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* 5:02 pm - Another blow to Dan Hynes’ campaign. From a press release…

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, a lifelong educator and public servant, today formally endorsed Governor Pat Quinn, citing Quinn’s long record of standing up for honesty in government, school finance reform, and veterans’ rights.

“Governor Quinn inherited an office and a state that faced serious financial and ethical problems,” White said during a news conference Thursday in Chicago. “I am endorsing Pat Quinn for the Democratic nomination because I am confident that he is up to the challenge. Governor Quinn is honest and hardworking and has spent his career fighting for the working men and women of this great state.”

“From the day I took office as Governor, Jesse White has worked steadily alongside me to put our state government back on track,” Governor Quinn said. “He has been a tireless, effective advocate for reform and a strong voice for the education of our young people, and I am honored by his support. I look forward to working with him to make Illinois a stronger, more prosperous state.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:03 pm

Comments

Compounding the problems for Hynes was his getting pulled over and ticketed for having a drivers license that was inexplicably revoked.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:06 pm
Not sure this is a “blow” to his campaign since neutrality was probably their best hope. Not too many Dems are going to back a challenger to a sitting governor. Ask Governor Eisendrath about that.

Having said that, this ain’t exactly a positive development for the Hynes campaign, but it is not terribly surprising (unless there is some backstory I’m not aware of).

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:16 pm
Nice pickup for Quinn.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:25 pm
Will the headline read “White Tumbles for Quinn?”

Comment by Just saying Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:31 pm
So much for the Dem powers conspiring against him.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:41 pm
If Thomson hurts Quinn, will it - by extension - hurt those who endorse him?

Comment by kimsch Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 5:44 pm
This isn’t any sort of surprise. At my agency, I regularly interact with many members of the African-American community who like Quinn. Also the African-American women I work with are supporting Quinn. People definitely know who he is down on the South Side. Now when are social service agencies going to get paid???? I still have to do my Christmas shopping.

Comment by Irish Eyes Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 6:09 pm
Not sure this overshadows the news of the day. Why else would he roll out that endorsement so close to Christmas? And by press release, no less. I guess, as Louis XIV said in ‘History of the World, Part 1,’ “It’s good to be the king”.

Comment by Rubbernecker Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 6:36 pm
i still give j. white mad props for sticking up for the state in trying to block the burris appointment.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 7:43 pm
this was the worst kept secret in springfield for the past two weeks. but still a shot at hynes.

Comment by 4 percent Wednesday, Dec 16, 09 @ 10:40 pm
This is smoke and mirrors, almost Clintonesque, to deflect the story that Quinn KNEW violent felons were being released from prison to save money from a budget that he couldn’t manage. In the real world, a CEO is given a budget and expected to manage to it. The GA gave Quinn a budget, he chose to let violent people who committed barbaric crimes against innocent people out of jail, and now he’s a savior because Jesse White endorsed him. Only in Illinois…

Comment by dznuts Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 12:13 am
It seems like Dan Hynes started out behind Pat Quinn 2 to 1, and after months of campaigning and millons of dollars of spending he’s STILL behind 2 to 1. Anyone else see a pattern here? Nothing Tom Hynes is doing is having any effect! You can stick a fork in him, as “they” say - he’s done.

Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 6:20 am
Dznuts, I don’t see the word “savior” in the news release I got. Did you receive a later version?

Comment by soccermom Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 7:52 am
It looks like the HYnes people are really trying to downplay this one, but, the fact remains that Jesse is still the most popular elected official in Illinois. Also, he is the most well known African American elected official, and the only African American constitutional officer. If HYnes had any shot at winning, he would need to cut into the governor’s support in the African American community. This endorsement puts a fork in those hopes.

Tick, tock, tick, tock Dan.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 8:34 am
Good news for whomever the republican nominee will be. The closer Quinn is to getting the primary win, the better. Hynes was an early and often critic of the Blago admin. Quinn on the other hand, was talking about what an honest man Blago was when it was clear he was not.

Comment by RobRoy Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 9:08 am
WOW!
That one is going to hurt!

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 9:13 am
Dan is a great guy, but he is going down big on 2//2.

Comment by Anonymous101 Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 9:18 am
Dan would have to be in this race for it to be a blow to his campaign.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 9:22 am
So when is Hynes going to drop out?

Hynes has to realize that, at this point, he is only wasting money and causing general election harm to Quinn.

Hynes hasn’t been up on TV lately, that I have seen. Maybe he actually has dropped out, but not told anyone?

Comment by dave Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 10:01 am
Wonder how much people are going to like Jesse in January when they get to the SOS office to find that their fees went up again… If the Dems actually cared about maintaining the office, they’d dump Quinn as fast as possible. He’s a horrible General Election candidate who the Repubs are going to tear apart. I’d suspect the Speaker would rather have Quinn on the ballot in November and have him lose to pave the way…

Comment by anon Thursday, Dec 17, 09 @ 10:21 am