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* I told subscribers about this on Monday and (with much more detail) Wednesday, but Greg Hinz is the only one to follow up so far…
Sources close to Jim Edgar are confirming that the former governor is endorsing Bill Brady for the state’s top government job.
After a few days off, I found out about it from Capitol Fax. But Mr. Edgar blabbed about his intentions in a little-noticed Downstate radio interview a few days ago. Beyond that, Mr. Edgar sponsored a fundraiser for Mr. Brady featuring horse-racing industry types around the state fair last month, though he wasn’t able to attend himself. Wife Brenda Edgar hosted.
You can hear Edgar briefly mention that he’ll endorse Bill Brady on WDWS Radio by clicking here. Edgar, of course, has been highly critical of Brady in the past. A little background…
* Edgar whacks Brady again: Edgar has previously called Brady’s plan for a 10 percent across-the-board cut “naive,” which he conceded Thursday led to angry calls from Brady backers.
* Edgar says he’ll vote for Brady: Edgar, however, said he likely wouldn’t hit the campaign trail to help shore up support for Brady. He said he would rather sit this election out and spend more time in his role as an academic at the University of Illinois.
* Pat Quinn Gives Former Governor Jim Edgar Some Love
* Hold Quinn’s Horses: Jim Edgar Takes Bill Brady to the Racetrack
* In other campaign news, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be in Illinois next month for a fundraiser and rally. The event will be hosted by Bill Brady. Ticket info is here. Many thanks to a commenter for the tip.
* Emptying out the queue…
* Brady Responds to Lotto Pick: “I’m concerned of the secrecy that has clouded this selection,” Brady said. “The [Better Government Association] was right on target when they demanded that Gov. Quinn be more transparent.”
* Quinn chooses familiar firm to run lottery
* Lottery vendors win state pact
* Quinn picks firm with state ties to run Illinois Lottery
* Anti-Hare group denies Schilling contributions, admits late paperwork
* Adams: Whom else could Schock help raise money for?
* Gambling, taxes and economy focus of candidates forum
* Call for Candidate Patrick Maher to Resign From Race
* Candidates for County Board president debate health care oversight
* Opponents try to tie Preckwinkle to Cook corruption
* Berrios attacks BGA as front for Claypool
* VIDEO: Dan Proft on Christine O’Donnell, the Tea Party & the GOP
* Tea Party Supporters Rally in Joliet
* Video shows alleged Sec. of State’s office bribery
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 1:42 pm
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Edgars support would be more meaningful to me if Brady were to say, convince him to come back in some role, such as head of OMB, if Brady wins. Edgar behind brady is gilding the lilly at this point
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 1:57 pm
Edgar to back Brady
Well, Duhhhh……
With the election of Brady, the closest thing to a Reaganite IL has had statewide, Edgar becomes not very important at all in R politics.
So, its get on the train now, while it’s still not moving quickly from the station….
Comment by Pat Collins Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 1:58 pm
Agreed, PC.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 1:59 pm
An endorsement by a former (*non-felon) Governor is probably a good thing…but in recent elections an endorsement by Edgar has seemed to be a kiss of death.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:04 pm
I agree w/Anon. Brady should reject this endorsement or his campaign is sunk!
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:11 pm
It was inevitable. I can’t imagine Edgar not endorsing the GOP nominee.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:11 pm
The weirdest thing about this story is that the Champaign News Gazette owns WDWS and the paper didn’t bother to pick up the news that Edgar broke over the weekend.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:12 pm
“I was against Bill Brady before I was for him.”
–St. James of Charleston.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:18 pm
If this race moves out of reach, to me the senate race becomes the top race and a question of do voters hate springfield/alexi or dc/kirk less?
Comment by shore Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:31 pm
Grab you Nintendo with a Troll on top, flip on Wayne’s World, put on a short leather jacket, dress in grunge, Jim Edgar is back in the news. “Show me the money!”
Seriously, it doesn’t hurt. If anything, moderates will be more comfortable voting for Brady, but the numerical gains are probably lost in the soup.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:33 pm
Just a bit Johnny come lately Jim. Now that Brady has illustrated a comfortable lead he wants on board. If I was Brady, I would tell him to take a back seat and watch only. Afterall, Edgar has not picked a winner in two cycles and the recent GOP Primary.
Comment by Little Late Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:57 pm
>Sources close to Jim Edgar are confirming that the former governor is endorsing Bill Brady for the state’s top government job.
He really wanted Kirk Dillard to get the nom, but Reagan conservatives storming back to retake control of the GOP and right the ship that has become horribly lost in a misguided belief that conserativism can’t win and a desire for chairmanship power over principal…he had no choice here unless he really wanted to be lumped in with sore-losers like Mike Castle.
Comment by Segatari Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 2:58 pm
While Edgar’s impact on GOP primaries, especially in a year when conservative activity was heightened, was minimal, he still has very strong appeal among moderates and independents. He will be reassuring to independents who are not fully comfortable with Brady yet.
It isn’t earth-shattering, but it is another plus for Brady.
Comment by Adam Smith Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:07 pm
Is he for Brady or just against Quinn?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:10 pm
I can just read the PQ press release now. Frankly, I am surprised the Edgar quotes were not used in an early ad to brand Brady as a right of right GOPer. Quinn has messed up this campaign so badly. It was his for the taking and he has stumbled at literally every turn.
Comment by Niles Township Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:11 pm
It shouldn’t be news that a republican former governor endorsed a republican candidate for governor. Sen. Brady could get more votes, from independents and moderates, if he gets endorsements from mayors, township officials, and village trustees. Those candidates usually aren’t elected by party.
Comment by Conservative Veteran Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:36 pm
He was stumbling even when he wasn’t at turns.
Comment by John Bambenek Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:36 pm
As an aside, I find it humorous to refer to Jim Edgar as an “academic” at the U of I. To my knowledge, he has a BA from Eastern. Name another “academic” at the U of I with just a BA….. I went to the U of I, and every instructor had a PhD. Is he a professor? Yes. Does that make him an academic? Technically yes. Would any major university in the U.S. hire him other than the U of I? Really? He’s a politician who, not being a lawyer, had no other refuge.
Comment by envelop Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:39 pm
==in recent elections an endorsement by Edgar has seemed to be a kiss of death.==
I don’t think Edgar was the kiss of death for Dillard in the primary. If Kirk Dillard had done any campaigning…ANY…downstate, he would’ve won the primary. He had absolutely zero organization downstate and he made almost no appearances downstate either.
I think the Edgar endorsement helps to shore up the moderates for Brady and allows him a little more breathing room (I’m assuming this race will get tighter over the next 6 weeks).
Comment by eastsider Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:52 pm
- Conservative Veteran - Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:36 pm:
“It shouldn’t be news that a republican former governor endorsed a republican candidate for governor.”
The real news flash is that someone, somewhere thinks Edgar is still relevant.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 3:52 pm
Short term gain for long term pain. Brady should have ignored Edgar and simply gone on to win without his support, and then Edgar would have to come home with hat in hand.
Now, Edgar is re-inflating himself with self importance, and he is doing this for his own benefit and not for the benefit of Bill Brady. Edgar wants to try to remain relevant, and the longer people stroke him all the time, the longer we will have to continue to put up with it.
Thanks for the time that you served Jim; with honor and dignity. Now take a dose of humility and fade into the history books so that we can move forward without you.
Anything else is just a distraction; and in this case makes you appear like a partisan hack and a hypocrite.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 4:05 pm
I almost want Brady to lose so Edgar will go away. Alas, I know that will never happen…GO Brady!
I am tired of people worshiping at the alter of Edgar.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 4:07 pm
Quinn T. Sential, and others,
It hurts nothing for Brady to accept Edgar’s endorsement. I would be surprised of Brady lost a vote over the endorsement, or gained one. Edgar is irrelevant. It is only a plus for Brady to accept the endorsement for the pure reason of Edgar’s ability to fundraise, no matter how good or bad it is. Edgar will supply dollars to the Brady campaign at little or no cost to Brady. It may be $1 or $1,000,000, every dollar helps defray advertising costs in the expensive Chicago market. As long as Brady doesn’t boot it by having Edgar as some sort of campaign “official,” no harm, no foul.
Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 4:17 pm
Maybe the Republican Party is stating to realize that showing support for some tea party type candidates is in their best interests, they seem to be riding the wave right now. As far as Brady is concerned, he can take it or leave it. Edgar’s endorsement won’t make that much difference to his chances.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 4:29 pm
“horse-racing industry types”
Those wouldn’t be one of those special interests that Brady intends to cut off the tax payer dole would it? (re: recent Brady campaign ad)
Be interesting to see which special interests benefit from the Brady administration and which do not.
Comment by Vole Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 4:30 pm
Clearly the Edgar endorsement signals IL voters that the usual GOP bait & switch on tax hikes is now fully in play. St. James would not have flip flopped unless NoTaxBill promised.
BTW: the Daily Herald buried a fun little nugget in their latest Assessor story….”…”Andy Shaw preaches about ending corruption and pay-to-play. Yet he has turned the BGA into a propaganda arm for eccentric millionaires - a group of uber-wealthy Chicago property owners who want tax breaks from Forrest Claypool if he is elected,” Berrios said. “At the same time, Mr. Shaw is enriching himself by receiving tax breaks from the current Cook County assessor (James Houlihan).”
Berrios charged that Shaw’s Chicago bed-and-breakfast, Windy City Urban Inn, received an unfair assessment reduction on an appeal filed by his wife, Mary, and should have been considered a commercial property.”
Looks like Shaw finally got caught…wonder when the BGA will dump his butt?
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 4:48 pm
Quin T. Sential- Having worked in State government under Mr. Edgar, I would venture to say that to “appear like a partisan hack and hypocrite” comes rather naturally to the man. P.C. nailed this story in about the second posting on this thread.
Comment by Skirmisher Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 6:44 pm
Jeepers, 90% chance of being governor. Thanks for jumping in when you’re needed, Mr. Edgar. Now, how about changing your position on con-con?
Comment by Park Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 8:14 pm
Wow a Republican endorsing a Republican in the general. Stop the presses.
Plus Edgar and his gambling company don’t want to be left out if Brady wins.
Plus Edgar was at Topinka’s side in 2006. He surely oughta be able to put up with Brady.
Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 9:17 pm
LOL. Here’s hoping Brady’s budget cuts begin with Edgar’s $177k “distinguished fellow” salary at U of I. (That’s more than the governor’s salary isn’t it?)
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:05 am
Wow. This state makes the argument for a professional electorate and juries. The Dems here are obviously freaking out. It’s over for Quinn. Obama’s next. Apparently, populist “minority” political pandering doesn’t work when the rubber hits the road. Hello Jimmy Carter… The tolls for ignorance plated with populism will be very high and take long to pay off.
Comment by El Conquistador Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:10 am
“Plus Edgar and his gambling company don’t want to be left out if Brady wins.”
Edgar can’t see a parade without getting in front of it.
Comment by T.J. Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 6:26 am