Gov. Bruce Rauner, Rep. Jeanne Ives At Tribune Editorial Board

CHICAGO — As an incumbent governor with almost universal name recognition facing off against a primary challenger that, in a recent poll, most Illinois Republicans had not heard of, Gov. Bruce Rauner is in no hurry to agree to a televised debate with Rep. Jeanne Ives.

But the two candidates appear before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Monday for what might be the closest thing primary voters get to a chance to see the two side by side in anything approaching a debate ahead of the March 20 primary. The editorial board is separate from the Tribune newsroom and holds forums with candidates before writing its endorsement.

Ives' campaign, which has attracted some grassroots support from Republicans who feel betrayed by Rauner on issues like public funding for abortion, suggested that the governor's support from his own party could fade.

"His inch deep support will dissipate quickly once GOP voters are aware of the choice they have," a spokesperson told WMAQ-TV.

Rauner said last month he was best positioned to win and dismissed Ives as a "fringe" candidate.

The Jan. 14-16 We Ask America poll that showed 68 percent of state Republicans had not heard of Ives gave Rauner a 64-20 percent lead, with nearly 15 percent of GOP primary voters responding as undecided.

Watch the event below: