CHICAGO (AP) — The wealthy Republican running for Illinois governor is catching heat for pledging $1 million of his personal fortune to a credit union on Chicago's South Side for loans to small African-American businesses. Bruce Rauner, who's been courting black voters as he tries to unseat Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn, made the promise during a meeting this week with more than 60 members of an African-American economic development group. [...] the pledge has raised ethical questions and drawn criticism from Democrats, who say it's a blatant attempt to buy votes by a political newcomer who has vowed to end Illinois' well-known system of pay-to-play politics. "For Bruce Rauner, this is putting his own money where his mouth is, helping create jobs, business opportunities, and a better life in African-American neighborhoods — a cause he has pursued in his private life for decades," Schrimpf said. Even if the agreement didn't break campaign finance laws, it creates a perception problem that can be "corrosive," said Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield and campaign finance expert.