* Today’s Tribune headline was brutal: “Brady swings and misses at Quinn - Apparent GOP governor nominee fumbles shot on early inmate releases.”

The lede was just as harsh…

As he warmed up Thursday for his expected acceptance of the Republican governor nomination, state Sen. Bill Brady took a swing at Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and hit nothing but air.

The story, of course, was about Brady’s botched press conference yesterday over the Quinn administration’s super-controversial early release program that I told you about yesterday. More…

The trouble is, state prison officials later pointed out, the inmate wasn’t among those the Quinn administration released early because he wasn’t eligible.

Brady hadn’t fully checked available public records, including an online list the Quinn administration posted detailing which inmates were let out early after getting sped-up “good time” off their prison sentences. When told there is such a list, Brady offered a short response: “There is?”

The gaffe is the latest controversy for Brady, who likely will be certified Friday by state elections officials as the winner in Feb. 2 primary.

“There is?” That’s my favorite line from the presser.

* Sun-Times hed: “Brady misfires on governor - Republican can’t back claim that Quinn freed murder suspect from prison early.” From the story…

State law allowed [recently accused murderer Jonathon Phillips] to knock off one day from his six-year carjacking sentence for every day of good behavior. He served 27 months in the Western Illinois Correctional Center and received an additional 60 days off his sentence for “meritorious good time” and 196 days of credit for time in the Cook County Jail awaiting trial on the 2007 carjacking charge, Smith said.

“We were told by legal opinion that he likely was [released early],” Brady said.

Asked what he meant by the term “legal opinion,” Brady said, “It means we consulted people with a law degree.”

“We consulted people with a law degree.” My second favorite line.

* The AP gets to the meat of the matter…

Phillips was sentenced to six years for vehicular hijacking in Cook County. The law requires him to serve at least three. He was released early after receiving 60 days good-conduct credit, which the Corrections director may grant to most inmates, in October 2007, Smith said.

Brady questioned whether Phillips was eligible for meritorious good time because of his crime.

State law indicates the credit does not apply when a judge finds that the victim of vehicular hijacking suffered great bodily harm. Such felons must serve 85 percent of their sentences, which Brady suggested should have applied to Phillips.

But the Cook County state’s attorney’s office told the AP in January there was no finding of great bodily harm in Phillips’ case.

The law is worded in a way that could be read to deny meritorious good time for everyone convicted of vehicular hijacking. But criminal defense lawyers contacted earlier by the AP generally said the law appears to have been properly applied in Phillips’ case.

Here’s some inside info for you. Word’s been going around for months about this Jonathon Phillips case. I’ve looked into it, the AP examined it, the Hynes campaign took a long look (after being approached by the murder victim’s mother) and Brady’s people have known about it as well. Everybody but Brady came up empty. Well, actually, Brady came up empty as well, he just didn’t think he did.

…Adding… Some folks I talked to yesterday pointed out that Quinn could now use those “Brady swings, misses” headlines in his own defense when Brady’s early release ads start airing.

* Related…

* Brady’s attempt to link Quinn, murder suspect falls short

* Brady links Quinn prison-release policy to local murder

* Capitol Fax video: Sen. Brady demands Quinn publicize names of prisoners released

* Capitol Fax video: Brady continues to jab Quinn for early prisoner release