The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Republican businessman Bruce Rauner for governor over incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn, citing Rauner’s “outsider moxie.” The Tribune hopes Rauner can change Illinois from a “high-tax state hostile to employers” to a state that would become competitive again. “With that restoration of Illinois’ competitiveness as our towering priority, the Tribune Editorial Board endorses businessman Bruce Rauner for governor,” the Tribune wrote. “We believe a Gov. Rauner would explore changes made by governors of other states with balanced budgets, solid retirement systems, and lower unemployment rates.” The Tribune hit Quinn for the ease with which he chooses to spend taxpayers’ money, his inclination to believe more taxes will solve all of Illinois’s problems, and for his “obsessive attacks” on Rauner.
In addition to the Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business and the Daily Herald, a suburban-Chicago-based newspaper, have endorsed Rauner. Crain’s noted Rauner’s lack of political experience and business acumen as signs that he might change business-as-usual in Illinois. The Daily Herald also stressed the need for a change in direction and explained that it believed Rauner to be the outsider Chicago needs. “Installing a Republican governor while both houses of the General Assembly and the state Supreme Court remain solidly Democratic will not by itself ensure a new direction, but at least it may give balance a fighting chance,” the Daily Herald wrote. “And challenger Bruce Rauner is not just any Republican.”
The endorsements for Rauner come just after his first debate with Quinn. Going into the debate, Quinn was coming off a surge in the polls. After being down by as much as 13 percentage points in August, three recent polls showed Quinn leading by two to three points. Whether the newspapers’ endorsements will have any impact on public opinion remains to be seen, but Rauner and Quinn will meet on the debate stage again later this week.