Rauner on campaign-style tour of Illinois as 2018 race looms

CHICAGO (AP) - Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner launched a two-day tour paid for by his campaign fund on Tuesday, insisting the statewide fly around "has nothing to do with the election" even as Democrats line up to unseat him in 2018 and his approval ratings sag.

The first-term governor started the day touring a suburban Chicago factory, where he told employees "we're working for you every day to try to help you have a better life." He then flew to Rockford and several other stops before an evening rally in Springfield. He also has five scheduled events Wednesday in southern Illinois, Quincy and Champaign.

The tour comes as Rauner's Democratic rivals have already been stumping across Illinois, blasting him as a failure and as more interested in politicking than governing. Among the candidates are billionaire J.B. Pritzker, businessman Chris Kennedy, state Sen. Daniel Biss and Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar.

Rauner, who put $50 million into his campaign fund in December, said Tuesday he wanted media to cover the events as "communication with the people of Illinois." He also refused to say he's seeking another term, adding "That will be discussed later on."

Rauner and his political team acknowledged, however, that the tour was being paid for out of his campaign fund, Citizens for Rauner. But they described it as a "political event" like others he's held throughout his term and not a "campaign event."

The schedule was announced from a Citizens for Rauner-affiliated email account. And moments after the first event started, supporters received a fundraising email from "Team Rauner Volunteer HQ" - another account affiliated with Citizens for Rauner - asking them to donate money "to directly help our grassroots team as we prep for this trip."

Several of his potential Democratic rivals said Tuesday the two-day trip was the latest example of Rauner's misguided priorities. They argue that his focus on keeping or gaining power has prevented lawmakers from reaching a deal on a state budget for nearly two years, leading to serious cuts to higher education, social services and other programs.

"Bruce Rauner is once again choosing to put politics over doing his job as Governor," Pritzker said in email.

Pawar noted the events were occurring the same day he joined protesters at Northeastern Illinois University to rally against billions of dollars in cuts to colleges and to tuition grants for students.

"It's past time for Gov. Rauner to put politics aside and govern," he said. "Our state can't afford to wait any longer."

Rauner said the roadblock to changes he's seeking, such as term limits for lawmakers and a property tax freeze, has been House Speaker Michael Madigan and other Democrats. During Tuesday's stops and in television ads that an arm of the Republican Governors Association began airing last month, he's criticized Democrats who control the General Assembly for trying to "duct tape over" Illinois' problems and said he's the person trying to truly fix Illinois.

A poll released last month showed the majority of residents disapprove of the job both Rauner and Madigan are doing.

Rauner's disapproval rating almost doubled since just after he took office, according to the poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. The poll, conducted March 4 to March 11, showed 36 percent somewhat or strongly approved of Rauner's performance, while 58 percent strongly or somewhat disapproved.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Other candidates who say they'll also seek the Democratic nomination in the March 20, 2018, primary are Regional Schools Superintendent Bob Daiber and small business owner Alex Paterakis. State Rep. Scott Drury said Monday he's creating a campaign committee to explore a bid.

The election for Illinois governor is Nov. 6, 2018.