Why Gov. Rauner says he doesn't have an email account

Office workers everywhere might be looking to Gov. Bruce Rauner's leadership on one of their biggest headaches.

The governor was asked by an Illinois Times reporter this week why a request for public records didn't turn up any emails of the governor's.

"I have no email," Rauner said. "None whatsoever."

"It's actually improved the quality of my life dramatically. It's actually increased my productivity. Now my work is done in person and on the phone," he said.

Rauner didn't elaborate on his reasons, but made a veiled reference to Hillary Clinton.

"Email causes all kinds of trouble, as you've seen," Rauner said.

He says he does have a government cellphone.

<h3 class="leadin">The Trump effect

It's been no small point of speculation what a nomination of Donald Trump for president would mean to the Republican Party in Illinois, which hopes to hang onto some big seats and make gains in November.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park hopes to be re-elected in a big race, as does U.S. Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth. And state Republicans hope to pick up seats in Springfield to back Gov. Rauner.

In talking to former House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego this week about whether he'd chosen a candidate after his favored Jeb Bush got out of the race, we asked how a Trump nomination would affect Illinois.

"The traditional answer is, yeah, it would be a problem," Cross said. Some believe Trump would turn off some voters who might just stay home on Election Day in November.

But.

"This is the strangest election year to date in a long, long time," Cross said.

<h3 class="leadin">Other takes

Rauner was asked this week about Trump's tweet about the Cubs-owning Ricketts family: "The race for president has been a very wild process, and I specifically have not commented on any of it."

Rauner has former top aides aligned with the campaigns of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, but so far the most powerful Republican in Illinois has stayed out of the most hotly contested race in the country.

And House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs, an early backer of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, said he'll back whoever the Republican nominee is.

<h3 class="leadin">No turning back

Illinois ballots will include delegates for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, even though all have announced they've dropped out of the race.

Why?

For one, people are already voting here, and early voting expands Monday.

"Everything is printed," Illinois State Board of Elections attorney Ken Menzel said. "The touch screens are programmed."

Most voters enthusiastic enough about politics to vote in a primary know which candidates have dropped and aren't too likely to vote for them. But technically, they could.

And, technically, they'll count, Menzel said, because none of the campaigns have filed paperwork to make sure they don't. Candidates tend to "suspend" their campaigns so they can keep paying bills and raise funds to pay those old bills.

<h3 class="leadin">Getting ahead

Illinois' early voting program accelerates Monday, when voting in person before the March 15 primary expands to more locations in each county.

Right now, voters can already mail in ballots and vote in person at county election headquarters. But starting Monday, each county will add locations, and voters can find where they can go on their county clerk or election authority's website.

Getting a vote cast early means you are safe if lines are long, weather is bad or you are sick on primary day. The potential downside is voting early for a presidential candidate who drops out of the race before Illinois takes its turn.

There are no take-backs once you cast a ballot.