The campaign rhetoric is heating up between Gov. Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner.
Rauner, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, says the governor is playing political games with the budget in his attempt to extend the state's temporary income tax increase to avoid what Quinn says would be massive budget cuts.
"That's political gamesmanship, that's playing football with our financial health," Rauner said at a Monday Northbrook town hall meeting. "It's a huge mistake, it's a failure of leadership, it's a failure of the General Assembly and of the governor down there."
Rauner has enlisted former White House Chief of Staff Sam Skinner with his campaign and his wife, Diana, was on stage Tuesday and working the crowd.
Meanwhile, Quinn's campaign pounced on a photo showing Rauner shaking hands with one of his motorcycle friends who was wearing a motorcycle jacket with a Confederate flag on the sleeve.
Rep. Danny Davis was among Democrats demanding an apology.
"This gentleman was more than just somebody he was shaking hands with. They've been associated with the same motorcycle group for a number of years," Davis said. "I don't think that's the first time the gentleman has worn or displayed the Confederate flag."
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Rauner brushed the controversy off.
"When I'm out meeting with voters I can't always control who I shake hands with and who's in which crowd," Rauner said. "I certainly don't condone the Confederate flag. I support the American flag.
