The two best-known Democratic families in Illinois are headed for a major clash in the primary for governor in 2014.
Former Obama White House Chief of Staff William Daley, whose father and brother were both longtime mayors of Chicago, has signaled he is running against state Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of powerful state House Speaker Mike Madigan.
According to several published reports, a poll conducted by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research for Daley’s campaign shows Madigan leading Republican state Treasurer Dan Rutherford by 50 percent to 34 percent among all voters statewide in a theoretical general election.
But following a "push" question about both Madigans possibly running two of the three branches of state government, her support plummeted in the poll and was in a tie with Rutherford, each with 41 percent.
Moreover, the survey found, a full 70 percent of likely voters say it is either a "serious concern" or "somewhat of a concern" that a governor and a Speaker Madigan "will put too much power in one family's hands and break the system of checks and balances that is supposed to keep power in government separated."
The poll also found that 26 percent of voters would not support Madigan if her father remains speaker and 23 percent would have "a hard time" voting for her if the elder Madigan keeps wielding his gavel.
All of these results were released to the Prairie State press by Daley.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.
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