Quinn campaign continues without Durbin endorsement

NORMAL, Ill. - Gov. Pat Quinn celebrated his one-year anniversary as Illinois' chief executive by flying around the state touting the White House's decision to turnover $1.2 billion for passenger train improvements. But as he goes into the final weekend before voters decide whether he is worthy of the Democratic nomination for a term of his own, Quinn was unable to boast an endorsement from the state's senior representative in the U.S. Senate.

Joining Quinn on the trip was Dick Durbin, the second-most powerful member of the senate. Friday's trip, which included stops at Chicago's Union Station and Amtrak depots in Alton and Normal, marked another venture for the Democratic pair.

During the last 12 months, Durbin and Quinn successfully paired-up to drive home the importance of obtaining financial assistance for high-speed rail upgrades and the sale of a state-owned prison in northwestern Illinois to the federal prison system to house soon-to-be transferred Guantanamo Bay detainees.

But despite the partnership and compliments the two have given one another, Durbin said he would not be adding his name to Quinn's list of endorsements.

"I haven't endorsed any statewide candidates," Durbin said following a presentation to nearly 130 people crammed into the Amtrak station here. "I've decided to stay neutral. I have a lot of friends running."

However Durbin has endorsed Democrat Porter McNeil, who is running to succeed Mike Boland in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Durbin's decision to remain neutral comes at a tough time for the Quinn campaign. Quinn's once commanding lead over Hynes has turned into a contest a recent poll by the Public Policy Polling shows could be a toss-up.

Quinn campaign spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin could not be reached for comment.

At the same time, Durbin's indecisiveness means he is not assisting the effort against the promoted lieutenant governor and former state treasurer.

Hynes has hit the standing governor with strong and effective attack advertisements. Perhaps the most effective spot includes an archived interview with the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, who, in the footage, says hiring Quinn was a mistake.

Quinn has said Washington asked him to resign from the administration because of conflicts between himself and the mayor's chief of staff.

Coming to Quinn's defense, even if unintentionally, is Illinois' junior U.S. Senator Roland Burris. In a Wednesday news release, Burris called the advertisement an abomination. However, the former Illinois attorney general said he understood it was produced in the spirit of political campaigning.

Hynes has said his campaign is based on facts.

Speaking to high-speed rail supporters and spirited opponents, who interrupted Durbin during his remarks, Quinn withheld making comments about the election or his Democratic opponent.


Brady stands by Chicago radio ad promoting his downstate roots

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady said Friday his campaign was right to promote his outer-Chicago ties in a radio advertisement streaming through the metropolitan airwaves.

The advertisement, which is on rotation at Chicago-based WGN-AM, also fires shots at Brady's fellow GOP candidates Andy McKenna, the former Illinois Republican Party chairman, state Sen. Kirk Dillard and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.

Brady, a real estate entrepreneur and state senator from Bloomington, said his campaign conducted a survey in Chicago showing voters in the metropolis hope to elect someone without urban connections. He declined to release the study, which he says was conducted two months ago.

Brady made an appearance at Friday's gathering in Normal conveniently after Durbin and Quinn had left.