Lt. gov., atty. gen. may be looking ahead to 2010

[December 15, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- In many ways, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan couldn't be more different: He has carefully promoted his image as an outsider and reformer; she comes from a powerful political family.

But both scored leadership points this past week after Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest on federal charges alleging he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. And that is likely to resonate with voters in the 2010 governor's race, political observers say.

Both are considered likely candidates for the state's highest office, although last week neither would address that question.

Quinn quickly and forcefully called for Blagojevich to step down or face impeachment. Madigan went a step further, asking the state's highest court to strip the governor of his powers.

Any of those scenarios would make Quinn governor and the incumbent in 2010.

Madigan, who acknowledged in October she was "thinking about" a run for governor, said at a Friday news conference that "political issues and political matters aren't even on my radar this week."

But experts doubt that voters haven't crossed her mind.

"She has even more going for her now," said longtime Illinois political strategist Don Rose. "All those people who worried that she's a clone of her daddy know that she's a straight-shooter."

There is another scenario that could prevent a matchup, though.

If Quinn becomes governor, he would have the power to appoint Obama's Senate replacement -- unless there is a special election to fill the seat -- and could ask Madigan to accept the job, Rose said.

Quinn also could decide his chances are better in a three-way primary against Madigan and another gubernatorial candidate, perhaps state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

"You don't have to be a political genius to understand if Pat Quinn becomes the governor it certainly helps his candidacy if he decides to announce he wants to run in 2010," said state Rep. Bob Molaro, a Chicago Democrat. "Whether that hurts ... Madigan, I'm not sure. Her record is exemplary."

The two represent different traditions in the Democratic party.

"Pat Quinn came out of a more independent and reform-minded movement in Illinois," Rose said. "Lisa Madigan comes from a dyed-in-the-wool, old-line machine family, but she turns out to be much more progressive, more liberal than her father," state House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Both have clean reputations, which will be what voters want in 2010, Rose said.

The two aren't close, but aren't enemies either. But Molaro fears a divisive Democratic primary for governor, especially after the events of the past week. That would "give a Republican candidate some hope of winning," he said, despite Obama's presidency, which normally would help Democrats keep the governor's mansion in 2010.

Even worse would be if Blagojevich hangs on through an impeachment process, which would invite Democrats to start announcing their run for governor early, he said.

But Rose said he imagines party leaders will work out some way to share the wealth.

"I suspect a deal is going to be cut," Rose said. "I can't tell you quite the way it's going to work."

[Associated Press; By CARLA K. JOHNSON]

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