Follow the money as Springfield gets ready to reconvene | Greg Hinz |

 

The "more" is a huge proposed expansion of legalized gambling that could bring casinos to Chicago, Lake County and the south suburbs as well as slots at horse-racing tracks.

gambling interests dropped a nifty $738,000 on Illinois lawmakers in the last two-year election cycle — almost all of it this year, when the money really counted.

Like GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Brady, who took in $13,750, according to the study. Or Gov. Pat Quinn, who got $18,476.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Follow the money as Springfield gets ready to reconvene | Greg Hinz | Blogs | Crain's Chicago Business

Brady Campaign: Accounting glitch impacts ads | abc7chicago.com

Brady, who has used the state's $6 billion in unpaid bills as a campaign issue against Quinn, denied his campaign had any financial problems and was visibly perturbed by an ABC7 producer's question about the management of his campaign.

"Now wait a second, no one said we didn't pay our bills...we paid our media buyer, he's the buyer, don't put words in anybody's mouth," said Brady.

The sales department at ABC7, which canceled 23 Brady commercials Thursday, reports the campaign paid what it owes the station late Thursday afternoon. Ads purchased by Citizens for Brady will be back on the air Friday.

Click on the following for this newer story on the Brady ads:  Brady Campaign: Accounting glitch impacts ads | abc7chicago.com

Brady Insists His Campaign Has Cash, Despite Ad Snafu | NBC Chicago

Will the Bill Brady ads end this Friday?

A number of Chicago television stations, including NBC 5 and ABC 7, and at least one station downstate in Peoria, began pulling Bill Brady campaign ads Thursday for nonpayment.

project director Rebecca Kiessling. "We've pulled out from certain areas and we've changed things around," she said, insisting that the decision to not pay certain bills was merely a method of changing the buy.

Pat Quinn, suggested the entire episode called into question the Republican's financial acumen.

"Sounds like they need to pay their bills," Quinn said at an afternoon appearance. "If you're running for governor, that's a good way to show the people you know what you're doing is to pay the bills."

Click on the following source for more information: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Bill-Brady-Says-Campaign-Ads-Pulled-for-Non-Payment-a-Simple-Mix-Up-106133339.html#ixzz13hREoZ8L

View from St. Louis: Tight races in Illinois for governor, Senate

 

Pat Quinn appears to be closing the gap with Republican challenger Bill Brady, while the state's U.S. Senate race remains a virtual tie, according to a new poll conducted for the Post-Dispatch and KMOV-TV (Channel 4).

Click on the following for more details:  Tight races in Illinois for governor, Senate

Poll: Quinn gains ground on Brady

 

Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll of 600 registered voters shows Quinn with the support of 39 percent of those questioned, while 38 percent prefer Brady. The poll has an error margin of 4 percentage points, which means the candidates are in a virtual tie.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Poll: Quinn gains ground on Brady

'Our state is $120.6 billion short!' :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

 

state now owes $85 billion in bond IOUs -- promises we've made to "pay later with interest." Our credit -- the ability to borrow -- has about maxed out. So we're not paying our bills. Not someday in the future but right now

Click on the following for more details:  'Our state is $120.6 billion short!' :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Terry Savage

Election 2010: Illinois Governor - Rasmussen Reports™

 Now only 7% difference in Governor’s Race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Brady picking up 44% of the vote, while Quinn earns support from 37%. Eleven percent (11%) prefer a different candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided

But in June, Brady was ahead 47% to 36%.

Click on the following for more details:  Election 2010: Illinois Governor - Rasmussen Reports™

Wal-Mart makes its move in race for governor

GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady reported receiving a $50,000 donation from the Arkansas-based discount retailer on June 1 -- right around the time Mr. Brady was loudly urging the Chicago City Council to approve plans for Chicago's second Wal-Mart outlet.

[Greg Hinz] heard that… the governor or top aides recently met with a Wal-Mart exec and that the retailer soon may write another check, this one to the Democratic candidate

Click on the following for more details:  Wal-Mart makes its move in race for governor | Greg Hinz | Crain's Chicago Business

Mixed signals from GOP

 

Bill Brady and Mark Kirk, two Republicans running for top Illinois offices, sometimes seem to be running in different directions

Kirk, the party's Senate candidate, questions the judgment of any public official who winds up not paying income taxes. That category includes Kirk's Democratic opponent but also Brady, the GOP nominee for governor.

Kirk, a member of Congress, voted for "cap-and-trade" environmental legislation (but now opposes it), supports abortion rights and stem-cell research and has backed some gun control measures.

Quinn's campaign mocked Brady for not paying income taxes last year, only to find out that Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias is in the same position.

Click on the following for more details:  Mixed signals from GOP

Illinois ‘Rushmore’ loses steam

 

Six years ago, when he[Bill Brady} was merely a state senator from Bloomington and not yet the Republican nominee for governor, Bill Brady pushed an idea that was something like an Illinois version of Mount Rushmore.

possible Illinois Presidential Memorial Monument, which could be on a 400- to 600-acre site and feature 40-foot-high bronze heads of Illinois-based presidents.

Click on the following to find out more about Mr. Brady’s plans:  saukvalley.com | Illinois ‘Rushmore’ loses steam

Walmart becomes issue in Ill. governor's race - Forbes.com

Republican Bill Brady joining with an influential black minister Wednesday to support the big box chain's expansion.

. Pat Quinn, who has courted union backing in the governor's race, said Tuesday he was encouraged by the negotiations that could bring more Walmarts to Chicago. The company has said it wants to build dozens of stores in the city."I'm encouraged by the fact that Wal-Mart understands that you have to pay a decent wage to workers, certainly above the minimum wage," he said

Walmart becomes issue in Ill. governor's race - Forbes.com

Public Policy Polling: Brady leads Quinn, but margin reduced

 

Bill Brady is still favored to become the most obscure big state Governor in the country this fall, as he leads Pat Quinn 34-30 despite 56% of Illinois voters having no opinion about him. But Quinn has reduced what was a 10 point deficit now to 4 points and is looking a little more viable for November than he was back in April.

Click on the following for more details:  Public Policy Polling: Brady leads Quinn, but margin reduced

Quinn campaign tries to counter Bush event

 

SPRINGFIELD — Democrat Pat Quinn’s gubernatorial campaign is planning a rally in Bloomington on Wednesday to try to counter former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s appearance for Republican Bill Brady.

Click on the following for more details:  Quinn campaign tries to counter Bush event