By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Former Gov. Jim Edgar rarely endorses candidates anymore. The Republican lawmaker going for another of Edgar’s old jobs – secretary of state – is an exception.

“Realistically,” Edgar told a crowded room at a Republican campaign office near the Capitol Thursday, State Rep. “Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) has the best chance of any of the Republican candidates to win in November.”

Conspicuous by their absence: any of the other statewide Republicans. And, with reporters afterward, Edgar said little about gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, a state senator from Xenia. About how he will vote, Edgar said, “It’s a secret ballot.”

Edgar praised Brady’s ability to work with others, as well as his organizational skills. Brady defeated fellow Republican John Milhiser handily in the state’s June primary.

Edgar said regardless of party, one-party rule is bad, because it has less of a checks-and-balances system, and also because it lets officeholders concentrate more on their re-election campaign than on what is best for, in this case, Illinois. Edgar also said that over the years, Republicans have moved to the right, and Democrats have moved to the left.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]