Quinn endorsements cover political spectrum

Gov. Pat Quinn covered the political spectrum by picking up endorsements from a couple of key union groups and a cadre of progressive politicians today.

In separate news conferences in Chicago, Quinn was presented the backing of the state's two largest labor unions and a group of North Shore Democrats led by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston.

The Teamsters Joint Council 25 and the Service Employees International Union's Illinois Council - 270,000 members strong between them - joined in backing Quinn's 2010 campaign. Schakowsky in turn was backed by a group including Northfield Township Democratic Committeeman Mike Kreloff and Cook County Board Commissioner Larry Suffredin of Evanston.

Both groups hailed Quinn as a populist who defends the interests of ordinary people.

"I want to be the standard-bearer of our party in the election coming up," Quinn said. "I think it's important to have a governor who's a people person."

Asked how that squared with his image as a political outsider, Quinn replied, "That isn't being an outsider. It's having the understanding of being able to touch the pulse of the people each and every day."

Both groups went out of their way to insist they were not issuing a rebuff to Quinn's main opponent in February's Democratic primary, state Comptroller Dan Hynes. Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU Illinois Council, said his group has supported Hynes in the past and would probably have backed him for re-election as comptroller. "This endorsement is a pro endorsement for Gov. Quinn," he said. "We think he's done a good job in very difficult times."

Quinn claimed the endorsement of the party regulars on the Cook County Democratic Central Committee last week.