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Republican primary voters picked candidates Tuesday who they hoped would put the state's finances in
Sensing a real chance to put one of their own back in the governor's office, Republican primary voters picked candidates Tuesday who they hoped would put the state's finances in order, take on labor unions and chip away at Democratic dominance of the state. The earliest voters at the polls spoke of wanting someone to shake up Springfield, reverse the state's indebtedness and keep businesses and jobs from leaving the state. Some also spoke of gearing up for a fight to install term limits that they say would do away with career politicians who are too cozy with special interests and unions. Organized labor was battling back out of concern that the leading Republican candidate, multimillionaire venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, could seek to weaken unions in the same way GOP governors have in other states across the Midwest. Rauner, who leads the four-person Republican field after spending millions on his campaign, says he would model his governorship after those of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who both significantly rolled back union power in their states in what they said were necessary steps to attract businesses and reduce costs. The political newcomer faces three longtime lawmakers for the nomination: state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford. Union leaders, meanwhile, sought Rauner's defeat by encouraging members to pull Republican primary ballots and cast their vote for Dillard, who has been endorsed by three of the state's largest public-employee unions. The typically left-leaning unions spent more than $6 million on the GOP primary, both in anti-Rauner and pro-Dillard ads. Rauner has raised more than $14 million, including $6 million of his own money _ more than any candidate seeking a gubernatorial nomination in state history. In stops throughout the state Monday, Rauner warned supporters about the unions' efforts, saying Quinn's allies were trying to hijack the election. He also spoke of a push for legislative term limits, which he said could break the labor-Democratic alliance. Republicans haven't held the Illinois governor's office since 2003 when Democrat Rod Blagojevich _ now in prison for corruption _ took office, and Democrats have almost total control of other statewide offices as well as the Illinois House and Senate. Quinn, who was Blagojevich's lieutenant governor and assumed the office after his boss was booted amid a corruption scandal, was facing lesser-known challenger Tio Hardiman in Tuesday's primary. Quinn, seeking his second full term, was expected to easily win the Democratic nomination. Brady narrowly won the GOP nomination in 2010, but he lost to Quinn in the general election. But the Bloomington lawmaker said he built the support and name recognition during that bid to defeat Quinn this time around. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/d97af01fe0fb5da595ae1cc01d5622c5 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork