Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner are nearly tied in the polls, as the November election approaches. But there is a third candidate in the race.
Libertarian's nominee, Chad Grimm, wasn't part of the first televised gubernatorial debate, hosted by public broadcasting stations and the League of Women Voters in Peoria Thursday night.
The League's established rules require a candidate poll at least ten-percent; Grimm has polled at five-percent, or at times edging closer to eight. But he's getting help to bump up those numbers, from a source that at first seems unlikely: the Illinois Operating Engineers Local 150.
As first reported by "The Illinois Observer," the union gave Grimm $30,000. It's a huge boost. Prior to that, Grimm's election filings show he had $100 in the bank.
So what's likely behind the gift? Unions have come out strong against Rauner; any votes Grimm can draw from him, could help their favored candidate - Gov. Quinn.
