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Raoul mulls endorsement

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Illinois

* The Tribune’s Rick Pearson got a few moments with Sen. Kwame Raoul last night…

Quinn, seeking a second elected term as governor after replacing the impeached and imprisoned Rod Blagojevich in 2009, traditionally has gotten his strongest support from African-American voters, though Daley maintains that backing is flagging.

Raoul, in an interview with the Tribune outside a downtown fundraising event, said he was not backing either Quinn or Daley but imagines he’ll eventually make an endorsement. “Just right now, I want to turn off (the politics) and focus on getting this job done,” he said.

“This job” refers to his role as chairman of a special legislative conference committee charged with recommending a plan to resolve the state’s $100 billion government worker pension debt. He said negotiators, who met again Thursday, are moving forward and that “it’s a very critical time” in efforts to come up with a plan.

As most of you observed yesterday, Raoul’s statement announcing he wouldn’t run for governor was a classy move.

The guy looks like he has a real future, but the stars don’t always line up as well as they seemed to be this time around. Maybe Lisa Madigan figures that her only way up the ladder is a 2016 US Senate bid, since she says she can’t run for governor as long as her father is the House Speaker. Lots of things can happen.

Whom should he endorse, if anyone?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 9:40 am

Comments

He should endorse Bruce Rauner… he’s helping take away public employee pensions, might as well be honest about it.

Comment by Just sayin' Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 9:47 am
Best bet is to stay out of it. I believe that he might be a successful alternative candidate to Quinn and Daley at this point in time, but he has passed on that option. If he endorses either of those two, it may hurt him later.

Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 9:53 am
Wise Dems should stay out of the business of primary endorsements.

Comment by Ray del Camino Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 9:55 am
From his recent actions and statements, I don’t see why he would endorse either of the Democrats running now.

Comment by Roadiepig Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:01 am
He’ll land somewhere (with an endorsement) and wherever that is could easily be enough to make a difference that could help him in the not so distant future.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:04 am
He shouldn’t endorse anyone. He’s developed a reputation as a careful, wise legislator who is fast becoming a statesman. Taking sides in this primary, given the options, can only undermine that reputation, which is more valuable than any short-term political gains he could glean from picking one camp over the other.

He has also made a name for himself by brokering delicate compromises in the legislature. As most of his colleagues will be taking sides, he’d be better off staying out of it and not burning bridges.

Comment by Yossarian Lives Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:08 am
He should stay out of it. But given that he already has said he will endorse, he should back Quinn since (1) he is the sitting governor and (2) he seems more likely to win than Daley.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:18 am
Let’s see if the committee can get a bill passed first. If Quinn signs it, then and only then endorsing Quinn could be a good move. Raoul could spin it as an endorsement on policy grounds, as opposed to politics.

But first things first. Raoul needs to get a bill passed and sent to Quinn. Talk of an endorsement is premature until then.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:21 am
He should endorse no one. There is no good reason for him to do an endorsement. People should read nothing into it other than he thinks voters should decide for themselves who to vote for.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:42 am
He should endorse Oswego Willy. Willy will bring much needed common sense to the Governor’s Office. Willy is also a big proponent of big tents. You need those for the spring receptions for the solons.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 10:45 am
Sen. Raoul already has said he would eventually endorse someone, and I’ll be surprised if it isn’t Gov. Quinn, assuming the GA approves pension reform legislation and it’s signed by Quinn.

The Daley brand only used to be a millstone around the neck of politicians outside Chicago, but with the parking meter deal being so bad for the city, now the Daley name is mud there, too. Of course, it never did play that well in Kwame Raoul’s Hyde Park district ever since the days of Ald. Leon Dupree and Mayor Richard J. Daley.

Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 11:34 am
- Norseman -,

Set up a meeting with Sen. Raoul. I do think the GOP Primary part might make him a “no”, but I could be spitballing again.

To the Post,

Do not endorse anyone. Period.

Do not waste political currency on a 2 way race, especially when your own supporters at this point wanted you to take them BOTH on.

Let it ride …

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 11:54 am
As a Dem with progressive leanings, I was heartbroken to hear that Sen. Raoul was not running. Since Quinn’s performance as governor is utterly unacceptable (his combination of hypocritical sanctimony, demagoguery, and patent incompetence really isn’t doing well for IL), I’m going to have to say he either needs to endorse Daley (hopefully in exchange for some policy concessions, but in any case) or pull a rabbit out of the hat and get Lisa to run. I don’t want to vote Green again like I had to do in 2006.

Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 11:55 am
His statement that he would endorse somebody was not made with much enthusiasm. It would probably be best for him if he did not endorse. Both candidates have so many negatives, and the campaign will be so negative, that any prominent endorser will get mud rubbed off on him. I regret that he will not run. I would have supported him. I will probably go for Daley, unless I learn more really bad things about him than I already know.

Comment by jake Friday, Aug 30, 13 @ 1:59 pm