UPDATE 1X: Dillard endorses Lisa Madigan?

from the Chicago Tribune's Clout Street

Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard kicked off his run for governor in Hinsdale today, where Madigan was a topic of discussion.

"She's been a good attorney general and if she wants to stay there, that's fine," Dillard said. "With Lisa Madigan out of the race, it clearly makes this at least an even, if not a Republican-tilting field. Personally, I'm glad she's not going to be my opponent in the general election. I believe my chances are better with Pat Quinn or someone else than Lisa Madigan. I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I'm the governor."

Dillard clearly forgot about his own party's announced candidate for attorney general: DuPage County State's Atty. Joe Birkett.

UPDATE: Illinois Review contacted the Dillard campaign for comment. A spokesman for the campaign elaborated on Sen. Dillard's remarks stating that the Senator strongly supports Joe Birkett and the Republican nominee for Attorney General.

Comments

[ILvotes]

Dillard is NOT the right person for the Republican party.

[PLEASE]

dillard is exactly right for the republican party - he did not endorse madigan and he continued by saying very nice things about birkett and will work with and for all the republican nominees for the general. I was there i heard it! dillard is the only one who can win november - what this state needs are people who can work together - whether they are republicans or democrats or whatever!

[Sophi]

Lisa Madigan has presided over the AG office in one of the most politically corrupt states in the nation if not the most corrupt. Her record shows her as a champion of ... comsumer protection. Yes folks Illinois' top enforcement official is busy chasing after Craigslist rather than rooting out corrupt politicians in what can only be described as a target rich environment. Fitzgerald cannot possibly do it by himself.

Birkett prosecuted tollway corruption. He is speaking out about corruption, and he's running on the issue.

Dillard provides a character reference for barack and gives his imprimatur to lisa. Is this the guy who will shake things up in Springfield or carry on the tradition?

I'm now counting the seconds before a dullard supporter calls me a staffer.

[Downstate GOP Faithless]

staffer

[John Poshepny]

Dillard is a RINO folks don't vote for him.

[Anon]

We don't need another "DuPage Republican". Dillard had city staffers building a stage yesterday so he could campaign on the steps of village hall. He had the public high school band out there. All egregious violations of the spirit, if not the letter, of ethics. Hinsdale residents don't pay property taxes to subsidize Dillards annointing as the second coming of Jim Edgar. On day 1, he is already flouting ethics. He's running for the second term of George Ryan.

I'll stick with Proft who called him out for endorsing Lisa Madigan.

[Downstate GOP Faithless]

isnt this the same thing he did with obama? he was a staunch supporter of mccain (except when he was contributing to rudy g or shooting commercials for obama) and now he is a strong supporter of birkett (unless he is praising the work lisa madigan has and wants to keep doing)

[right now]

Lisa = enabler of corruption.

[votecounter]

Anon
Dillard only has a few paid staffers working so you guys who say Dillard staffers are blogging are wrong, they are probably busy today and tomorrow.
How do you know he didn't pay for the work? The other campaigns must be really worried and they should be he had over 150 people standing in the rain at his announcement, it was impressive. He id the front runner thats for sure now.

[Sam Pierce]

Who will Dillard praise next? Perhaps he will provide a character reference for Blagojevich.

[really]

Anon were you out there watching these folks in hinsdale? You basically say dillard broke the law where your proof?

[anon]

The proof is where he did it, its on his agenda. Ethics don't allow for politicians to use taxpayer funded property as there personal playthings. He used public property for his campaign, its clear.

[really]

Anon typical " Dillard had city staffers building a stage yesterday so he could campaign on the steps of village hall. He had the public high school band out there. All egregious violations of the spirit, if not the letter, of ethics. Hinsdale residents don't pay property taxes to subsidize Dillards annointing" that's your quote right buddy?!?
Well instead of just throwing out lies I thought I would do the responsible thing and actually find out so - A staging crew was contracted by the campaign to construct the platform and prepare the site. The band that appeared did so strictly as a voluntary event…the band leader made it clear that this was a political event and they didn’t have to perform. And, appropriately, you’ll soon see a handsome donation given to the band to further music education in sincere appreciation.
I think that’s fine that you stick with Proft. Apparently though, you have concerns that Kirk Dillard may win this thing. If that’s so, you’re smarter than you let on.

[spintreebob]

really,
You have something there. The same clueless voters who supported George Ryan might still be so clueless as to support George Ryan II.

[Sophi]

Really, you may be right about Dillard's chances. The point is Illinois voters deserve a more vigorous housecleaning than Dillard has the stomach for. He appears to be a go along guy without the idealogical backbone to confront/defeat machine democrats (Madigan) or the shrewdness to see through the thin veil of "reasonableness" of a radical leftist like obama.

[really]

And the same clueless folks who supported keyes will support proft!

[ILvotes]

If he strongly supports Birkett, why would did he not mention that today and why did he say he wants to work with Madigan?

[Keep it real]

Dillard paid rental like any taxpayer can for use of the lawn outside a public facility. The stage was erected by a rental company and the decorations were done by an event planning service.

You people are pathetic!

[KaneConservative]

The pattern woth Senator Dillard seems pretty clear here-Obama, Pomeroy, skipping a budget vote for a fundraiser, supporting Madigan. All this pretty quickly adds up to a trust issue in a primary. And for all the talk of how he's Edgars chief of staff, where is Edgar?

[Pittsburgh Steelers Fan]

Senator Dullard has cut commercials for Obamanation and praises Lisa Madigan for Attorney General when she has done nothing to stop corruption in this State.

Kirk, why not try for a job you know you can have. Illinois Republican Party Chairman!!

[Dave]

If I were Birkett I would reconsider and jump in the congressional race to challenge Foster

I think he could be a great candidate to knock off Foster

[rightwinger]

Dillard endorses Madigan: Combine anyone?

[get over it billy and proft]

Birkett said he holds no ill will toward Dillard for the remark."Every politician, and of course I include myself, there's no one immune from a slip-up or being taken out of context," Birkett said. "I think Kirk Dillard was just expressing his opinion that if she were to prevail he would have no problem working with her. I pretty much said the same thing about her when she won in 2002."

[mike]

I see areas, other than palatine are seething with corruption. palatine-dirt.blogspot