Candidate Rauner blisters Gov. Quinn in new campaign ads

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Republican candidate for Illinois governor Bruce Rauner releases a new political ad Friday night which takes direct aim at his opponent, Governor Pat Quinn.

For the first time this summer, Rauner's campaign for governor has gone negative with a blistering attack against incumbent Quinn.

For 30 seconds, Rauner campaign ad-makers use blurred clips of old Quinn speeches, sometimes out of context, followed by a female narrator declaring a broken Quinn promise.

"Under our plan a family of four would not pay higher taxes," the ad says. "Quinn raised taxes by 67 percent on every Illinoisan."

The commercial also alleges Quinn cut education spending and that the governor's capital program has not generated the 400,000 jobs promised five years ago.

"Under Quinn, Illinois leads the Midwest in Job losses," the ad says.

"Our state has more people working today than at any time in the last five years," Quinn said.

The governor, in Huntley Friday to break ground for a Weber Grill distribution center with 100 new jobs, insisted the state's economic recovery is in full swing.

He expects wealthy businessman Rauner, who came under fire last week for using loopholes to avoid social security and Medicare taxes, to continue the negative ads.

"Those commercials are being paid a lot by those tax loopholes that he's used to help finance himself," said Quinn.

In Springfield Friday, Rauner said he had not violated any tax laws.

He also said that Quinn should compel his former aides to testify at next week's legislative audit commission hearings on mismanagement in the governor's $55 million anti-violence program.

"He's made the statement that everybody in the government who receives a request should honor it answer questions, be forthcoming and cooperate with the investigation," Rauner said.

While those hearings are scheduled to begin next Wednesday, there is some question whether or not the former administration officials will testify. The United States Justice Department has asked that the hearings be delayed as a federal investigation continues.

Gov. Quinn has not aired any broadcast televisions ads so far this summer.