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Quinn, Rauner face off in final debate before election day

As early voting kicked off in Illinois, the two men running for governor exchanged jabs in their final scheduled debate before election day.

As early voting kicked off in Illinois, the two men running for governor exchanged jabs in their final scheduled debate before election day.

The 2014 gubernatorial race pits Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, seeking his second full term in office, against Republican challenger Bruce Rauner. The pair faced off in Chicago in a final debate hosted by the League of Women Voters on Monday, October 20, 2014.

Once again, Quinn painted himself as a leader through the post-Blagojevich era, while portraying Rauner as rich and out-of-touch with the working class.

"Keep in mind, folks, my opponent, he says he doesn't want the income tax. What he wants is the Bruce Rauner tax, which would be a tax on the services of everyday people all across Illinois, including garbage collection. That's what billionaires do -- shift the burden onto ordinary people," said Quinn.

Rauner, meanwhile, continued to tout his business success and plan to "shake up Springfield," while calling Quinn a failing career politician.

"He's running on scare tactics; he's making up numbers about a budget for me. I will increase education funding. He's saying false things and making up numbers because he can't run on the truth, and the truth is Illinois is failing on jobs and failing on taxes," said Rauner.

The Illinois governor's race is already one of the most expensive in the country. In the third quarter, between July and September, Quinn's campaign reported spending more than $15 million. Rauner's camp topped that, spending more than $20 million.

The latest average of polls from Real Clear Politics has Quinn leading Rauner by just 1.8 percentage points.

Election day is November 4, 2014.

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