Two states, one tumultuous year

Illinois wasn't the only state in gubernatorial crisis last year. New York's governor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned last March after reports about his involvement with a prostitute. In fact, Spitzer and Gov. Rod Blagojevich topped the list of "naughtiest politicians" in an end-of-year poll conducted by CNN and Opinion Research Corp. Of those polled, 56 percent chose Blagojevich and 23 percent named Spitzer.

Consider the similarities between New York and Illinois. Both states:

• are political heavyweights

• have Senate vacancies left by change in the presidency (Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is expected to become President Obama's secretary of state)

• have two Senate suitors from prominent political families: Jesse Jackson Jr. and Caroline Kennedy

• left a load on the lieutenant governors

• heard lawmakers talk of impeachment

But there are some differences.

• Spitzer's peccadillos were unrelated to his office. He never was charged. Blagojevich's federal charges allege the misuse of his office for personal gain.

• Spitzer willingly stepped down within two days, but Blagojevich has clung tenaciously to his post.

• New York Lt. Gov. David Paterson replaced Spitzer, while Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn stands ready and waiting.

• No Illinois governor has been impeached. In New York, Gov. William Sulzer was impeached in 1913.