With exactly three months until the primary election, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Edwin Eisendrath is making Southern Illinois a priority.

Eisendrath made a campaign stop Friday morning at Herrin City Hall, where he spoke on the governor's recent State of the State speech. He also visited John A. Logan College and attended an editorial board meeting at The Southern Illinoisan in the afternoon.

Eisendrath is set to challenge incumbent Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the Democratic primary on March 21. Low approval ratings for Blagojevich in recent months have fueled Eisendrath's campaign, and many Illinois Democrats are voicing their support for the former Chicago alderman.

Accompanied by "tour guide" and outspoken endorser Sesser Mayor Ned Mitchell, Eisendrath spent the latter part of the week making stops throughout Southern Illinois - a region he said has been badly neglected by Blagojevich.

When asked where he believed Southern Illinois lies on the governor's list of priorities, Eisendrath quipped: "Is it on his list of priorities?"

"You elected him," Eisendrath said. "I've heard that he doesn't know there is an Illinois below I-80."

Bringing Southern Illinois into the forefront of the administration's attention will require active participation in the state the governor serves.

"The governor's got to get out and be part of the state," Eisendrath said. "You have great ideas. That's not how you manage a city or state."

Southern Illinois is particularly in need of economic attention, which Eisendrath believes is not forthcoming under the current regime.

"The state is in a terrible financial hole," Eisendrath said.

Herrin Mayor Vic Ritter said mayors of mid-size towns know all too well the economic slump facing the state.

"Towns like Herrin, Murphysboro - we have trouble making ends meet," Ritter said, explaining that larger communities located off interstates have an easier time attracting commerce.

The governor's plan for improving the economy of Illinois ignores an important component of fiscal responsibilities, Eisendrath said.

"You can't fill the gap by taxing it up," Eisendrath said. "You have to increase economy at the same time."

One way to build up the economy is to increase the potential workforce with college incentives and retention of Illinois students. In his State of the State speech, Blagojevich proposed a $1,000 annual tax credit for freshmen and sophomores attending college.

Eisendrath said the tax credit will do little to help with higher education in Illinois, which he said is the third biggest exporter of college freshmen.

"This tax credit he announced does not lower tuition," Eisendrath said.

ashley.wiehle@thesouthern.com

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