I saw it Friday night at Barnes & Noble, and just came across it today when I was Googling something else. It's a
balanced, somewhat edgey assessment by longtime Statehouse reporter Doug Finke. He leads with a great quote from former Gov. Jim Edgar:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn could be days or weeks away from dropping the “lieutenant” in his title and assuming the top spot in Illinois government.
When and if that happens, Quinn will have culminated a lifetime in Illinois politics, one that started with the term “gadfly” usually being attached to his name. Now, however, Quinn is viewed as a comparative statesman.
“He’s mellowed,” said former Gov. Jim Edgar. “I never thought I’d say I’d sleep better if Pat Quinn were governor. (But) he’s sincere. He’s a hard worker. He’d be a far better work ethic than we currently have.”
Some nice bits from Quinn's press conference Thursday in Springfield:
“I am a team player,” Quinn said Thursday during a Statehouse news conference. “I don’t have a huge ego. I want to be a humble person. That’s what we need.”
Humble isn’t necessarily a term everyone would use to describe Quinn.
“There’s always been a tendency by him to grandstand,” said University of Illinois at Springfield political scientist Kent Redfield. “The perception is he makes his reputation by demonizing the whole political (spectrum). He’s never been the most popular person.”
Quinn also has a penchant for publicity.
“He is king of the Sunday afternoon press conference,” said Redfield about Quinn’s penchant for holding news conferences on traditionally slow news days.
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