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* Gov. Pat Quinn to the Daily Herald editorial board about his chances in the 2014 campaign…

“I think I’ll win the election,” he said matter of factly. “Don’t count me out. …Just watch the last 10 days (in an election cycle). In 2010, the primary, the general, the other guys were looking for their gym shoes. I know how to win elections no matter what. You may not like the way I do it, but I win the election.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:05 am

Comments

He needs a better grip on reality. I have never voted for a Republican governor candidate in my long life, but I will next time if Quinn is the Democrat on the ballot.

Comment by Bird Dog Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:34 am
“the year and the focus of state lawmakers of both parties.

Quinn appears willing to back down on Medicaid cuts in particular, saying he’ll try to keep lawmakers working all summer if a solution isn’t found.
“They should cancel summer vacation and holidays until we get it done,” he said.”

Clearly PQ had a Blagoofian moment. Perhaps he will review the wisdom of empty threats especially when he does not have the votes to pass the tough issues with simple majorities.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:40 am
Not this time, dude!Who’s your constituency? Liberals? Social justice or human services advocates? labor? Southern Illinois? Suburbs? educators? doctors? lawyers? You might as well start packing now.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:47 am
Even rahm can’t help you now. Not that he ever would. You’re toast.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:50 am
It’s hard to argue with his statement, very few people thought he would beat Hynes or Brady.

He’s a horrible campaigner, but I do think he’s doing a better job as governor this year so far.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:50 am
Normally, I would say Bird Dog is correct in his assessment of Quinn’s chances. But, it will ultimately come down to “who” the Illinois Republican Party decides to run against Pat Quinn. If Dan Rutherford runs for the office, I think Quinn will be in trouble. If Bill Brady tries again, then I am not so sure. The Illinois GOP needs to run with a fresh face for that office this time. Repeats will turn the voters off. They want “real change” this time.

Comment by Wilson Pickett Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:51 am
Let’s look at PQ’s win-loss record. (Caveats: I’m going from memory. Also, I don’t know if he ever was elected as a precinct committeeman. Not sure, either, if he ever ran for the GA or U.S. House.)

Wins: eleven. Governor; lt. governor (twice); treasurer; Cook Co. Bd. of Property Tax Appeals. Add wins in five primaries that led to these elections, plus winning the primary for secretary of state in 1994.

Losses: two. Secretary of State (to Ryan, 1994); U.S. Senate primary (to Durbin, 1996).

Boiling it down: take out the primaries. He’s won one local office, plus four statewides. He’s lost once statewide.

So, yeah: don’t ever count PQ out. He’s a clumsy (and eccentric, and erratic) campaigner, but he does win. In spite of himself. Repeatedly.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 7:54 am
2014 is a couple lifetimes away.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:05 am
Sounds like he’s planning on making an offer that Illinios voters can’t refuse.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:06 am
He won’t make it past the primary.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:08 am
Lemme know when THIS election is over … ok?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:18 am
Quinn will not make it past the primary. If not Lisa then surely someone else will seize the opportunity of a lifetime. Further I cannot see the Republicans not putting up a viable candidate this time.

Quinn is delusional and hears only the sound of his own voice and selective memory.

Comment by Cassiopeia Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:25 am
Electing a Republican as governor in Illinois in an era of cuts and austerity would result in World War 6.

I’ll stick with the Quinn and the Democrats, thankyouverymuch.

Comment by Ratman Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:27 am
I appreciate his clumsy confidence and his clumsy honesty. Most pols would give the boilerplate “I’m not thinking about 2014. (though of course they are) Right now I’m focusing on working with the legislature on pension and Medicaid reform and balancing our budget.”

Comment by Robert Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:38 am
If Pat Quinn thinks he can be re-elected when his pension proposal stabs the people who got him elected in the back, he needs to find someone who can feed him a bit of reality. Republicans play to their constituencies; Quinn attacks his.

Comment by Retired Teacher Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:42 am
= You may not like the way I do it, but I win =

I’m going to the bank with this.

Comment by Dirty Red Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:43 am
If the Republicans nominate someone who is not totally offensive to labor then he is toast.

As a Dem I wanted to vote Republican, but they nominated Brady.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:43 am
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:46 am
The Republican primary will determine the wisdom or foolishness of Gov. Quinn’s statement.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:49 am
I’m still trying to survive getting through 2012…I’ll worry about voting in 2014 a bit later, thanks.

Comment by Cindy Lou Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:49 am
Maybe he’s counting on an endorsement from Obama,… or Blagojevich?

Comment by G Whiz Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:51 am
There must be a decent, respected, moderate Republican somewhere in Illinois who wants to be governor, mustn’t there?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 8:52 am
Buck up, Blago will have won his appeal and be back circulating petitions by then….

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:00 am
I think there is a real expectation that there will be major fixes passed this year on Medicaid and Pensions. If that happens, and the economy is in better shape in (somewhat likely), hard to see how he loses.

Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:00 am
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I am a diehard democrat but after this pension proposal I will never vote for Quinn again. We banned together against Brady because of what he was going to do to the pensions. We will ban together to see Quinn is never elected.

Comment by Realmeninleadershipkeeptheirword Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:00 am
Gym shoes? Really?

But on the substantive point, I agree with Quinn. GOP’ers in IL do nothing but whine and complain. If Quinn fixes the budget/pension problem, the GOP has nothing. He’ll deserve reelection hands down. He’s starting to take a page from Bill Clinton on triangulation. Yes he has a ways to go.

Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:02 am
If the republicans couldn’t win the executive office after a democrat runs the state into the ground, is impeached and ends up in prison. And a democrat raises income taxes by 66% in an election year, heck, he actually campaigned on raising taxes and still won. Sorry folks, this is a blue state for a long while.

Comment by Choice? Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:04 am
If Rutherford is the Republican candidate, Quinn is toast.

Comment by Louie Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:05 am
Dream on Louie. As I said, Quinn will lose the primary and a Democrat will win the election.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:15 am
He will not have any Union backing, he has (or will) close buildings/prisons/Mental Health Facilities all over the state. Unless the Civic Committee of Chicago can get him a ton of votes he is gone. OOPS….Unless the GOP shoots themselves in the foot again.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:16 am
In order for PQ to win reelection he will need to:
1. Run He seems ready
2. Survive primary — no real candidate out there, but there is still for Hooli to drag himself into the fray
3. Win the General. Since candidate field looks like NOTaxBill, DandyDan The Fish Tank Man, and … he appears to be a winner in a walk over.

Other polpular GOPie foes, Mr Dreamey, Daddy’s Little Deduction(RPLumberHeir) and who? appear to be focused on serving in the House minority in DC
CommandoMakeItUp cannot serve in 2 offices at once
Hmmm left out Dillard and Mutt Murphy. but they are Tier 2 hopefuls — the Tim Pawlenty of IL GOPies
Alas ..maybe The Griffin family or WhackyJackRoeser will step on of the wind nut caves and run..and lose

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:23 am
We all know (at least all of us that do not name our briefcase) that Quinn was very lucky last year. Had Dillard gotten a few hundred more votes, Quinn loses. If Kirk had decided that he loved Springfield, Quinn loses in a landslide.

That being said, it also seems clear that Quinn has done much better in 2012 than in 2011. He seems to be showing some leadership and making some tough choices. 2014 is a long way off. Unlike last year, I no longer rule out the possibility of voting for him.

However, he shouldn’t kid himself. If he thinks he knows how to win elections, he will lose the next one. He’s been lucky rather than good. He should work on providing leadership and then the votes will come.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:24 am
Illinois has a strong entitlement mentality. Just keep the giveaways going and he will be a shoe in.

Comment by Oberver Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:31 am
===If Rutherford is the Republican candidate, Quinn is toast.===

You sure? I think Dan needs to worry about being Treasurer before worrying about RUNNING for Governor. Next thing you are going to say is Dan is ready - TODAY!

Let’s get through 2012, the elections, the new GA under the new map … THEN worry about Pongee’s “Treasurer”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:38 am
I’m pretty sure Quinn lost the 1998 primary for Lt. Governor to Mary Lou Kearns.

Comment by Michael Westen Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:43 am
==There must be a decent, respected, moderate Republican somewhere in Illinois who wants to be governor, mustn’t there?==
Definitely; there are several. But can a decent, respected moderate win a republican primary? Maybe.

Comment by Robert Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:45 am
Hard to see how he wins after alienating much of his base. Partially due to his actions and “Blagoofian” posturing, partially due to the reality of these economic times.

Comment by Freeman Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:48 am
Why would any state employee or teacher vote for him if he continues with his contract breaches and his attacks on hard working people he is trying to disguise as helping us. His backing of big business and continued attacks on working people makes him the ideal candidate as a Republican. The IPI and CCC will support him. So who are the Dems going to run?

Comment by Irish Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 9:55 am
He seems like he’s got a chance. Skeeter is right, if’s he’s lucky and gets the right races he can win. If Rahm or Madigan runs, he could be in real trouble. If a GOP candidate has the money and the right ideas, he could be in trouble. He’s a fighter and been to the rodeo a few times.

Comment by Jacketpotato Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:15 am
I must have been nuts to do it. I must have been blind or staggering. I would never appoint Pat Quinn to do anything. Pat Quinn is a totally and completely undisciplined individual, who thinks that government is just a large easel to do his PR work.

Comment by Harold Washington Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:20 am
–Illinois has a strong entitlement mentality. Just keep the giveaways going and he will be a shoe in.–

Is that in some alternative universe? Medicaid cuts, pension changes, cuts, cuts and more cuts.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:32 am
Some time next year, Democratic power brokers will decide whether Quinn is too weak to win in the general. If they think he is, they may support another Democrat without the Quinster’s baggage.

If Quinn does win the nomination, however, he’ll have a tough time in the general if the GOP nominates a mainstream suburban Republican this time.

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:40 am
==Illinois has a strong entitlement mentality. ===Just keep the giveaways going and he will be a shoe in===
But the point here is, Quinn is NOT keeping what you call the giveaways going - proposing Medicaid cuts and pension reform within the same week.

Comment by Robert Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:45 am
Quinn gets virtually no credit from conservatives for proposing to slash $2 billion from Medicaid and to emasculate pensions for current employees, but he does alienate his base.

Republicans will always say he hasn’t done enough and that he never met a tax increase he didn’t like. Quinn will have to come out for making permanent the temporary income tax hike, while the Republican nominee will surely be opposed — at least prior to the election, a la Big Jim.

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:45 am
Never underestimate the ability of the Repubs to nominate a candidate that will make even Quinn look “good” comparatively!

Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 10:59 am
–Illinois has a strong entitlement mentality. Just keep the giveaways going and he will be a shoe in.–

You mean like the entitlements of unnecessary state facilities downstate, and all those business tax loopholes that allow most corporations in Illinois to avoid paying any state tax at all?

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 11:13 am
it is going to depend on the suburbs and the impacts if the budding and school cuts.

if little Timmy is walking 2 miles to grade school with a crowded classroom because the district has to cover more pension costs he is going to have a problem.

Comment by oneman Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 12:49 pm
Quinn can count his true friends with his two hands and one foot…He’s cooked.

Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 3:38 pm
=Never underestimate the ability of the Repubs to nominate a candidate that will make even Quinn look “good” comparatively!=

Yes, by finding someone who can pull of the perception of being “a decent, respected, moderate Republican somewhere in Illinois who wants to be governor,…” rather than the real thing.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 4:10 pm