Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn in the gubernatorial race yesterday, citing his "integrity and honesty" and work on school finance reform and veterans' rights.
"Gov. Quinn inherited an office and a state that faced serious financial and ethical problems," White said in a statement. "I am confident that he is up to the challenge. Gov. Quinn is honest and hardworking and has spent his career fighting for the working men and women of this great state."
The endorsement from White, a longtime associate of Quinn's in the state's executive branch, was widely expected. Even Quinn's campaign portrayed it as a formality.
Dan McDonald, a spokesman for primary Democratic rival Dan Hynes, said "it's not really news."
"To me, it sort of looks like it was possible that they kind of kept this in their back pocket in case of an emergency," McDonald told me.
McDonald said the governor wants to change the subject as questions arise about an unpublicized early release program for state prisoners. He charged that Quinn has flip-flopped on his knowledge of the program and let criminals off easy.
Earlier this week, Quinn ordered a "top-to-bottom" review of the release program, but said it was a Department of Corrections issue.
Since then, the Hynes campaign has continued to raise questions about it, first in connection with a plan to bring Guantanamo detainees to Illinois and now in light of the timing of White's endorsement.
"I think it says that the governor doesn't want to talk about his convoluted policies," McDonald said. "He'd rather try to roll out an endorsement than answer questions."
Quinn's spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Windy Citizen 