Progress Illinois

A Tribune poll out today shows Gov. Quinn with every officeholder's dream: a relatively blank slate in terms of public opinion.  The survey found that 40 percent of respondents have no opinion of him and just six percent view him unfavorably:

As for Quinn, 49 percent of voters viewed him favorably compared with only 6 percent who had an unfavorable opinion of him. Forty percent expressed no opinion of the new governor, who has been a mainstay of Illinois politics for more than three decades as a political activist, former state treasurer and lieutenant governor elected twice with Blagojevich.

Meanwhile, the survey provides more troubling figures for Sen. Roland Burris. Much like the Research 2000 poll released two weeks ago, his favorability rate is in the mid-30s, though this survey finds his unfavorable rating significantly lower (18 percent as opposed to 35 percent).  But here's the troubling part for Burris:

When asked if Burris should run for election in 2010, only 37 percent said they wanted him to seek the office while 33 percent said he should not. An additional 29 percent said they didn't know. [...]

On the question of whether Burris should seek election, following an extended controversy in which Senate Democrats first refused to seat Burris but buckled under pressure, only 43 percent of Democratic voters in Illinois said he should make a bid in 2010. Voters who called themselves political independents, a key voting bloc, were split 36 percent to 33 percent on whether he should or shouldn't run.

Less than half of Democratic respondents supported the idea of him running for reelection? Yikes. Then again, no one really has any idea at the moment what kind of senator Burris will be.

Speaking of the 2010 race, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias -- who is exploring a Senate run -- was profiled by The Hill today.

And in a less formal survey, over 700 fans and followers of State Rep. Julie Hamos filled out an online questionnaire regarding state governmental priorities.  Greg Hinz picks it apart:

Asked what Mr. Quinn should "tackle first," constituents said paying overdue bills to social-service providers, wisely spending federal stimulus funds and restoring ethics to state government -- in that order. Asked if the state should increase its revenues, 806 constituents asked for a graduated income tax with higher levies on "the wealthy," 498 wanted a larger gasoline tax and 413 each said the state should raise the income tax and impose no new taxes.

Presumably, most of the respondents were North Side Chicago Democrats.  You can read the more detailed results here.