Obama Campaigns, Raises Cash For Giannoulias

President Obama, Democratic senatorial candidate Alexi Giannoulias and Sen. Dick Durbin, look at people in the crowd during a fundraiser for Giannoulias at the Drake Hotel last night. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Obama went into Candidate Obama mode last night, stumping and raising money for Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias in his tight race against Mark Kirk. With many polls showing Kirk and Giannoulias in a dead heat, Obama's second fundraising appearance here in as many months for Giannoulias is a clear indicator that his Administration believes the seat, which the GOP wants largely as a symbolic victory, is winnable. Although making this Chicagoist staffer choose between Giannoulias and Kirk is like picking between strychnine and witch hazel.