Senator Bill Brady

Social issues won the Illinois gubernatorial election for Quinn. So instead of pushing for a tax increase now, he should spend the next two years cultivating public opinion to produce a genuine mandate. And then go for it.

While the bean counters and the lawyers continue to sift through uncounted absentee and other ballots, we can call the election: Quinn has defeated GOP State Senator Bill Brady.

If Quinn falls on Tuesday, it won't be the Tea Party types who did him in -- it will be progressives.

Governor Pat Quinn is looking more and more like a casualty of independents' pitched forks.

Candidates for the office of Illinois State Treasurer seldom stir voter interest or imagination in this junior constitutional office. The 2010 election is no different.

Brady has been steadily bucking for months the cherished ideals of the rebellious, rancorous protest movement, but few seem to have noticed or cared.

The poll reports that State Senator Brady leads Quinn 40%-38%. The Quinn camp is crazed with joy to be losing by two points.

Governor Pat Quinn's gubernatorial campaign this week called on GOP opponent State Senator Bill Brady to detail his plan for the Illinois budget, arguing that the campaign clock is ticking.

Pat Quinn signed a bill a few days ago that added teeth to state law to deter organized dogfights by imposing harsher criminal penalties on dog sadists and fight organizers.

Brady has spent $600,000 in ads to introduce himself and another $400,000 to batter Quinn. Quinn's campaign allowed the ads to go unanswered. And you know what? Brady's poll numbers have tanked.

Though Brady has gained no further traction since winning the GOP nomination, it is impossible to sugarcoat the results for Quinn. Grim.