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Brady meets with Republican leaders as governor contest still in limbo
Posted by Rick Pearson at 4:45 p.m.
Republican governor candidate Bill Brady today met with one of his vanquished rivals in the contest as the GOP awaits the formal process of election authorities trying to validate provisional ballots and count absentee votes to be completed.
Brady, who is leading fellow state Sen. Kirk Dillard by about 420 votes according to unofficial totals, met with former state GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, McKenna's unsuccessful running mate Matt Murphy and House GOP leader Tom Cross of Oswego.
"Andy McKenna wanted to meet with me and congratulate me, and Cross and Murphy came along and we talked a little bit of strategy for the general election," Brady told the Tribune.
Given the ballot-counting process has placed the contest in limbo, Brady said, "There are certain things I can do and certain things I can't do, but I've got to try to do what I can do."
Brady, who maintained he expected to be the winner in the contest, also said he talked to McKenna about financial help for a fall campaign. McKenna spent more than $2.2 million in family funds in the primary out of more than $5.6 million that he raised in finishing third on Tuesday, about 8,000 votes behind Brady.
Brady, a state senator from Bloomington, said he respected Dillard's desire to want every vote counted in the race. Dillard, of Hinsdale, also is a state senator. But Brady also noted that by waiting "it delays our ability, without question, to move 100 percent forward" with the general election contest against Democratic nominee, Gov. Pat Quinn.
Brady said it is difficult to raise money for the fall campaign with the contest still unsettled, though he acknowledged he had received some funding for a possible legal challenge to the final results as well as to help pay for campaign staff.
"We feel, based on expert advice that we're given, that we will continue to prevail and (gain a) victory," Brady said.
Brady said the travails of the Democratic ticket because of the controversies surrounding its lieutenant governor nominee, Scott Lee Cohen, were "embarrassing" and "not good for anybody" in a state that has been "stained" by political scandal.
"The Scott Lee Cohen issue is a permanent embarrassment, not just to the state of Illinois but a critical problem for the Democratic Party," Brady said. "If I were officially declared (the GOP winner) and everyone conceded today, I could hit the ground running right now."
Dillard held a news conference today to insist that every vote be counted, including remaining absentee and valid provisional ballots. That could take place by Feb. 15 or so, he said. State elections officials could certify the election results March 5, then Dillard likely would be faced with the decision of whether to seek a partial recount.
Posted at 04:36:00 PM in 2010 Illinois election, 2010 Illinois Governor's race
Yes, we do need brady. we need someone that will stand up to the left and assert our second amendment rights and the right to Concealed Carry. The democrats have ruined this state and turned it into a liberal hole in the ground. Its about time a REAL conservative showed up to fix things.
Posted by: levi | February 08, 2010 at 11:36 AM
For the good of this State, let's hope Dillard the moderate gets the win. Nobody needs Brady.
Posted by: jack | February 06, 2010 at 05:53 PM