Bill Daley: Lisa Madigan's moves won't affect mine

The son of one of Illinois' most powerful political families said the plans of a daughter of another political dynasty won't affect his bid for governor.

Bill Daley told the Daily Herald Monday that “what the attorney general does or what she doesn't do, that's not going to affect my decision.” However, he acknowledged, “I know people don't believe that.”

Daley, former White House chief of staff and the brother and son of two former Chicago mayors, was referring to Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Neither has formally declared a bid for governor, but both have indicated they're seriously thinking about running.

Their interest has led to speculation about a messy 2014 Democratic primary field potentially pitting Gov. Pat Quinn against two candidates with considerable muscle in Cook County, but not necessarily downstate.

Steve Brown, Michael Madigan's spokesman, would not say whether he and Bill Daley have met to discuss who would be on the Democratic primary ballot. Madigan “makes a practice of not commenting on private meetings,” Brown said.

Historically, there has been distance between the two families, beginning when Madigan was elected as a young Democratic committeeman for the 13th Ward on Chicago's South Side. Bill Daley's father, the late Mayor Richard J. Daley and a South Sider himself, became more closely allied with former Lt. Gov. Neil Hartigan, then a young North Side committeeman and rival who Madigan came up with in politics and later opposed in a bid for governor.

Bill Daley noted Monday that a decision on his political future would likely be made “between now and April.”

“The primary's a year from March,” Daley said. “About a year out you want to be at least in a situation where you're committed to do this and are probably going to begin this typical (fundraising) process. It's not an inexpensive endeavor.”

Daley, a former banker with Democratic connections across the country, has mulled other bids for governor in the past, including considering a primary bid in 2009.

“This is about whether or not I can add something to the debate and the discussion,” Daley said.