Campaign 2014: Rauner makes it official; Daley on the verge? Rutherford leads early poll; GOP Still fighting: Your Reboot Illinois Daily Tip-Off

CAMPAIGN 2014 Chicago businessman Bruce Rauner officially announced his candidacy this morning for the Republican nomination for governor in 2014. His email to supporters said simply, "I'm running," and contained a link to this video:

As noted today on our Campaign 2014 scorecard, Rauner's announcement -- like Treasurer Dan Rutherford's on Sunday -- was little more than a formality. Rauner has been touring the state since March on a listening tour as part of his exploratory campaign. But that exploratory campaign raised $1.3 million in its first month. Coupled with the $50 million of his own money that Rauner has pledged to spend, he's sure to be a formidable opponent.

But that's not the only campaign news today. On the Democratic side, Bill Daley tells the Chicago Tribune he'll decide in the next week whether he'll challenge Gov. Pat Quinn for the Democratic nomination. As stated before, this all may hinge on whether Attorney General Lisa Madigan decides to challenge Quinn herself.

And a new poll of Republican voters shows Rutherford with a solid lead early in the campaign. However, the poll -- conducted by Battleground Polling -- also shows the divide among various factions of the Illinois Republican Party. Rauner barely registers on it, but the poll was conducted May 20-27. That will change quickly now that Rauner has dropped the facade of his "exploratory" campaign and, we expect, starts getting his name out in ads.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that GOP Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard will announce their candidacies soon.

Find out more on our running Campaign 2014 tally. THE (IN)FIGHTING ILLINOIS GOP Upon his selection Saturday as the new head of the Illinois Republican Party, Jack Dorgan sounded a note of unity as the party prepares for 2014. But a quick Google search quickly shows that Dorgan's message (and his very selection as chairman) has not been well received by the party's more conservative segment. One blogger announced headlined his post, "IL GOP finally gives up, picks Democrat as new Party Chair." Tough crowd! And that's just the start. Read more here.
SOUNDING OFF We get a lot of comments from Rebooters who, like us, are not happy with the state of government in Illinois. Chief Operating Officer Madeleine Doubek highlights some good ones, and provides some answers, on her blog today. Sample: "How can the assembly go home for the summer while the pension debt grows $17M a day???" Enhanced punctuation is always encouraged on comments. DAILY TIP-OFF Rauner's announcement will be covered throughout the day, and we'll be adding links to our  Daily Tip-Off section as they arrive.
 

• Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass is not impressed with Bill Daley's possible candidacy, saying it only strengthens Illinois' status as "Madiganistan." 
• The State Journal-Register is no amused at the legislature's inaction on pension reform
• The Chicago Tribune reports that Jesse Jackson Jr.'s request to keep medical records sealed in his sentencing file has been denied for now
• The Chicago Sun-Times points out many models Illinois could follow in enacting pension reform