Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 4,2010

When a candidate for governor tries to help out a puppy gas chamber

Jerry Clarke is not easily ruffled. Not only has he seen it all in his years running campaigns in Illinois, but he’s served several tours of duty in Iraq as a combat helicopter pilot. But I thou

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 25,2010

Can Illinois beat New Jersey in battle over red ink?

By Rich Miller

Decisions made by a governor in a faraway, but strikingly similar state might actually influence our election right here in Illinois.Just a week or so after Gov. Pat Quinn lays out his state budget bl

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 18,2010

Brady needs to learn a new language

By Rich Miller

One of the biggest doubts about state Sen. Bill Brady’s gubernatorial campaign — assuming he survives a potential recount of the Republican primary — is whether he can transform hims

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 11,2010

Pat Quinn’s amazing comeback

By Rich Miller

Every night before an election day, I spend four or five hours on the phone with people I trust asking what they think will happen. There are always a couple of races that will have them stumped, but

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 4,2010

Blagojevich trial will make the campaign interesting

For Democrats, there’s trouble on the way

By Rich Miller

Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich told reporters last week that there might be a delay in the former governor’s criminal trial when a federal grand jury, as expected, hands down a new indictment. But

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, January 28,2010

Suddenly, Hynes is a contender

By Rich Miller

With the primary election just around the corner, just about everybody I know has asked me who I think will win the various races.I try to avoid making win/loss predictions, and this campaign season i

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, January 21,2010

Quinn’s State of the State lacks the “real meat”

Governor offers no plans for economic turn-around

By Rich Miller

“The Governor, at the beginning of each annual session of the General Assembly and at the close of his term of office, shall report to the General Assembly on the condition of the State and reco

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, January 14,2010

Should Quinn be held accountable for botched early prison release program?

By Rich Miller

Gov. Pat Quinn was quoted by the Associated Press last week as saying he's answered all questions about his administration's controversial, secret and completely botched early prison release program

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, January 7,2010

New polls look good for Jim Ryan

By Rich Miller

According to two recent polls taken by Rasmussen Reports and one by the Chicago Tribune, Gov. Pat Quinn has a detectable and significant problem with women voters, but a new development in the campaig

Politics - Rich Miller | Wednesday, December 23,2009

Speaker Madigan likes to share the pain

By Rich Miller

For years, reporters and pundits have said that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan preferred Republican governors because Madigan wanted to be the state’s most powerful Democrat.There is som