Potential Dem Candidates For Governor: Sen. Dick Durbin, Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers
(CBS) – Thursday was Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair. And even though there's a presidential election in just 81 days, speculation is swirling over who will take on the state's top Republican in 2018.
Chicago City Treasurer Kurt Summers is considering taking on Republican Bruce Rauner for governor, sources tell CBS 2 Political Reporter Derrick Blakley reports.
Summers, 36, wouldn't say if that's the case, issuing a standard non-denial denial.
"Today is about Democrats in 2016, and I'm here to help up and down the ticket," he says.
Then he said this: "One way or another, in 2018, the best situation for the state of Illinois would be to have a new governor … It will certainly would be a large financial challenge and a name identification challenge."
Maybe for Summers. But not for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois. Durbin likewise deflected questions about whether he'd be interested in a run for governor.
"At this point, I'm focused on this election year," he said.
But party heavyweights have been urging Durbin to run.
"This governor that we have today inherited a mess and turned it into a crisis. We need real leadership in this state," he said.
Both Durbin and Summers say 2018 is a long way away. And if Durbin is in, Summers undoubtedly would bow out to the veteran Democrat.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who chairs the Illinois Democratic Party, says he's not shaken by Rauner's promise to hit Democrats with the biggest Republican ground game ever.
Madigan says simply throwing money around doesn't win elections.