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Rauner Invokes Harold Washington In Quinn Attack Ad

(CBS) -- The latest campaign ad from Republican candidate Bruce Rauner uses a familiar voice from the past to support his campaign for governor.

CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports it's not just who's talking, but what he says.

"I would never appoint Pat Quinn to do anything."

That's what then-Mayor Harold Washington said in 1987 when he fired the current governor from his city job as director of revenue.

"My only regret is that we hired him and kept him too long," Washington says in a new attack ad from Rauner's campaign.

The late Washington – Chicago's first African-American mayor -- is a Chicago icon and a point of pride in the black community.

Quinn tried to dismiss the new ad as he gave an award to a famous hot dog stand in suburban River Grove. He called the Rauner attack "a diversion."

Rauner skipped the campaign trail to observe the Jewish holiday. But his supporters talked.

"This commercial is going to provide a lot of people with information they did not know, and to hear (Washington) say those types of words about Gov. Quinn -- a lot of people are going to be paying attention," says Rev. Corey Brooks, an African-American pastor who is supporting Rauner.

Democratic political consultant Maze Jackson disagreed.

"It's always a bit disingenuous when you see a majority politician trying to utilize a black icon to sell a story," Jackson said.

It's a story we've heard before. In the 2010 governor's race, Democratic primary rival Dan Hynes used the same footage against Quinn, who went on to win the nominating contest.

So far, Rauner has spent about $14 million on TV ads. That compares with the $10 million spent by Quinn's campaign and the political PAC that supports him. For both men, the money spent includes negative ads.

 

 

 

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