CHICAGO — In many ways, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan couldn’t be more different: He has promoted his image as an outsider and reformer; she comes from a powerful political family.
But both scored leadership points this past week after Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest on federal charges alleging he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. And that is likely to resonate with voters in the 2010 gubernatorial race, political observers say.
Both are considered likely candidates for the state’s highest office, although last week neither would address that question.
Quinn quickly and forcefully called for Blagojevich to step down or face impeachment.
Madigan went a step further, asking the state’s highest court to strip the governor of his powers.
Any of those scenarios would make Quinn governor and the incumbent in 2010.
Madigan acknowledged in October she was “thinking about” a run for governor.
There is another scenario that could prevent a matchup, though. If Quinn becomes governor, he would have the power to appoint Obama’s Senate replacement and could ask Madigan to accept the job.
The Associated Press
