GOP's Brady Kicks off Chicago Area Campaign for Governor

Addison, ILL - St. Sen Bill Brady brought his campaign for governor to Gov. Pat Quinn's backyard on Sunday, and introduced himself to the biggest bloc of voters in Illinois.

Before a cheering crowd in west suburban Addison, the Republican candidate rallied Sunday with his supporters and all but one of the candidates he defeated in the February primary.

The Republican primary election was filled with candidates from Du Page county, but it was Brady -- the state senator from Bloomington -- who won.

"[Quinn] is the party of old, the party of uncontrolled governmental spending building on the backs of our children and grandchildren," Brady told a sign-waving crowd. "We are the party of living within our means, of making do for the future generations of this great state."

Brady also got the vocal support of St. Sen Kirk Dillard, who missed being the party's nominee by a mere couple hundred votes.

"You know, unlike Pat Quinn, Bill Brady has a plan to cut the state budget by 10 percent," Dillard told the crowd to applause."

A Rasmussen poll released last Tuesday shows Brady leading Quinn by 10 percent statewide, but to win in November, he will have to boost his name recognition in the Chicago area.

Brady knows where votes are concentrated -- and said it's no co-incidence today's rally was in the heart of Pat Quinn country.

"Two-thirds of the people live up here. I want to represent them in the governor's office," he said. "I look forward to getting to know them better, they'll get to know me better and i think that will prove successful for November."

Governor Quinn's campaign did not return our request for a comment on Brady's northern offensive.

Only one Republican candidate for governor did not attend the unity rally. Andy McKenna used to be the state Republican party chairman. Brady said McKenna skipped the event because of family obligations.