Rauner gains endorsements, Pastor Brooks vows to keep politics off pulpit

CHICAGO (WLS) -- As the final week before the November 4 election approaches, several new endorsements have come in the race for governor from newspapers in Illinois and most of those endorsements are for Republican challenger Bruce Rauner.

Meanwhile, an emotional Pastor Corey Brooks says he will never allow politics on his pulpit again a day after he says his church was robbed and he received threats because of his support for Rauner.

Sunday, Rauner appeared at Brooks' New Beginnings Church, while Governor Pat Quinn took his message to two suburban houses of worship.

As a Rauner supporter, Pastor Brooks has taken some heat, and now phone threats. Police are investigating the calls as well as a break-in and theft at Brook's church.

Sunday, with Rauner front and center in his church, Brooks spoke of standing tall and ripped claims via social media that the "phone threats" and church theft were nothing more than a political stunt.

"I love Bruce, I really do. I love Bruce. But I don't love him that much," Brooks said.

Sunday's Rauner visit was the last for a political candidate in Brooks' church. The pastor says politicians in the pulpit create too much distraction for his congregation.

But with one more Sunday before election, church visits, particularly African American churches, will fill the schedule. Quinn wants to lock in black support, Rauner wants to weaken it.

Nine days before the election, Rauner continues to rack up endorsements from newspapers around the state. Rauner says he doesn't know whether those endorsements will swing undecided voters, but is pleased to have them.

"I believe that's an indication that folks understand my policies will bring back Illinois real economic growth," Rauner said.

Quinn relishes other endorsements.

"I think the endorsements that really matters are folks who are firefighters, police officers, teachers," he said.

"I don't think the editorial page is going to be definitive in this race," political analyst Don Rose said.

He said that newspaper opinion usually doesn't move the needle much for top of the ticket races, though it a tight race, it could make a bit of difference.

"If this race is decided by one point, we can say the media endorsements were probably influential," said Rose.

All signs point to a tight finish, which underscores the importance of, as Rose points out, the ground game, which organization can best get their candidate's supporters to the polls.

That has traditionally been advantage Democrats, but this race has had some elements that are quite non-traditional.