Gov. Pat Quinn's flagging candidacy rebounded last night as he scored damaging points in a televised debate against his chief Democratic rival, state Comptroller Dan Hynes.
Quinn has been battered for weeks by revelations over a controversial decision to release scores of state prison inmates early.
But during the debate, hosted by ABC 7 and the League of Women Voters, Quinn took the offensive by highlighting Hynes' failed campaign against Barack Obama in the 2004 Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
Quinn accused Hynes of using the same negative-campaigning tactics in the governor's race that he employed against Obama — painting him as a naysaying presidential foe.
Hynes "smiles in your face and stabs you in the back," Quinn said.
Quinn also drew attention again to what he calls "Willie Horton-style" television advertisements aired by Hynes.
While Hynes' tactics have been narrowly focused, they have led the governor to seem inconsistent on the prison issue. Quinn initially claimed ignorance of the early-release program, but eventually suspended it and called it a "big mistake."
During the debate, Hynes attacked a Quinn proposal as a tax on the middle class. And he worked hard to tie Quinn to Rod Blagojevich, noting that Quinn ran with the now-disgraced governor twice.
It was hard to believe the candidates when they said they would be friends after the race was over.
And it's possible that Illinois voters won't like them much either. Jobs are clearly the big issue facing the state, but stoking the economic engines has become just one of many talking points in this campaign.
There's a Twitter recap of the debate below. And let us know what you think in the comments. Are the Dems spending enough time talking about jobs?
Windy Citizen 