Rauner Leads GOP Gubernatorial Hopefuls In Poll
By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 11, 2014 3:00PM
Bruce Rauner
Rauner was favored by 40 percent of the 600 respondents. State Sen. Bill Brady was behind Rauner at 20 percent, Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford garnered 13 percent and State Sen. Kirk Dillard rounded out the field with 11 percent support with 15 percent undecided. The poll had a margin of error of four percentage points.
Rauner has been on an advertising blitz in media markets across Illinois, spending money like, well, a venture capitalist funding his own political campaign by placing commercials on television and radio talking about how he’s going to “shake up” Springfield and change the way things are done in Illinois politics. The other candidates are woefully underfunded especially since Rauner can throw millions of dollars of his own money into his own campaign.
Another factor to consider in the poll numbers is the recent troubles to befall Rutherford’s campaign. The poll was taken as accusations surfaced against Rutherford of sexual harassment and being forced to do political work on state time by Edmund Michalowski, a former employee with the Treasurer’s office. Michalowski filed a lawsuit against Rutherford in federal court Monday; Rutherford has denied the allegations.
It appears as though support for Rauner is strong across the state. He polled strong in the Greater Chicago area, downstate and among respondents who consider themselves conservatives and across all income levels. But he also viewed as the most unfavorable among the four, with 48 percent of respondents not feeling “Mr. Hammer and Shake’s” vibe.