IL Democratic Leaders to Choose Lt Gov Choice on Saturday

Illinois Democratic Party leaders meet Saturday morning in Springfield to pick a nominee for lieutenant governor.

Governor Pat Quinn announced on Friday he wanted Sheila Simon to fill the ballot spot left vacant by Scott Lee Cohen, who won the primary and then withdrew.

Simon is the daughter of the late U-S Senator Paul Simon, himself a one-term lieutenant governor.

Quinn doesn't get a vote when party officials pick the nominee...but he hopes they listen to his preference.

"There's no sure thing in life, okay?", says Quinn. "You're not sure until they vote"

And some powerful members of the Democratic State Central Committee say they will not be supporting Simon - instead voting for state Representative Art Turner, who finished second in the primary.

Turner's supporters say there could be a voter backlash if he doesn't end up the nominee, but Quinn says the longtime lawmaker has no claim to the nomination.

"The way primaries work is, the one who finishes first is the winner", sayd Quinn. "Everyone else goes home, you know? When it's over it's over."

It's ALL expected to be over on Saturday, when the 19 men and 19 women on the committee cast their votes.