Rauner Nabs 2 Endorsements, Quinn Goes On The Attack On TV
(CBS) – There were endorsements and accusations Friday in the race for Illinois Governor.
Republican challenger Bruce Rauner got the nod from two major publications. Incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn says he's not surprised, because both the Tribune and Crain's endorsed his opponent four years ago.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports.
"I'm not going to win the newspaper endorsement battle. I never have," he said.
Quinn was out early Friday morning announcing a state economic development grant for an expanding Chicago software developer – proof, he said, of a fast-improving economic outlook.
It was not fast enough for the Tribune, which criticized Quinn's leadership as the newspaper endorsed Rauner.
"House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton treat him as an irrelevant bystander," the Tribune wrote, while "(Rauner) would challenge the power brokers who like Illinois just as it is."
The war of words that began at Thursday's debate continued Friday, with Rauner at an Evanston bakery, buying breakfast for campaign workers.
"We've had four of the last seven elected governors go to jail. Pat Quinn himself is now under federal investigation from two U.S. attorney's offices," the Republican said.
"He keeps repeating falsehoods, he makes up a lot of things," Quinn shot back.
There's no indication that Quinn himself is a target of any investigation.
Quinn was on the attack as well with a new TV ad, aimed at the increasingly critical women voters.
A new CBS news poll out today shows Quinn up by 3 points, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.