GOP candidates in the governor's race stuck to a unanimous prescription for the state's budget crisis last night, calling to rein in taxes and dramatically cut spending in Springfield.
During a forum from ABC 7 studios last night, the candidates hewed to their well-established campaign platforms and avoided aggressive attacks, making for a somewhat pedestrian exchange.
The candidates were:
The two quiet men in the debate — McKenna and Ryan — were the front runners in a December poll.
They spoke with little of the passion of their opponents. Perhaps that's because, in a race with little in the way of policy differences, a debate was likely to accomplish little for any candidate.
Both of those candidates have television campaigns that are dwarfing their opponents'. Even Dillard, an Illinois politician for more than 15 years, has suffered as Ryan and McKenna have accumulated greater and greater name recognition.
Maybe that is why he received the brunt of the hits during yesterday's forum, with opponents on several occasions questioning his support for Barack Obama.
In a primary race so narrowly defined by opposition to the Illinois Democratic party, Dillard's closeness to Obama may prove unsurmountable.
As candidates vie for third place with only three weeks to go until Feb. 2, McKenna and Ryan will continue to spread their messages over the airwaves.
Both have said they will battle powerful Democrats in the General Assembly to make sure spending cuts, and not more taxes, are what come out of the capital.
But the question for voters, and the question I pose to our readers is: Can anyone fix the state's budget without raising taxes? And if so, who could actually make it happen politically? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section below.