When a Republican candidate for governor suggested in his latest television ad that Gov. Pat Quinn was just another version of ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, it barely registered with Quinn. He brushed it off as “goofy.”
But when Quinn was asked a routine question about state finances, he used it as an opportunity to tear into his chief rival in the Democratic primary — Comptroller Dan Hynes — accusing Hynes of playing politics by holding up a loan that would help state government pay its bills.
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“To be lollygagging along and meandering along instead of getting the job done is inexcusable,” Quinn said. “The people of Illinois expect every constitutional officer to do his or her job without politics.”
The outburst was just the latest example of Quinn’s obvious anger at Hynes.
Politicians, even when they dislike their opponents, usually hide their feelings. Especially when talking about members of their own party, they portray disputes as simple policy differences and make sure to note their opponent’s good intentions or long record of public service.
Not Quinn.
Normally easygoing, he bristles at the mention of Hynes’ name and flings harsh accusations: Hynes doesn’t know much about creating jobs, he went AWOL during tough state budget talks, he’s an “ankle-biter” who complains without offering better ideas.
Quinn won’t discuss his irritation at being challenged by Hynes, but he doesn’t deny it either.
“It’s a free country. Anybody can run for office,” Quinn said when asked about it.
Regardless of who emerges from the Feb. 2 primary, the skirmishes are sure to provide fodder for Republicans who hope to reclaim the governor’s mansion in the wake of the Blagojevich scandal.
Hynes stoked the flames when he went after Quinn early. His first TV ad stretched the facts to accuse Quinn of wanting to raise taxes even on families struggling to get by. He also has called Quinn, who twice ran for office on the same ticket with Blagojevich, the head cheerleader for the disgraced ex-governor.
Still, an aide says Hynes’ race against Quinn is about the issues — primarily how to deal with the state’s enormous budget problems.
“What the governor doesn’t seem to understand is this isn’t personal. It isn’t about him,” Hynes spokesman Matt McGrath said.
It’s not hard to see why Quinn would be annoyed.
It’s rare for an establishment politician like Hynes to launch a primary challenge against a high-ranking member of his own party.
In addition, Quinn took office under incredibly stressful circumstances. He replaced Blagojevich in January when the incumbent was booted out of office over federal corruption charges.
That left Quinn the tasks of reassuring an angry, suspicious public while trying to take control of Blagojevich’s bureaucracy and figure out how to address the biggest budget crisis in Illinois history.
“I believe that he feels that his long years in politics have brought him to the governor’s office and he deserves the respect of the rest of the party not to challenge him so soon after he comes into office,” said Loyola University of Chicago political science professor John Frendreis.
