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Rauner, Partial Owner Of Pittsburgh Steelers, Sidesteps NFL Domestic Violence Question

(CBS) -- The latest scrimmage in the race for governor finds the two major candidates dealing with the issue of domestic violence in the National Football League, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

Republican candidate Bruce Rauner called a news conference to talk about ethics but as a partial owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was asked what he thought of the way the NFL handled recent domestic violence incidents including former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice knocking out his then fiancé. He sidestepped.

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"I am working here in Illinois to win an election and transform our government so it's run for the people again. That is 100 percent my focus," Rauner said.

Governor Quinn later seized on that saying he should speak out.

"I think the owners have a duty to all Americans and especially to women and especially to those who have been abused and victims of domestic violence to be a lot more forthright and do much more on this issue. "

As to questions about Quinn's 2010 anti-violence plan the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative which cost $54.5 million dollars, much of it misspent, Quinn said that's just Rauner name-calling.

"Well he's dead wrong and he knows it. he's engaged in a campaign of smears and character assassinations," Quinn said.

The Rauner camp later released a statement saying, "Bruce thinks what Ray Rice did was deplorable and the NFL has badly mishandled the situation. " The statement also said Quinn cut funding for domestic violence shelters by 15 percent.

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