Rauner Uses Harold Washington to Attack Quinn

Republican gubernatorial candidate runs ad with Chicago's first black mayor criticizing Quinn 27 years ago

Republican candidate Bruce Rauner continues to court the black vote in his campaign to be Illinois' next governor by reviving the words of Harold Washington.

Rauner's team unveiled a campaign ad using the words of Chicago's first black mayor 27 years ago when he said he'd "never appoint Pat Quinn to do anything," and that "Quinn thought his department was a PR plantation."

Rauner supporter Pastor Corey Brooks believes the Washington connection is appropriate.

"I think if Harold Washington were here, he'd be upset that 60 percent of African American males in the state of Illinois are without a job, making us the third worst in all of the country," Brooks said.

But Quinn said he is the one who's more closely aligned with Washington's beliefs.

"Harold Washington believed in raising the minimum wage, he believed in decent health care for everybody, he believed in educating people and using proper resources to have good schools," Quinn said.

The same quote was used in an ad four years ago by Dan Hynes when he unsuccessfully challenged Quinn for governor.

In order to win the governor's race, experts say Rauner will need to win at least 20 percent of the Chicago vote.

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