In a show of collegiality strikingly missing in this election cycle, Senator-elect Mark Kirk and defeated Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias met at the Billy Goat Tavern last night for a beer. “Alexi and I, during this campaign, we discussed having a beer when this is all over,” Kirk told CBS2. “The first round is on me.” more ›

On the heels of the revelation that Mark Kirk will deploy "voter integrity" squads to majority black voting districts around the state, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias's lawyers have sent letters to state’s attorneys, county clerks and the Illinois attorney general asking that additional resources be set aside to make sure that Kirk's plan doesn't become voter suppression. In a letter sent to Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, letter, Michael Dorf of Adduci, Dorf, Lehner, Mitchell and Blankenship, PC, asks that Alvarez "investigate this voter suppression program that Congressman Kirk and the Republican party officials have planned." Dorf also asks that "in areas Congressman Kirk is targeting, your office provide additional legal and law enforcement personnel in order to ensure that every vote is cast and counted legally." more ›

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk, who's locked in a close race with Democrat Alexi Giannoulias for Barack Obama's former Senate seat, is sending "voter integrity" squads to "key, vulnerable precincts, for example, South and West sides of Chicago, Rockford, Metro East, where the other side might be tempted to jigger the numbers somewhat," according to a private conversation that was secretly recorded and released to the media last week. more ›

Maybe Alexi Giannoulias isn't political kryptonite after all. President Obama will return to Chicago on August 5th to fundraise for Giannoulias in the race to fill Obama’s old Senate seat (aka "The Race No One Seems To Want To Win"). According to the Giannoulias campaign, Obama’s support comes at a critical time, as Mark Kirk’s campaign has nearly $4 million compared to Giannoulias’s $1 million. Campaign Manager Michael Redina said “ The President's visit will reinforce the importance of the clear choice Illinois voters face between Alexi, who supports helping the President move America forward, and career Congressman Mark Kirk, who wants to go back to the same failed Bush policies that got us into this mess” in a statement on the campaign website. more ›

Mark Kirk’s memory problems seem to get larger each week. In addition to misremembering facts about his military and environmental records, Kirk’s recollections of his days as a school teacher now appear sketchy. The New York Times reported that while Kirk loves to tout his time and experience as a teacher, his experience doesn’t add up to much. Kirk once said “as a former nursery school and middle school teacher, I know some of what it takes to bring order to class.” The Times however, pointed out that Kirk only taught one year at the Milestone School in London from 1982-1983 and worked part time for a semester at a nursery school in Ithaca, New York. The information was provided to the New York Times from the Alexi Giannoulias campaign. more ›

With all of the controversy surrounding Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias and his campaign's shifting to damage control mode, perhaps the news that Republican opponent Mark Kirk has raised almost twice as much money isn't that big of a surprise. The Sun-Times reports that Giannoulias is reporting fundraising in the first quarter of 2010 at $1.2 million. But just last week, Kirk claimed $2.2 million in funds raised over the same time. The news comes on the heels of last week's news that there's been something of a flip-flop in the latest poll numbers. A Rasmussen Reports poll released last week gives Kirk a 41 percent to 37 percent edge over Giannoulias, a reversal of the slight lead Giannoulias held over Kirk earlier this year. more ›

The U.S. Senate today passed a package of changes to the health care reform bill passed earlier this week (and signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday). After a series of procedural maneuvers brought by the GOP, the bill passed by a final tally of 56-43. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris (who at one point last year threatened to vote 'no' on the bill), both Democrats, each voted in favor of the bill. Just as with the main bill's passage in the House, Republicans voted unanimously against the bill. They were joined by three Democrats: Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. There was one no-vote by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) who was sick. Minor tweaks of the bill - necessary after Republicans pointed out two provisions violated congressional budget rules - mean that the bill must once again pass the House before it goes to President Obama to sign into law. The House first approved the Reconciliation bill on Sunday night by a vote of 220-211. more ›

Light snow coupled with light turnout kicked off the 2010 election season as Illinois closed the first primary of 2010. With the exception of the governors race, the most closely watched races have been settled. more ›

• The Chicago Police Department is investigating why an alert on murdered 12-year-old Jahmeshia Conner was not sent out to the media as it should have been when the girl was reported missing two weeks ago. Current speculation is a computer issue may have been the problem. Jahmeshia's body was discovered in a South Side alley Monday.
• Bring on the TV ads in the race for the U.S. Senate.
• State lawmakers have set December 22 as the date for a hearing related to the possible sale of the Thomson Correctional Center to house terror suspects. [via WBEZ radio]

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk ended all the speculation today and formally announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois that's up for grabs next year. He's wasting no time, either, with his campaign website now live and featuring a campaign video of sorts that takes Blago and Burris to task. Speaking to WLS this morning, Kirk said, "I think this is the chance to put forward a strong candidacy, to renew the two-party system in Illinois, but maybe most importantly restore ethics and integrity to Illinois government. We're just a laughingstock in Washington." Kirk is not expected to have any stiff competition from within his own party in the primary. more ›

While the Republicans are beginning to sort out their candidates for the 2010 governor's race, the nation's top Democrat is starting to help state Dems sort out who's running for what, including Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Though Madigan has long been rumored as a serious candidate for governor, it seems President Obama is trying to push Madigan into next year's senate race - for the seat Obama once occupied and is now occupied by embattled Sen. Roland Burris - in an attempt to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk. The Sun-Times' Laura Washington has more. more ›

2010 may be a wild election year in Illinois. That is, if anyone can make up their minds about what they want to do. 7th District Congressman Danny Davis hopes Roland Burris will make up his mind already about running for re-election. Davis told Chicago Public Radio on Monday that Burris's decision will affect his decision about whether to run for Senate next year. "That would play seriously in the thinking of any African American who may be interested," he said. "I'm hoping that the senator will hurry up and publicly let people know whether he intends to run for election." Well, we already know how Burris is leaning. more ›

U.S. Senate lawyers relented this afternoon and declared that Roland Burris's credentials met the chamber's rules and could be seated as the junior senator from Illinois. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin issued a joint statement, saying: "Barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week...We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect." more ›

Senator Dick Durbin (of our great state of Illinois) has announced Roland Burris won't be seated without the signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. This proclamation comes in spite of the assertion from both White and the Illinois Supreme Court that White's signature is symbolic and not necessary to seat Burris in the U.S. Senate. Durbin maintains that while the situation as is may meet state standards, it doesn't meet the standards of the U.S. Senate. He added, "I think it's best to suspend activities the filling of that vacancy, until this impeachment trial in the Illinois state senate is concluded." more ›

The battle to seat the new U.S. Senate appointee is getting more interesting and more confusing by the day. Following the appointment of Roland Burris to the vacant U.S. Senate seat by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich earlier this week, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White claimed he would refuse to approve the appointment, saying, "He's a gentleman of impeccable credentials...However, I'm standing by my previous statement that I will not certify any recommendation coming from the governor's office...I'm not a rubber stamp. I'm also the keeper of the seal of the State of Illinois." Now, Burris is fighting back as his lawyers have filed a motion to force White to approve the appointment.

The filing is an official request to the Illinois Supreme Court to accept jurisdiction over the mandamus action, that is, action which compels a lower court or a government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly. more ›

While the talk around town has focused on the implications of Tony Rezko's indictment for Blagojevich, the national story has been how close he was to Obama. more ›

Even though Barack Obama came in second last night in New Hampshire, he's still number one in Chicago. In fact, the City by the Lake loves Obama so much that we're throwing him a $1000-a-plate fundraiser "Welcome Home" dinner this Thursday. Peoples Gas Co. President Desiree Rogers will be hosting Obama in her Gold Coast home on January 10. Also listed on the invitation are some of Obama's more monied backers, including developer Neil Bluhm, Commonwealth Edison President Frank Clark, Hyatt Hotels heiress Penny Pritzker, Ariel Capital Management founder John Rogers Jr., and Democratic money man Lou Sussman. One-time rival for US Senate and #1 Obama Superfan Dan Hynes is also listed on the invite. more ›

The race for State Comptroller - normally a bit of a snore - has gotten downright weird in the last few days. First, Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes, son of Southside ward committeeman Tom Hynes, urged his one-time rival for US Senate Barack Obama to run for president, calling him “a man for these times,” who can “restore the hope and optimism that made this country great”. more ›

Illinois Republicans have begun taking the whole Mike Ditka thing pretty seriously. Although a few other names for the vacant Republican US Senate nominee position have been bandied about, former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka seems to be in the lead for the job. more ›