The Republican race is heating up as the March 18 election nears, but Gov. Pat Quinn faces only nominal primary opposition. He's likely safe for now, but a new poll shows Quinn could have trouble holding onto his seat come the general election.
"The Walking Dread." That's the headline "We Ask America" used on its website to announce the results of its latest Illinois poll, a brief survey of just over 1,100 likely Democratic voters. As in, probable members of Quinn's own party.
Fifty-six percent of those who responded say they approve of the job Quinn's doing; only about half (49.6 percent) say they'll vote for him in November no matter who's running against him.
That's a signal of a big opportunity for Republicans.
Senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, private equity investor Bruce Rauner and Treasurer Dan Rutherford are battling for the nomination.
Rauner, a newcomer to politics, has pumped more than $6 million dollars into his race, and has the support of Illinois' richest Republicans.
But other Republicans, like Congressman Aaron Schock's former Chief of Staff, Steve Shearer, are doing all they can to make sure Rauner doesn't win.
“None of the other candidates, like Bruce Rauner, are trying to buy this election. Bruce Rauner has given over $850,000 to Democrats - liberal Democrats - over the last several years,” Shearer says. Shearer's head of an independent PAC that's putting its weight, and money, behind Dillard.
