Scott Lee Cohen

Former Sen. Adlai Stevenson III: If Cohen Were My Running Mate, I Would Go Independent

Eric Kleefeld | February 5, 2010, 2:02PM

Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL), Former Sen. Aldai Stevenson III (D-IL), and IL Lt. Gov. candidate Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Former Sen. Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL), who ran for governor as an independent in 1986 after he was saddled with an unacceptable running mate for lieutenant governor in the primaries, just told TPMDC that if he were in the situation that Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) is today, with controversial candidate for lieutenant governor Scott Lee Cohen, he would do the same thing -- quit the Democratic ticket, and run as an independent.

"Well, you know I've been asked that over and over again, and I just don't want to be presumptuous by advising the governor what to do," said Stevenson, when asked if Quinn should run as an independent. "I'm saying what I did. I could not run in good conscience with someone unqualified as my running mate for lieutenant governor, so I resigned and ran as an independent."

When asked if he would personally run as an independent rather than run alongside Cohen, Stevenson answered: "Absolutely. No question about it."

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