 Democratic Gov. Quinn and GOP opponent Brady, a Bloomington state
senator, met in Chicago for a debate sponsored by ABC 7 and the
League of Women Voters, their third debate in close to a week.But
the face-to-face question-and-answer session produced few new
answers. Instead Quinn and Brady whacked each other with political
zingers.
Brady hit the governor, once again, over the controversial
prisoner early release program.
"Gov. Quinn has been operating a government of secrecy. Secret
pay raises, secret early release programs. (Gov. Quinn) talked about
public safety. Governor, it is not in the interest of public safety
to release 1,700 inmates early," Brady said.
Quinn responded with a crime-and-punishment zing of his own.
"With respect to public safety, (Brady) is hardly one to talk
about that. He voted against a bill that would have barred child
abusers and spouse abusers from having guns. I believe we should bar
those people from having guns (altogether)."
The two didn't stop there, attacking each other over jobs, the
economy and taxes.
Quinn said Brady all but promised a tax increase if elected.
"He even said so at the state fair. That when he, perish the
thought, would ever become governor, there would be a natural rise
in property taxes in Illinois," Quinn said.
Brady turned Quinn's own phrase against him.
"Governor, perish the thought you'd ever tell the truth. I've
never talked about raising property taxes and you know it."
Quinn, who is trailing in the most recent polls, seemed to rely
on his time-tested strategy of trying to paint Brady as too
conservative.
"I inherited the worst recession in our lifetime from George
Bush. He was president. I didn't support him, my opponent did. (Sen.
Brady) was a big, ardent supporter of George Bush's failed economic
policies," Quinn said.
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Brady countered with campaign go-to theme that Gov. Quinn has had
his chance in the governor's office and didn't step up.
"Governors lead, they don't punt. Gov. Quinn has punted on jobs
and taxes. We cannot afford a governor who cannot stand up and
lead," Brady said.
University of Illinois at Springfield political science professor
Chris Mooney said voters shouldn't be surprised.
"By this time, what's out there is out there. And it's really all
about a ground game."
Mooney said that while debates do influence presidential races,
he thinks too few voters watch gubernatorial debates. And those who
do watch, don't get much of substance.
"I would say it's more about individual voters getting a sense of
the candidates. I think (debates) are still valuable," he said.
If the debate does not sway voters, Mooney said it could fire up
loyal voters. He thinks with so little time before Election Day,
both Quinn and Brady are hoping to use the debate to get their base
voters to the polls.
Brady and Quinn are trying to do just that, with a flood of new
TV ads and last-minute campaign swings.
Voters will go to the polls on Nov 2.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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