Polls are coming in at a rapid pace, from polling companies like Rasmussen Reports, newspapers like the Chicago Tribune, and interest groups like the state Chamber of Commerce. They vary in the number of likely voters contacted, the wording of the questions these people were asked, and, of course, their responses.
But they all agree: the race for Illinois governor is going to be close. Really close.
Both the Quinn and Rauner campaigns have been holding early voting rallies, to try to get as many supporters' ballots cast as possible, before election day. Both campaigns have also focused time, energy and money into Get Out the Vote drives that are expected to be key to determining a winner.
Republicans say Democrats used their supermajorities in the General Assembly for a bit of extra help: the ballot contains a handful of non-binding referenda, and a constitutional amendment question seen as appealing to Democrats' base. One of those appears to be directed right at the wealthy Rauner: a non-binding question asking if Illinois should add a tax surchage on income over a million dollars.
A new survey from the University of Illinois Springfield says that 61-percent of likely voters support this "millionaire's tax." But the Chamber of Commerce poll found of majority of likely voters are against it. The Chamber says the tax would hurt small business owners.
