* You really should read the whole thing because today’s Quad City Times editorial was uncharacteristically brutal toward Gov. Bruce Rauner…

Rauner twice visited the Quad-Cities in the past week. He twice reiterated well-worn talking points. He twice pinned the blame for Illinois’ failures on the other side of the aisle.

At some point, the bluster becomes destructive. It’s little but positioning for a re-election bid.

Rauner offered one piece of wisdom Monday.

“I tell these folks every day, let’s not think about the next election,” he said. “Let’s think about the future of Illinois.”

If only Rauner took his own advice.

Ouch.

* By the way, you’ll recall that reporters tried to get Gov. Rauner to explain last week why his campaign was paying for a statewide tour if he wasn’t actually campaigning…

(T)he governor insisted [last week] that the proceedings weren’t political. Reporters, Rauner said, shouldn’t cover his tour “in any way other than communication to the people of Illinois.”

“I’ve traveled many times over the last couple years and this trip is not an election announcement,” Rauner said.

The governor struggled to explain the difference.

“Here’s what we’ve got to do. Whether it’s social media, whether it’s visiting with you, a few earned media, whether it’s meeting with the people of Illinois directly, whether it’s running advertising, paid media to get the communication out, we need the people of Illinois, we need the people of Illinois to know what’s going on,” Rauner said after touring a suburban vitamin factory where workers took selfies with him.

Asked why the event didn’t fall under his government duties, Rauner replied: “We want this to be separate and just paid for independently from any government operation.”

* The Tribune put one and one together today…

Gov. Rauner’s press shop didn’t shed much light when asked why last week’s two-day statewide tour was paid for by the campaign while similar stops Monday in Moline and Peoria were paid for by taxpayers.

On Tuesday, a clearer answer emerged: The governor was filmed during the tour, and the Illinois Republican Party promoted a web ad with footage.

The short commercial clocks in at over three minutes, and features generic uplifting music and plenty of sound bites from the governor.

* The video…