RGA Welcomes Pat Quinn to General Election Contest

Incumbent Governor Pat Quinn is the Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois, if his own public pronouncements of victory and a congratulatory phone call from President Obama are any indicators.

Republican Governors Association Executive Director Nick Ayers today issued the following statement:

“We welcome Pat Quinn to the general election and wonder if he is into fortunetelling, because he might be imagining what the next nine months of his life are going to be like.  He should consult with his former colleague Jon Corzine in New Jersey, who found out that no amount of slick political consulting or television advertising can conceal a record that the citizens already know all too well.  Pat Quinn will find out, as did Jon Corzine, that it doesn’t work because the voters have already seen his failed policies in action.

“Illinois government spending and budget deficits are spiraling out of control, meaning Quinn’s first thought will once again be to raid the pocketbooks of taxpayers to bail him out of the mess he created.  He’ll have to explain his policies that saw dangerous criminals released from prison early and allowed Blagojevich appointees to remain in place or receive promotions.

“All you have to do is listen to what his primary opponent argued: that Pat Quinn has failed in his duties as governor and should not be rewarded with a new term.

“On our side, the result is less certain.  However, no matter how the Republican primary ends, voters will be left with a clear choice in November, with the GOP candidate as the one who can add balance to state government, keep taxes low, grow the economy and create jobs.”