The 2014 governor’s race is a long way off. Still, the election is dominating a lot of the discussion in and around Springfield. Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State speech basically kicked off his campaign.

This week, a poll conducted by the Paul Simon Institute at Carbondale’s Southern Illinois University, and a move by Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, added to the speculation. The poll showed Attorney General Lisa Madigan leading Quinn by nine points in a Democratic primary. Simon, daughter of the deceased senator, announced that she would not join Quinn on the 2014 ticket. It’s speculated that Simon will seek another statewide post — possibly attorney general, if Lisa Madigan decides to run; or Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s post, because it’s widely believed Rutherford may run for governor on the Republican ticket.