SPRINGFIELD -- Although he's already spending money on TV ads and has been talking up his candidacy for months, Gov. Pat Quinn will embark on a nine-city tour Thursday to announce he's running for governor.

He'll start in his hometown of Chicago and make stops in Springfield, Cahokia and then a series of towns in southern Illinois before winding up in Tuscola for an 8 p.m. finale at Woody's Family Restaurant.

He plans no stops Thursday in some of Illinois' bigger cities, such as Decatur, Bloomington-Normal or the Quad Cities.

A campaign spokeswoman said the governor would stop at those communities in the future.

"He'll definitely be hitting those places soon," Elizabeth Austin said.

Quinn was elevated to the governor's post after his running mate, Rod Blagojevich, was booted out of office in January by lawmakers.

He is set to face Comptroller Dan Hynes in the Feb. 2 Democratic primary.

The schedule

Following is a list of stops Quinn is scheduled to make Thursday:

9:30 a.m. Chicago: Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph St.

12:15 p.m. Springfield: Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport Main Terminal, 1200 Capitol Airport Drive, Door C.

2:15 p.m. Cahokia: St. Louis Downtown Airport, 1680 Sauget Industrial Parkway.

3:30 p.m. Herrin: Herrin Civic Center, 101 S. 16th St.

5:00 p.m. West Frankfort: Teamsters Local Union 347, located at 509 West Main St.

5:55 p.m. Mt. Vernon: Granada Theater, 108 N. 9th St.

6:40 p.m. Salem: Salem Public Library, 315 S. Maple.

7:15 p.m. Mattoon: Holiday Inn Express Great Room, 121 Swords Drive.

8:00 p.m. Tuscola: Woody's Family Restaurant, 1000 E. Southline Road.