Animal Farm

And so it begins...
(From the gubernatorial campaign of state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine, who is often overshadowed on the crowded GOP trail. It should also be noted the sales tax hike Dillard supported was also backed by another GOP candidate for governor, DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom.)

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Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Senator Matt Murphy Launches First Television Ad of Campaign on Republican Day at State Fair
Calls Opponent Dillard a Tax & Spend Insider

Nothing gets Democrats moving like an announcement that a massive thunderstorm is 30 minutes out from Springfield. Bam! Democratic Day rally was over. Gotta remember that for next year's session.

Here' s a quick look at some quotes, notes and observations from the annual rally. Republicans get their day tomorrow.

The question of the day for Democrats was whether the upcoming primary -- especially for the governor's office -- would be divisive.

"No. I think there's going to be a health debate ... a necessary debate," said Comptroller Dan Hynes, who's running against Gov. Pat Quinn, who got the job with Rod Blagojevich was removed from office.

Animal Farm hand John Patterson is attending Democrat Day in Springfield at the State Fair
Here is an early look at the theme of the day: No one cares what the media says.
“If you listen to the media we’re a challenged group of people,” said House Speaker Michael Madigan, about the Democratic Party he leads, before adding, “If you listen to the media.”
Meanwhile Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias ignored Chicago Urban League CEO Cheryle Jackson’s entrance into the Senate primary and took aim at Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk.
Giannoulias continued to try and paint Kirk as a Bush Republican and he cited the North suburbanites history of voting for his budgets and other policies. He said Kirk should get a "pink slip" instead of a promotion from the House to the Senate.

Chris Kennedy, son of Attorney General Robert Kennedy, has decided not to run for Senate despite floating his bid for months.
That leaves the heavyweights in the Democratic primary as Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Chicago Urban League CEO Cheryle Jackson, former spokeswoman for Rod Blagojevich. One would expect the national Democrats to push for a consolidation around one of the two as they gear up for an expected fierce battle with U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican.
Here is Kennedy's letter announcing his decision:

....
I wanted to thank you for the encouragement you gave me over the last few months as I’ve wrestled with the idea of running for Senate.

Your thoughtfulness and support in all of this will long be remembered by both Sheila and me.

Illinois Senate Democrats have overhauled their Web site: www.senatedem.ilga.gov

It features a 9 minute photo montage video of the spring legislative session narrated by Senate President John Cullerton.

A pro-health care reform group, substantially backed by the powerful union AFSCME, launched an offensive today against U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican running for U.S. Senate.
The TV ad implies Kirk is not supporting President Barack Obama's government-run health insurance plan because of large donations from the health insurance industry. It also blasts him for having good health insurance as a congressman while refusing to go along with Obama's proposal.
It is one of six such adds running in targeted areas across the country as part of a $650,000 effort.

State Rep. Jack Franks, a Democrat from Marengo, has often toyed with the idea of running for governor. He says he's not yet made up his mind for 2010.
“I don't know yet, I've got to figure it out," he said. "It's either re-election or governor.”
He says the decision won't be based on money or the other candidates.
"The only consideration at this point is my children," he said. "That's my only concern. Whether its fair to my wife to basically make her a single mom for the next year and a half, because I know what I was doing when I was in high school."
Franks children are 14 and 13.

The annual Democratic county leaders event during the week of the State Fair has produced its share of turmoil in recent years. Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan have exchanged barbs. Comptroller Dan Hynes issued a public apology for Democrats’ handling of the state.
This year the party is bringing in Iowa Gov. Chet Culver to be the key speaker at next week’s event.
Democrats consider Culver to be a rising star in the party. Here’s his bio info:

A new law aims to protect and educate college students on the dangers of credit card debt by outlawing enticing goody giveaways like pizza and iPods on campus in exchange for completing credit card applications. Colleges and universities that enter into credit card deals also are required to offer a financial education program for students designed to inform and warn them on the dangers of debt.

The educational program must include:
“an explanation of the consequences of not paying credit card balances in full within the time specified by the billing statement, including an explanation of the methods employed by credit card issuers to compute interest on unpaid balances; ...”

Many are still waiting to see if Merchandise Mart boss Chris Kennedy will enter the Senate race or if Chicago Urban League CEO Cherlye Jackson will make her bid official. But apparently several key unions are not.
Locals of UNITE-HERE, UFCW, UA and the Illinois Pipe Trades hoped on the bandwagon of Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias today. The release is below.
In other news, Giannoulias chief of staff, Robyn Kelly -- a former South suburban lawmaker, has officially entered the campaign to replace her boss.
“I won’t be the wealthy candidate in this race, but I will be the people’s candidate," Kelly said. "And that’s how it should be—helping people over political gain, smart policies over personal profits.”

Here is Giannoulias' release: