Hynes concedes Democratic governor's nomination to Quinn

In an emotional concession speech this morning, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes said he would fully support Gov. Pat Quinn and didn't regret a thing about his campaign.

"There is nothing I think I could have done more. There is nothing I wish I did more," Hynes said during a news conference in Chicago.

Hynes' concession comes two days after the primary election in which the two Democratic candidates for their party's governor nomination came within about 8,000 votes out of about 900,000 cast.

It means that Quinn now is the official Democratic candidate and will face whoever becomes the final winner of the even tighter Republican race, where state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard are two top two candidates with just hundreds of votes separating them. A recount may decide the outcome, but that will take weeks if not months.

Quinn faces some challenges ahead, beyond the fiscal crisis that the state of Illinois is in. He will now run on a ticket with lieutenant governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen, a Chicago pawnbroker who was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in 2005 charges that were dropped. Quinn did not choose Cohen; state law matches the two on one ticket after the election.

Quinn welcomed Hynes' announcement, saying that now that the primary is over, "like a family, we put aside our differences and come together for things we truly believe in."

Describing Hynes as an intelligent, committed public servant, Quinn thanked him for his pledge of support.

Meanwhile, Hynes said he fought hard and was proud of that.

"We rose up and fell just a little short. If democracy means anything, it means that the campaign with the most votes wins. We did the right thing. We waited for all the votes to be counted," he said.

And Quinn, he said, is the man that Illinois needs now.

After so much turmoil, conflict and strife (in Illinois), let us choose peace. And to the victor goes our compliments and our support. I've called Gov. Quinn and congratulated him on his victory and I've pledged my complete support."

Despite some disagreements with Quinn, Hynes said the governor has a "basic decency" that is vitally needed today. "I've never doubted the governor's commitment to the people of Illinois. ... Illinois needs him to continue as governor. ... I look forward to working with him in the weeks and months to come as comptroller."

Of criticism of Quinn as incompetent during the campaign, Hynes said, "Words get heated and it was a fierce debate."

While thanking his campaign staff, family and his wife, Hynes had to pause for several seconds as he tried to muster the words to do so.

As far as his political future, he said he'll finish off his term as comptroller, which ends in January 2011, and wouldn't speculate beyond that.

The concession sets up a Democratic ticket led by Quinn, who will be matched up with the top vote-getter in the lieutenant governor race, Scott Lee Cohen, a Chicago pawnbroker who poured thousands into campaign ads to win the primary election. Cohen, 44, was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in 2005 but the charges were dropped after the victim did not show up in court.

Asked about Cohen this morning, Quinn said, "I think it is imperative that the lieutenant governor candidate speak up quickly" about the questions that have been raised.

Meanwhile, on the Republican side, Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady has predicted it could take some time for a final outcome.

If a recount were to take place in that race, it could not even begin until after March 5, when the vote becomes official. One of the candidates would have to start the process by making a formal request to the clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court, along with $10,000.