Rauner Attacks Quinn, Name-Drops Blago in New ‘Deja Vu' Ad

Bruce Rauner is going negative in his campaign against Gov. Pat Quinn and a new attack ad gives ample air time to Rod Blagojevich, the Republican candidate's second favorite punching bag after Quinn.

The 33-second video, entitled "Deja Vu," cobbles together snippets of local broadcast reports and press conferences on the domino effect of corruption scandals plaguing the Quinn administration. Deploying an oft-used Team Rauner tactic, it invokes the ghost of Blago to draw a comparison between the imprisoned ex-Illinois governor and the embattled current one. The spot alternates footage of Blago's fiery denials of wrongdoing with Quinn remarking he "had nothing to do with that."

"That" refers to the federal and state probes into his shuttered anti-violence program, which -- along with an investigation of alleged patronage hiring inside the Illinois Department of Transportation -- threatens to undo Quinn as he seeks re-election in November.

Blago might be behind bars, and out of office for the past five years, but he's all over this increasingly brutal showdown for Springfield's top spot.

For Quinn, it's a nightmare; for Rauner, it's the gift that keeps on giving.

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