Independent Voters Appear to be Breaking for Kirk in Illinois

In Illinois, recent polling shows “more worrisome news” for failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias. National Journal’s Hotline On Call reports:

There has been plenty of attention paid to Monday's Chicago Tribune/WGN Illinois Senate poll that shows Rep. Mark Kirk (R) leading state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias 44 percent to 41 percent. A deeper look into that poll, however, provides some more worrisome news for Giannoulias in this key battleground Senate race that both parties are pouring millions into.  First, the independents. That important voting bloc appears to be breaking for Kirk. Fifty percent said in the recent poll that they support Kirk, up from 38 percent in a similar poll four weeks ago. Giannoulias is holding steady with just 28 percent among independents. The number of undecided independents dropped from 22 percent four weeks ago to 8 percent in this poll, indicating that it looks like they are flocking to Kirk.  The other worrisome point for Giannoulias: The collar counties. These suburban Chicago counties are critical for Republicans running statewide in Illinois. Democrats have to at least hold their own in this area in order to be successful. In this most recent poll, Kirk is leading 55 percent to 30 percent in these Chicago suburbs.

Meanwhile, Politico reports that Kirk has earned the endorsement of nationally prominent and traditionally Democrat-leaning African American preacher Willie Wilson:

Willie Wilson, a nationally prominent black pastor, announced his backing of Rep. Mark Kirk in the Illinois Senate race Monday, bucking his long tradition of supporting Democrats and splitting his endorsements at the top of the state ballot. Wilson’s blessing is meant to signal to black voters that the Republican candidate is an acceptable option in one of the nastiest and closest Senate contests in the country. “It’s about the man, not the party,” said Wilson, a pastor at Union Temple Baptist Church in Washington.

And the Associated Press notes that Giannoulias’ thin, flawed record of experience could hurt him in November.

Giannoulias, whose only other big job was working at his late father’s bank, was told by some to get more experience. Even the White House courted another Democrat for the job… is critics attack him for his inexperience, his failed family bank’s deals with criminals and problems with the college-savings program he oversees as treasurer. During the exceptionally negative campaign, Republicans scoff at the idea Giannoulias is ready for the U.S. Senate. They argue he’ll follow the White House and other Democrats in Washington, rather than push his own ideas… Giannoulias’ time as treasurer has been overshadowed in the campaign by the “Bright Start” college-savings program. The program lost about $150 million in one of its investment options, although Giannoulias recovered about half of it from the firm overseeing the investments… Still, his family’s Chicago bank failure has been Giannoulias’ biggest hurdle.