Rauner Campaign Turns Up The Heat With Anti-Quinn Ad Blitz
(CBS) -- A big new, unexpected ad blitz from Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner began Friday and could run right up until the November election.
It could have been planned all along, or it could have been in response to gains made by incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn, which prompted Rauner's most personal and toughest attack ad yet.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports.
"When you hear Pat Quinn's false attacks, remember his broken promises," Rauner's ad says.
He was in Springfield Friday, speaking to an American Legion convention.
Quinn began his day in Huntley, where he helped break ground for a new Weber Grill distribution center.
Asked about the new Rauner ad, Quinn took a jab at his opponent for using tax loopholes to amass part of the personal fortune that helped pay for it.
Sources say Rauner was not scheduled to run spots in July. The sudden, surprise order was placed Thursday and calls for him to spend between $180,000 and $200,000 a week this month on Chicago non-cable TV stations.
He's certainly got the money for it, with the most recent report indicating a campaign balance of $12 million.
Quinn's campaign spokesman won't say when or if they'll counter with ads of their own -- only that the Rauner ad they feel is part of a pattern.
"You want to run the fifth-largest state in America, they want to know where you stand and how you made your money, and Bruce Rauner prefers to hide behind negative television ads, as opposed to provide that information to the people of Illinois," Brooke Anderson says.
