Bill Daley Tests Waters For Illinois Governor Bid

President Barack Obama's former chief of staff is testing the gubernatorial waters in Illinois.

Bill Daley, brother of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and son of former Mayor Richard J. Daley, commissioned Obama's polling firm to see if a run for governor is viable, according to Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed.

It's not necessarily a surprise.

Daley said in November he's "not ruling out" a 2014 campaign, and in December he told reporters he's "thinking about it seriously" but is still "a ways off."

That hasn't stopped Daley from highlighting some problems facing his potential competition.

"He's a good, decent, honest man," Daley said last month of Gov. Pat Quinn before bluntly adding, "problem in leadership."

"Gov. Quinn's proposals had promise but have been ignored," he said. "Divisiveness keeps winning out. ...It's not right to blame the workers. If Illinois is to solve the pension crisis political leaders need to put themselves at risk."

As for Quinn, he's running for sure.

"I'm the governor," he has told reporters. "We don't plan to change the title."
 

Contact Us