010. Chicago Tribune owner Sam Zell, whose newspaper has endorsed GOP governor nominee Bill Brady over Governor Pat Quinn, yesterday dropped $25,000 into the downstate senator’s campaign kitty, bringing Zell’s total donations to Brady for his campaign to $65,000, according to state election records. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Pat Quinn Beating Bill Brady 2 to 1 among Hispanic Voters, New Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) – October 22, 2010. Despite a modest job approval ratings amongst Hispanic voters, Governor Pat Quinn is nevertheless winning Hispanic voters by 2 to 1 in the Illinois governor’s race over GOP rival Bill Brady, a new poll says. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: “Latinos for Brady” Want Bill Brady to Return Campaign Cash Raised by Top Blagojevich Aides
(Chicago, IL) — October 22, 2010. Illinois GOP governor nominee Bill Brady acknowledged on Thursday at a debate with Governor Pat Quinn that top aides to ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich had been raising cash for his gubernatorial campaign, and the acknowledgment prompted the leaders of Latinos for Brady to denounce the fund-raising and called on Brady to return the money. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bill Brady Brings Newt Gingrich to Illinois
(Chicago, IL) — October 22, 2010. Illinois GOP governor candidate Bill Brady is bringing former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich to campaign in his behalf at a rally in downstate Collinsville today, from 1:30p.m. to 3:00p.m. Gingrich, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until being forced to quit … Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Pat Quinn, Bill Brady in Dead Heat; Cohen, Whitney Hurting Brady, New Polls Says
(Chicago, IL) – October 22, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn has shrunk GOP rival Bill Brady’s lead to only one point as the campaign nears its final turn, and he’s being boosted by third party candidates, according to a new poll. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Mark Kirk, Pat Quinn YouTube Campaign Videos Most Viewed
(Chicago, IL) — October 19, 2010. The races atop the 2010 ballots are moving into overdrive, which means televisions and car radios are moving into negative campaign mode. Illinois residents who turn on the television tonight will more than likely hear about prisoner release, failed banks, imagined military commendations and job creation. But grave voice-overs … Continue reading
Illinois Governor Debate 2010: Conflict-of-Interest Votes, Ethics Questions Dog Bill Brady at WBEZ Debate
(Chicago, IL) — October 18, 2010. State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) faced an onslaught of ethics criticism from Governor Pat Quinn over controversial votes that Brady had cast relating to a downstate housing development project that potentially could have benefited his home building business. Continue reading
Illinois Governor Debate 2010: Green Candidate Rich Whitney Attacks “Fantasy Economics” of Pat Quinn, Bill Brady
(Chicago, IL) — October 14, 2010. The Illinois gubernatorial debate tonight among Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, Republican State Senator Bill Brady and Green Rich Whitney was not even close. Whitney won hands-down. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bill Brady Bucks the Tea Party
(Chicago, IL) – October 12, 2010. Will Bill Brady be welcome at the next tea party cotillion? Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn, Sheila Simon, and “Matt the Welder” to Star at Dem Rallies on Oct. 11
(Chicago, IL) — October 6, 2010 Governor Pat Quinn and Democratic Lt. Governor nominee Sheila Simon next week will kick off the first in their series of statewide “Putting Illinois Back to Work” rallies. Quinn and Simon will swing through Chicago, Rockford, Rock Island, Peoria, Decatur, Marion, and Champaign on October 11. “This election is … Continue reading
Bill Brady Criticizes Pat Quinn’s Labor Union Deal, Cuts His Own Labor Union Deal
(Chicago, IL) – October 7, 2010. Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady has seized on Governor Pat Quinn‘s deal with his backers in one of the state’s largest labor unions as evidence that he is just another Rod Blagojevich. But the Bloomington senator may have his own endorsement deal to answer for, after a month of … Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Gov. Pat Quinn Surges Past Bill Brady in New Poll, 43%-37%
(Chicago, IL) — October 4, 2010. Here’s a post that you will not find on GOP Bill Brady’s Facebook page: Governor Pat Quinn is beating Brady by six points in a new poll. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: GOP Wave: “The Tide May Have Ebbed,” Expert, Polls Say
(Chicago, IL) – October 4, 2010. The GOP wave is losing force. That’s the conclusions coming from even recent Republican-tilting Wall Street Journal and Rasmussen polls. Charlie Cook, the immensely respected political analyst and author of the Cook Report, wrote on Saturday, October 2: A certain ebb and flow marks every campaign year. In 2010, … Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bill Brady Begins Series of Bus Tours
(Chicago, IL) – October 4, 2010. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady rumbles off on the “Clean Break Express” bus tour of Western Illinois on Monday, the first of several statewide tours before election day. Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Does New CNN/Time Poll Put Pat Quinn Back in the Game against Bill Brady?
(Chicago, IL) – September 30, 2010. A new CNN/Time poll released on Wednesday says the Illinois gubernatorial contest between Governor Pat Quinn and GOP and rival Bill Brady “is all tied up.” Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Gov. Pat Quinn Hoping to Capitalize on Capital Cash Awards
(Chicago, IL) – September 28, 2010. Downstate Illinois has seen an influx of state cash and personal visits from Governor Pat Quinn, as the Chicago Democrat looks to reverse his unpopularity in the region. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bill Brady Pushes Job, Tax Policies at Rally in Rockton, IL
(Rockton, IL) — September 27, 2010. Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) today will join local officials, business leaders and workers at a jobs rally in Rockton at Chemtool, Inc. Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Bill Brady Campaign Says Pat Quinn Forced to Pull TV Ad; Quinn Camp Says Untrue
(Chicago, IL) – August 5, 2010. GOP State Senator Bill Brady’s gubernatorial campaign last night rocketed out a press release claiming “… Governor Pat Quinn was forced today to pull his latest attack ad from the airwaves for misleading attacks …,” while the Quinn campaign claimed it was untrue. Brady’s campaign says it was notified … Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Governor Pat Quinn Hears a Ticking Sound on the Illinois Budget as Election Day 2010 Approaches
Governor Pat Quinn’s gubernatorial campaign yesterday called on GOP opponent State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) to detail his plan for the Illinois budget, arguing that the campaign clock was ticking. Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Election: Bill Brady Leads Pat Quinn by 7 Points, New Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) — July 29, 2010. The staff pay raise fiasco has fouled Governor Pat Quinn‘s effort to get back in the game. After trailing GOP opponent Bill Brady by only three points in a June Rasmussen poll, Quinn is now down by seven points according to a new poll released today: The latest Rasmussen … Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Governor Pat Quinn and State Senator Bill Brady Both Claim $2.3 Million Campaign Cash-on-Hand
(Chicago, IL) – July 19, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn’s campaign for governor today announced that it raised nearly $5.1 million in combined campaign contributions in the first half of 2010. The campaign had nearly $2.3 million cash in the bank on June 30th. Quinn’s campaign cash-on-hand equaled what GOP opponent State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) … Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Bill Brady Raises $3.2 Million for Campaign against Governor Pat Quinn
(Bloomington, IL) — July 16, 2010. State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) today announced that his gubernatorial campaign against Governor Pat Quinn has raised $3.6 million in campaign contributions through the first half of this year. Boy, that’s a lot of dough. In a report to be filed by July 20 with the State Board of … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Would Bill Brady Cut Governor Staff Salaries by 10%?
(Chicago, IL) — July 7, 2010. What policy would State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) adopt toward gubernatorial staff salaries were he to become governor? Would he cut top staff salaries by 10%? The Associated Press yesterday revealed that Governor Pat Quinn has handed out 43 raises to 35 staffers, averaging 11.4%, over the last 15 … Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn Hands Out Raises to Top Staff; Senator Bill Brady Says Quinn “Lost Control of State Government”
(Chicago, IL) — July 6, 2010. Oof. A new report by the Associated Press reveals that Governor Pat Quinn has handed out 43 raises to 35 staffers, averaging 11.4%, over the last 15 months. Some raises exceeded 20%. Can you spell b-o-n-e-h-e-a-d-e-d? Illinois is approximately .37¢ away from insolvency. It has a $13 billion deficit. … Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Illinois Education Association “Recommends” Pat Quinn for Governor; Senator Bill Brady Says Union Choses “Status Quo”
(Chicago, IL) — July 6, 2010. Illinois’ largest education employees’ organization today announced that it is “recommending” Governor Pat Quinn and his running mate Sheila Simon in the November 2010 general election. The Board of Directors for the Illinois Education Association, which backed Comptroller Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary over Quinn, voted overwhelmingly to … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Senator Bill Brady and Governor Pat Quinn Duel over Budget “Failure”
(Chicago, IL) — July 1, 2010. At the start of the new Illinois budget, Bill Brady and Pat Quinn yesterday were hurling some version of “fail” at each other in dueling statements. Welcome to the Illinois budget debate. Senator Brady was first out of the grate, criticizing Quinn on the new Fiscal Year 2011 budget … Continue reading
Illinois Governor Election 2010: Despite $1 Million of TV Ads, Bill Brady’s Campaign Tanks 9 Points, New Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) — June 25, 2010. Earlier this week, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin bewailed Governor Pat Quinn’s political situation: “Gov. Quinn has problems. Big problems.” Marin pointed to State Senator Bill Brady and a GOP governor’s group burst of television advertising as Exhibit A to prove Quinn’s perilous political position. “Quinn’s GOP opponent has … Continue reading
Bill Brady Breakfast with Right-Wing Media Research Center in Chicago Rankles, Worries Brady Facebook Fans
(Chicago, IL) — June 23, 2010. While Governor Pat Quinn this morning was breakfasting with well-healed swells at an early-morning fundraiser at RL restaurant–Ralph Lauren for the hoi polloi–in Chicago, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) was also in Chicago, but breaking bread with the paranoid, out-of-state Media Research Center types. Based in Alexandria, Virgina, the … Continue reading
Illinois Governor Election 2010: Scott Lee Cohen Finds 130,000 Other Clowns to Follow His Show
(Springfield, IL) — June 21, 2010. Honk, honk. Beep, beep. Vrooooom, vroooom. Disgraced former Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen‘s clown car campaign has arrived in Springfield to file his candidate petitions to run for governor as an independent. Cohen seems to have found a 130,000 other clowns to fill the show’s tent. From … Continue reading
Illinois Governor 2010 Elections: Human Rights Activists Boost Governor Pat Quinn with Fundraiser Bash
(Chicago, IL) — June 16, 2010. Honesty. Equality. Those words pulsated on tongues last night—like the secret sauce over the beef tenderloin—among the guests at a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner party in Chicago for Governor Pat Quinn and running mate Sheila Simon. “I think Quinn is one of the few true honest politicians today. He does … Continue reading
Illinois Governor 2010 Elections: Bill Brady’s Campaign Against Pat Quinn Stalls, New Poll Reveals
(Chicago, IL) — June 10, 2010. Despite going up early with his own television ads in the Chicago media market, ads from a GOP governor’s group, and relentlessly bad budget news from Springfield, State Senator Bill Brady‘s campaign against Governor Pat Quinn has stalled, according to a new poll. Fortunately for Brady, he has stalled … Continue reading
Jason Plummer: “… [W]ith your help there is no doubt we can’t defeat Quinn/Simon in November!”
(Springfield, IL) — April 30, 2010. Could someone get Jason Plummer, the 27-year old GOP candidate for Lt. Governor a proofreader? Here’s what’s posted on this Facebook page today: The Rasmussen Reports survey once again proves that the people of Illinois are ready for a clean break from the politics of the past. Let’s not … Continue reading
Illinois Governor 2010: Bill Brady Holds Wide Lead over Pat Quinn in Southern Illinois, New Poll Says
(Carbondale, IL) — April 21, 2010. State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) holds a wide lead over Governor Pat Quinn in Southern Illinois, according to a new poll. It’s a football field-wide lead. The poll, conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute (named after the father of Quinn’s running mate Sheila Simon), reveals that Brady … Continue reading
Illinois Governor 2010: Pat Quinn Lands New Campaign Manager–Jim Edgar
(Chicago, IL) — April 15, 2010. Some pundits are criticizing Governor Pat Quinn for his failure to appoint yet a paid campaign manager to lead the fight against GOP nominee Bill Brady. Why should he? He’s already got a damn good one for free. Former Republican Governor Jim Edgar has filled the vacuum in Quinn’s … Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Elections: “There may not be a state in the country where Democrats have a weaker top of the ticket at this point than Quinn and Giannoulas.”
(Chicago, IL) — April 6, 2010. Here’s an SOS to the Democratic Party of Illinois: Democrats are likely to lose the Governor’s office and the U.S. Senate seat. Think about that for a moment. “There may not be a state in the country where Democrats have a weaker top of the ticket at this point … Continue reading
Illinois Economy: Illinois Job Loss Continues, Poses Stiff Challenge to Pat Quinn in Election Battle against Bill Brady
(Chicago, IL) — April 2, 2010. The Illinois job market continued its downward slide in February battering Illinois communities and posing a stiff challenge to Governor Pat Quinn‘s election campaign against State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington). Unemployment rates rose above previous-year levels in all 12 metro areas for the 33rd consecutive month, according to data … Continue reading
Illinois Governor 2010: Governor Pat Quinn’s Campaign Stirs
(Chicago, IL) — March 22, 2010. It lives. Governor Pat Quinn‘s idling campaign is showing signs of life. Quinn will attend the Illinois Democratic County Chairs membership meeting at the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Piping Industry Local 137 Hall, 2880 East Cook St., Springfield on March 27. Since he … Continue reading
Illinois Governor 2010: Bill Brady Parties with Karl Rove
(Chicago, IL) — March 21, 2010. State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), the Illinois Republican candidate for governor, apparently thinks that boasting of nights out with Karl Rove is a big selling point in deep-blue Illinois. Brady’s Facebook page this weekend squealed with happiness regarding the candidate’s face-time with George Bush’s brain. “Great events in DuPage, … Continue reading
David Ormsby, Editor
Gov. Pat Quinn
- McHenry County Blog | Pat Quinn Tells Truth about Pension ... Cal Skinner
- Pat Quinn Criticizes Scott Walker On Jobs The Huffington Post News Editors
- Will Governor Pat Quinn Sign Illinois Budget on Thursday? « Child ... Marge Berglind
- Quinn: Lawmakers Must 'Show Some Fortitude' On Pension ... Todd Feurer
- Governor Pat Quinn Puts His Foot Down On Gambling Expansion ... Mark
- Senate narrowly backs Quinn on facility closures - Capitol Fax.com Rich Miller
- Gov. Pat Quinn Releases 2011 Federal, Illinois Taxes David Ormsby
- Democurmudgeon: Gov. Pat Quinn exposes Scott Walker as a fake ... Democurmudgeon
- Chicago News Bench: No, Really, Pat Quinn Still Sucks More Than ... TM-1000
- Advocates Seek Illinois Child Welfare Vision from Governor Pat Quinn Marge Berglind
IL General Assembly
- General Assembly puts health exchange bill on back burner - Crain's Chicago Business May 10, 2012
- IL educators react to proposed state budget cuts - WREX-TV May 11, 2012
- Violence Against Women Act Survives Partisan Fight, Quinn Told Not To Close ... - Patch.com May 9, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - MarketWatch (press release) May 1, 2012
- You Paid For It: IL General Assembly Scholarship Program - FOX2now.com May 7, 2012
- Our Opinion: Anti-bully bill should get OK - The State Journal-Register May 10, 2012
- Illinois State University considers 4.4 percent tuition increase - Herald & Review May 10, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - PR Newswire (press release) May 1, 2012
- Asian-Americans to have state caucus - WBEZ May 8, 2012
- Suburban mayors also urge state to pass pension reform - Chicago Sun-Times May 10, 2012
The Capitol Fax Blog
- Question of the day May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Political cover or political payback? May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Illinois Needs Private Sector Jobs Now! Why Labor Leaders Support Senate Bill 1849 May 10, 2012 Advertising Department
- Senate narrowly backs Quinn on facility closures - Chamber backs Quinn pension reforms May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- House approves bill to effectively end free employee health insurance premiums May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 - VIDEO *** Smith hearing resumes today (LIVE Coverage and Video) May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 *** Not a big deal at all, but it’s probably time to delegate a bit more May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Morning Shorts May 10, 2012 Owen Irwin
- *** LIVE SESSION COVERAGE *** May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - COWL review, supplement to today’s edition and a Statehouse roundup May 10, 2012 Rich Miller