* From a Monday Tribune column entitled: “Tuesday: A referendum on Gov. Rauner”…

This election cycle, Madigan is testing another strategy. He is attacking Democrats he doesn’t like by linking them to his chief adversary, Gov. Bruce Rauner. In a handful of races, Madigan is trying to keep reform-minded Democrats from winning by calling them sellouts to Republicans. It’s not true, of course, but it’s an effective message at a time when Rauner is largely being blamed for state budget cuts.

In doing so, Madigan is framing this election as a referendum on Rauner. He has amped up the significance of Tuesday’s primary because Rauner’s leverage is on the line. If Rauner doesn’t beat Madigan in a few key races, the freshman governor’s influence, his agenda and his party will lose credibility at a time when they’re already struggling to be relevant.

Outside Chicago, in more conservative-leaning districts, Rauner remains popular and supported. His agenda is welcomed in Downstate communities that have emptied out, in part due to the state’s poor fiscal shape. I say that, having interviewed just about every candidate running for a seat in the General Assembly. Distaste for Madigan, Chicago and Democratic policies is palpable.

But in the city and suburbs, Rauner’s support is porous. Gridlock over the state budget is wearing out the fringes of his base. Tuesday will indicate how much.

I think we got the answer.

* Meanwhile, a Springfield resident explains her vote for Sen. Sam McCann…

[L. Gay Davidson, 62, a computer consultant and retired state worker] said she doesn’t want Rauner to “think he can control” lawmakers. She said she ran into Rauner at a hockey game, and he told her to tell House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, about her complaints about the state budget.

“I blame them both, but Madigan’s been in for a very long time, and we’ve always had budgets,” Davidson said, adding that she thinks Rauner is “holding it (the budget) hostage” to his agenda.

This “we always had a budget until Rauner showed up” claim is a topic that is rarely, if ever, mentioned in mainstream media. Perhaps the governor’s two high-profile and downright humiliating primary losses yesterday will prompt more critical coverage. When reporters smell blood in the water, bad things start to happen.

Even so, some folks have flatly stated that the impasse is a good thing. Illinois really needs this battle to finally turn the state toward a new direction.

My own opinion, stated quite often, is that the governor needs to find another way out of this mess. He’s the governor, he’s supposed to be the one in charge.

Stop pointing fingers, quit the constant whining about your impotence and get something done already.