SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is the nation’s least popular governor.

This is according to Public Policy Polling, which finds the governor’s job approval rating at 25-percent, the lowest of any governor. His
disapproval rating is 64 percent. He says he understands.

“My job is to do hard things, and sometimes they’re not immediately popular, but I think the people of our state want an honest governor who’s got courage to do the important things to make our state better,” he said.

State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) says Quinn’s numbers can improve, if he’s able to achieve pension reductions and stabilize the state’s financial situation. “We’ve got a lot of heavy lifting to do before the next gubernatorial race, and to the extent that we do it, that could impact the numbers some,” he said.

Quinn says he expects to run in 2014. The poll found Quinn would lose to State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) or Treasurer Dan Rutherford, but would squeak out ahead of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria). Quinn also would lose a Democratic primary to Attorney General Lisa Madigan and former U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley.

Copyright 2012, Illinois Radio Network