* Oy…

Always-outspoken state Sen. Rickey Hendon on Saturday took aim at Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady at a “get out the vote” rally on the West Side.

“I’ve never served with such an idiotic, racist, sexist, homophobic person in my life,” Hendon said before introducing Gov. Quinn. “If you think that the minimum wage needs to be three dollars an hour, vote for Bill Brady. If you think that women have no rights whatsoever, except to have his children, vote for Bill Brady. If you think gay and lesbian people need to be locked up and shot in the head, vote for Bill Brady.”

Gov. Pat Quinn’s and Brady’s reactions…

Quinn, who stood behind Hendon and was looking straight ahead during the remarks, tried to distance himself from the West Side lawmaker.

“I don’t associate myself with those comments,” Quinn said when a Tribune reporter asked about Hendon’s remarks. “I don’t talk that way. Everybody knows who I am. I’ve been around Illinois for many years. I have lived my whole life here. I believe in civility. I disagree with people in politics, like my opponent Sen. Brady. I don’t engage in name-calling. Never have, never will.”

Brady said Hendon’s comments reflected the low level the contentious campaign for governor had sunk.

“It’s too bad they’d go to this level. Rickey knows better,” Brady said Saturday at a Highwood pumpkin festival. “It’s just disappointing Pat Quinn would allow the campaign to go this route.”

Hendon wouldn’t back down…

“Look, I just told the truth,” said Hendon, who is running for Chicago mayor. “I know this man, and I serve with him. If he can show me that he votes differently than what I said, I will apologize. But he can’t say that. I know he can’t.”

And while Gov. Quinn lamely tried distance himself from the remarks, his spokesperson wasn’t as emphatic…

Quinn campaign spokeswoman Mica Matsoff responded in an e-mail: “Perhaps Senator Brady should address Senator Hendon’s concerns instead of attributing comments to the Quinn campaign that we did not make.”

Double oy.

* Desperation is not only in the air, the whole campaign season reeks of it.

The Tribune rightly called Alexi Giannoulias’ “economic treason” attack on Mark Kirk “shameful”, and now we have this.

I hit a skunk on the way home last night and my garage smells better than this political atmosphere.

By the way, anybody know how to get that smell out of my car? I’d hate for the stench to last longer than this campaign.

…Adding… Both Brady and Quinn were at Rev. Sen. James Meeks’ church this morning. We’ll probably have more on this later.

*** UPDATE *** And here we go…

…Quinn would not say whether he would apologize or whether Hendon should apologize after being asked repeatedly.

Brady said Quinn owes a broader apology for Hendon’s remarks. “More than me, I think he owes the people of Illinois an apology,” Brady said. “He should renounce Rickey Hendon and people like that from his campaign.”

While Quinn disavowed the strength of Hendon’s comments, he did not back away from some of the underlying issue differences with Brady. Quinn ticked off a list of Brady’s positions where they have “strong differences,” including Brady’s opposition to abortion in cases of rape and incest and opposition to gay rights.

As Quinn fielded reporters’ questions, a campaign aide passed out talking points on Brady’s positions on those issues.

Ugh.

Tribune editorial in 3… 2… 1…