SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois candidates passed an important landmark last week on the road to election day: Filing opened, letting politicians officially submit paperwork to get on the ballot in February. Andy McKenna jumped into the race for governor by focusing on hairdos and don'ts. And the Democratic battle for governor went (more) negative.
Here's a look at action on the Illinois campaign trail:
AND THEY'RE OFF
After months of talk, candidates got a chance to take official action by submitting petitions to get on the primary election ballot. Statewide candidates had to find 5,000 people willing to sign their petitions, and many candidates filed twice that many to demonstrate their strength.
Hundreds of candidates lined up outside the State Board of Elections on a drizzly Monday morning. Anyone in line when the doors opened had a chance of being listed first in their particular race, a valuable ballot position.
Some big names didn't file immediately, however. In the governor's race, McKenna and fellow Republican Jim Ryan hadn't turned in their paperwork yet. And Senate hopeful Cheryle Jackson, a Democrat, hadn't filed either.
OVER THE TOP
Politicians often get a bit, ummm, enthusiastic in their public statements. Two examples:
— Before McKenna's Web site went live, visitors were teased with the message, "An announcement of epic proportions. Andy McKenna for governor. Be the first to know."
— Kirk Dillard, another GOP candidate for governor, issued a Halloween-themed news release, complete with a campaign logo decorated with bats and cobwebs. Dillard called Gov. Pat Quinn "a guy dressed up as governor" and referred to Comptroller Dan Hynes as "another goblin running for governor.
STICKS AND STONES
Hynes continued his criticism of Quinn after his fellow Democrat shelved a plan to fund college scholarships by dipping into special-purpose funds. Quinn now wants to borrow money to pay for the scholarships.
"It doesn't appear that Pat Quinn understands that when he says something one day, and then something entirely different the next, he's not being straight with people, and he's making matters worse," said Hynes, the state comptroller.
Quinn, who sometimes refers to Hynes as an "ankle-biter," released a campaign ad claiming that his rival skipped town when it came time to make tough decisions about the state's budget problems. He even dug into Hynes' schedule to make an issue of Hynes visiting a spa. (See the ad at www.quinnforillinois.com/media.)
That prompted Hynes to ask what Quinn was doing as lieutenant governor while then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich "drove the state of Illinois into a ditch?"
COMMERCIAL APPEAL
McKenna wasted no time in making ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich a central figure in the governor's race. He launched a TV ad (see it at www.mckennagov.com) using Blagojevich's signature helmet of hair as a symbol of corruption.
The mop of dark hair is plopped atop the Capitol dome and on the domes of three former Illinois governors who have served time in prison — Otto Kerner, Dan Walker and George Ryan.
"For far too long, Illinois has been ruled by the hair," intones the narrator.
The ad suggests Republicans think their best shot at recapturing the governor's office is to make Blagojevich, who was removed from office in January and faces federal corruption charges, a centerpiece of the campaign.
McKenna's ad also touts him as an "outsider." It fails to mention the wealthy businessman served for years as the Illinois Republican Party chairman.
PLANS AND PROMISES
Bill Brady, a Republican candidate for governor, says the public should know more about the state's debt and which bills are getting paid. He proposes online posting of all bills the state receives from businesses and contractors. Bills would also be paid in the order they're received.
Brady says that would reduce the chance of any funny business over who gets paid first.
Bad idea, says the state comptroller's office. The timing of some payments is set by law, a Hynes aide said, and paying bills in the order they're received would prevent targeting money at businesses that need it most desperately.
SCOPING OUT WASHINGTON
Senate candidate David Hoffman met with a top adviser to President Barack Obama to discuss the Democratic primary race for Obama's old Senate seat.
Hoffman asked for the meeting with David Axelrod during a trip that included talking to Democratic Party officials, said Hoffman spokesman Thom Karmik. Fellow Democrat Alexi Giannoulias met with Axelrod earlier this month.
So far, the White House is keeping its distance from the Senate battle.
MONEY TALKS
Hoffman took some criticism following a report that the former federal prosecutor hopes to collect campaign money from current federal prosecutors. Hoffman invited former colleagues to a fundraising event and said he expected word of the event to reach some people who still work for the U.S. attorney in Chicago. He suggested donations of $150.
Giannoulias called on Hoffman to cancel the fundraiser, saying it looks bad to solicit money from lawyers who investigate corruption. Hoffman rejected the criticism and called Giannoulias a hypocrite for taking some PAC money after boasting that he wouldn't.
WHAT'S NEXT
Monday is the deadline for candidates to file their nominating petitions. Ryan and McKenna say they plan to file then. One of them could end up being listed last on the ballot, another position that is thought to help bring in extra votes. Cheryle Jackson also may file in the Senate race.
On Thursday, Republican candidates for governor are scheduled to face off in a debate in Chicago.
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