One of the bluest of blue states in the nation is Illinois. In the last six presidential contests, Illinois has always voted for the Democrat. The legislature is Democrat. The Governor is Democrat. Chicago is Democrat. So a new set of polling data just released is startling to say the least. The poll is of potential match ups for the November battle for governor of the Land of Lincoln. Incumbent governor Quinn, a Democrat with no real opposition for the primary, is 9% behind four different Republican candidates. Quinn polls only in the high 30's among Illinois voters. The large margin for the Republicans is even more surprising since the GOP candidates hold offices like state senator; none are household names. What is at work in Illinois seems to be a wholesale rejection of the Democrat governor. We cannot tell from the poll whether this is a rejection of Democrats or of governor Quinn. Either way, however, this does not bode well for the prospects of Democrats in November. If Quinn gets crushed in November, he will likely take down with him a large number of other Democrats including candidates for Congress. Of course, if the move by the electorate is against all Democrats, then this bastion of blue may actually turn purple or even red starting 2015.
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