Candidate for Illinois governor Bruce Rauner released a scathing attack ad against Governor Pat Quinn this week featuring former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's fiery criticism of the governor.
"I would never appoint Pat Quinn to do anything," Washington said in 1987. "Pat Quinn is a totally and completely undisciplined individual who thinks this government is nothing but a large easel on which to do his PR work."
Washington later hired Quinn to serve as city revenue director, but fired him after less than eight months. "My only regret is that we hired [Quinn] and kept him too long," Washington said in the ad.
Rauner’s ad appeared on local radio and urged Illinois voters to fire Pat Quinn just like the former mayor did nearly three decades ago.
"Pat Quinn failed Harold Washington, and Quinn failed our schools, streets and whole community," the ad said. "Now Pat Quinn wants four more years? Harold Washington fired Pat Quinn – we should too."
The ad was released just two days after Rauner was endorsed by Chicago's African-American ministers. This week's polls show Rauner leads Quinn by three points.
