http://www.nwitimes.com/news/state-and- ... 03286.html
Ill. battle over lt. gov. nomination heats up
CHICAGO | Word that Gov. Pat Quinn planned to endorse Sheila Simon for lieutenant governor prompted warnings Friday that he risks angering black voters and weakening the Democratic ticket in November.
Rep. Art Turner, the second-place finisher in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, said he will continue fighting for the job even if Quinn prefers someone else.
Turner's supporters said that if the veteran black legislator is passed over for someone who didn't even run in the primary, many black voters will see it as an affront. They would be less likely to vote for Quinn or help his campaign in the fall, they said.
"I am very disappointed that he is saying, 'Anybody but Art Turner.' I'm hoping that he does not anger the African-American community to the extent that they will not be turned on by his candidacy," said Rep. Constance Howard of Chicago, a member of the Democratic State Central Committee.
The central committee is scheduled to decide on Saturday who will get the nomination for lieutenant governor. The original nominee, Scott Lee Cohen, withdrew after revelations that he had been accused of holding a knife to his girlfriend's throat, abusing steroids and failing to pay child support.
Quinn was to announce his preferred candidate on Friday afternoon. A person familiar with Quinn's selection process told The Associated Press that he had chosen Simon. The person would speak only on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt Quinn's announcement.
Simon is the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon and a former member of the Carbondale City Council. She lost a 2007 race for Carbondale mayor.
So the daughter of the late Sen Paul Simon is unacceptable cause she's not black, not because arguably she may not be qualified to hold the position?
Like I said some time ago I think they mean to throw this election and blame the Republicans for the tough decisions of fixing their mess.
OTOH if the black voters sit home in protest that could mean some incumbent Dems in a few districts could be unseated.
If the central committee were to reject Quinn's choice and pick someone else, it could be interpreted as a major failure of leadership by the governor. It might renew questions about whether he has the skills to accomplish his goals in Springfield.