Durbin rips Rauner, says governor tries to divide Illinois

CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has sharply criticized Gov. Bruce Rauner for attacking downstate Democrats who supported additional funding for Chicago Public Schools.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports (http://bit.ly/2axQaCZ ) Durbin told Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Thursday they "cannot allow any politician to divide this state."

Durbin later told reporters: "Any governor of Illinois who tries to divide this state, southern Illinois versus Chicago, one section against the other, does a disservice to the people he represents."

Asked whether he was considering running against Rauner in 2018, Durbin said he's focused on the November presidential election and will decide later on whether to seek the governor's office.

During a news conference, Rauner pointed at a political system that is "broken," saying change is hard and important, adding "there will be critics along the way."

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/