IL-Gov: Quinn Leads Brady and Dillard in First Post-Primary Poll

Victory Research (2/4-7, likely voters)

Pat Quinn (D-inc): 42

Bill Brady (R): 31

Rich Whitney (G): 4

Undecided: 23

Pat Quinn (D-inc): 41

Kirk Dillard (R): 35

Rich Whitney (G): 3

Undecided: 21

(MoE: ±2.8%)

Here’s the first post-primary poll of the Illinois governor’s race, and it shows Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn in OK shape for re-election, suggesting that he may not have taken on quite as much water during the heated Democratic primary as might be feared. The poll is from Victory Research, a firm I’ve never heard of before; they claim this is an “independent” poll, although, interestingly, they’ve done work for both Quinn and Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard in the past.

As you probably know, the GOP primary has yet to be decided, and probably won’t be for several months, which is why they poll two GOPers despite the primary being two weeks old. State Sen. Bill Brady has a 406-vote edge for now, and Quinn should root for Brady to prevail, based on the disparity between Brady and Dillard’s performances. The difference between Dillard and Brady, if you delve into the crosstabs, is entirely explicable by how the more moderate Dillard performs in the Chicago suburbs (where he’s from, as opposed to the socially conservative, Downstate Brady). Dillard wins with over 50% in the collar counties, while Quinn and Brady are in a dead heat in the collar counties (while, of course, Quinn cleans up in vote-heavy Cook County).

RaceTracker Wiki: IL-Gov