One ad makes big difference in Illinois gubernatorial primary

In the Illinois governor's race, state Comptroller Dan Hynes (D) may have run the most effective TV ad of the 2010 campaign cycle.
 
Six weeks ago, Hynes was trailing Gov. Pat Quinn (D) by a 2-to-1 margin in the Democratic primary. But a Public Policy Polling survey released Tuesday shows Hynes with a one-point lead over Quinn and, more notably, a significant advantage over the governor (45-38) with African-Americans.
 
Hynes' TV spot features archive television footage of the late Harold Washington, who was the first African-American mayor of Chicago, stating that hiring Quinn in the 1980s was his "greatest mistake in government."
 
"Pat Quinn is a totally and completely undisciplined individual," Washington said in the footage. "He almost created a shambles in that department. He was dismissed. He should have been dismissed. … My only regret is that we hired and kept him too long."
 
Quinn, who served as revenue director for the city under Washington, initially denied being fired. But in a candidates' debate Monday, the governor said he was preparing to resign over a difference in "management philosophy" when Washington asked him to leave his post.
 
In a statement released after the ad aired last week, Quinn spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin said: "We firmly believe that, if Mayor Washington were with us today, we would have his support against the son of a 19th ward boss who grew up in Chicago's old-time political machine."
 
Quinn also has countered the ad by campaigning with prominent African-American politicians. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. reiterated his support for the governor and Reps. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Danny Davis (D-Ill.) condemned the Hynes ad.
 
But Hynes stood by it. "I think the words of Mayor Washington are very powerful," he said at the debate. "They tell a story."

The 30-second spot is available after the jump.