Gov. Pat Quinn (D) tops most lists as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent. He has consistently trailed Republican Bruce Rauner in the polls for most of the race, but is now up 1 percent in the RealClearPolitics average of major polls. Quinn was also unpopular in 2010, losing in head-to-head polls right up until the moment that he won at the ballot box.
The state’s formidable Democratic machine is already slamming the Chicago investment banker as a Mitt Romney clone, out of touch with the needs of working Americans. But Mr. Rauner is picking up endorsements from moderate Democrats alarmed at the direction of the state’s finances and economy.
He polls well across the state and has deep pockets to fund a general election campaign. All that puts the governor’s race in a solid blue state well in the range of toss up.
