Democrats look for sunny spots in gloomy election outlook

By Rich Miller

If you talk to state legislative Democrats, they’ll tell you that their latest round of polling is showing improvement in most of their races since the summer. The Republicans, however, believe

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, September 23,2010

AFSCME decides to sit out House Democrats’ campaigns

By Rich Miller

The union that represents thousands of state and local government employees, AFSCME, was one of the bigger Democratic campaign contributors in the final six months of the 2008 campaign. But this year

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, September 16,2010

Contest for Chicago mayor a historic opportunity

By Rich Miller

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s stunning decision to step down at the end of this term has at least temporarily sucked almost all the oxygen out of Illinois politics and focused just about ever

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, September 2,2010

Open up Illinois politics to let the sunshine in

By Rich Miller

A Virginia-based group that wanted to play in Illinois politics, but didn’t want to disclose its donors has lost Round One in what could be an extended court battle. The Center for Individu

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, August 26,2010

Brady may be the next governor

By Rich Miller

Lots of people are having trouble getting their heads around the fact that Republican state Sen. Bill Brady may well be our next governor. This is, after all, a Democratic state.But it’s way pas

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, August 19,2010

This looks like the Republican year of 1994

By Rich Miller

There is no doubt whatsoever that Republicans in this state have every reason to cheer and Democrats have all the reasons in the world to grumble.Republicans have a fired up, angry base that can’

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, August 12,2010

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail

By Rich Miller

Democrats throughout the country and right here in Illinois are pushing a two-pronged negative strategy to retain their hold on power in these uncertain times. The first is to do as much opposition re

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, August 5,2010

Polls don’t look good for Pat

By Rich Miller

Gov. Pat Quinn was in rare form last week as he attacked state Sen. Bill Brady before his Republican opponent had a chance to get his own licks in. Quinn was put in an extremely awkward position by hi

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, July 29,2010

Who pays for Quinn’s campaign-by-governing?

By Rich Miller

I was looking through Gov. Pat Quinn’s campaign finance reports the other day and saw that he went way out of his way to list even the tiniest in-kind contributions.“In-kind” donatio

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, July 22,2010

Women help Quinn close the gap

By Rich Miller

So, why did Gov. Pat Quinn close the gap with Republican state Sen. Bill Brady in Rasmussen Reports’ latest poll? There’s a one-word answer: women.Rasmussen’s newest poll had Brady a