Rep. Mark Kirk doubled his 2-point lead in last week’s Fox News battleground state poll of likely voters, and now leads Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias 46 percent to 42 percent. Giannoulias continues to suffer from Democratic defections to Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones, who drew 6 percent support, including 8 percent of Democrats… Kirk’s improving performance in the Senate race may spring from greater voter confidence in his character… Giannoulias, meanwhile, has gone the other direction. Amid persistent questions about his family’s failed bank and its connections to organized crime, the percentage of voters who distrust Giannoulias raised 11 points in a month to 45 percent.

And a new survey from Democrat polling firm Public Policy Polling shows Mark Kirk leading failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias:

Republicans continue to lead the races for both Governor and Senator in Illinois, albeit by close margins. Mark Kirk is ahead of Alexi Giannoulias 46-42 for the state's open Senate seat and Bill Brady is ahead of Pat Quinn 45-40 for Governor… Independents are leaning strongly toward the GOP. Kirk leads Giannoulias 46-31 with them and Brady has a 45-27 advantage over Quinn with them.  Republican voters are much more unified around their candidates this year than Democrats are. 87% of GOP identifiers are planning to vote for Kirk while only 78% of Democrats are planning to vote for Giannoulias.

Meanwhile, CNN reports that senior advisers to President Obama are “nervous” about Giannoulias’ chances to win on Tuesday:

“But [Kirk’s] a moderate Republican neck-and-neck with the Democrat and when you talk to senior advisers to this president in private, they say they are nervous about the Illinois Senate race for two reasons.  One, they know we'll have a great grand old time on election night talking about how the President couldn't deliver his old senate seat in his home state if he loses that one.  But then if you look at the map we're talking about, Nevada, Washington State, West Virginia, all of the races up for grabs that could lead to Democrats losing the majority, they have to have Illinois.

And amid growing concerns surrounding his campaign, Giannoulias is desperately trying to straddle the fence on a core issue for his Democrat base: Cap-and-Trade. Click Here To Watch

Rep. Mark Kirk doubled his 2-point lead in last week’s Fox News battleground state poll of likely voters, and now leads Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias 46 percent to 42 percent. Giannoulias continues to suffer from Democratic defections to Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones, who drew 6 percent support, including 8 percent of Democrats… Kirk’s improving performance in the Senate race may spring from greater voter confidence in his character… Giannoulias, meanwhile, has gone the other direction. Amid persistent questions about his family’s failed bank and its connections to organized crime, the percentage of voters who distrust Giannoulias raised 11 points in a month to 45 percent.

And a new survey from Democrat polling firm Public Policy Polling shows Mark Kirk leading failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias:

Republicans continue to lead the races for both Governor and Senator in Illinois, albeit by close margins. Mark Kirk is ahead of Alexi Giannoulias 46-42 for the state's open Senate seat and Bill Brady is ahead of Pat Quinn 45-40 for Governor… Independents are leaning strongly toward the GOP. Kirk leads Giannoulias 46-31 with them and Brady has a 45-27 advantage over Quinn with them.  Republican voters are much more unified around their candidates this year than Democrats are. 87% of GOP identifiers are planning to vote for Kirk while only 78% of Democrats are planning to vote for Giannoulias.

Meanwhile, CNN reports that senior advisers to President Obama are “nervous” about Giannoulias’ chances to win on Tuesday:

“But [Kirk’s] a moderate Republican neck-and-neck with the Democrat and when you talk to senior advisers to this president in private, they say they are nervous about the Illinois Senate race for two reasons.  One, they know we'll have a great grand old time on election night talking about how the President couldn't deliver his old senate seat in his home state if he loses that one.  But then if you look at the map we're talking about, Nevada, Washington State, West Virginia, all of the races up for grabs that could lead to Democrats losing the majority, they have to have Illinois.

And amid growing concerns surrounding his campaign, Giannoulias is desperately trying to straddle the fence on a core issue for his Democrat base: Cap-and-Trade. Click Here To Watch

With less than a week to go before Election Day, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk and Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias remain in a close battle for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat. The latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters in Illinois shows Kirk picking up 46% of the vote, while Giannoulias draws support from 42%.

With less than a week to go before Election Day, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk and Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias remain in a close battle for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat. The latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters in Illinois shows Kirk picking up 46% of the vote, while Giannoulias draws support from 42%.

“The questionable bank loans and mismanagement of funds by Broadway Bank has been a big issue in the Illinois US Senate race. It is very disappointing that the voters in Illinois will not have an opportunity to review the findings of the failure of Alexi Giannoulias’ Broadway Bank until after the election.”

“The questionable bank loans and mismanagement of funds by Broadway Bank has been a big issue in the Illinois US Senate race. It is very disappointing that the voters in Illinois will not have an opportunity to review the findings of the failure of Alexi Giannoulias’ Broadway Bank until after the election.”

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.

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.

Kirk held a 44 percent to 41 percent advantage over Giannoulias… Despite the statistical tightness of the race, the survey revealed several encouraging trends for Kirk and some troubling concerns for Giannoulias. Independents, suburban voters and Republicans are all moving toward Kirk… In the Republican-leaning collar counties, Kirk now holds a 55 percent to 30 percent edge over Giannoulias. That's up from Kirk's 43 percent to 36 percent edge in late September.

And WLS-AM reports that the federal report on Giannoulias’ failed mob bank has been suspiciously delayed until after Election Day:

According to the Tribune's Clout Street reporter Ray Gibson, an FDIC report on the failed Broadway Bank, owned by the family of Alexi Giannoulias, will not be issued until after the November election… According to Clout Street: The release of the report before the election could have been another political headache for Giannoulias in the close contest with Republican Mark Kirk. Giannoulias has been on the defensive over his role in loans Broadway Bank made to convicted felons while he was a senior loan officer, as well as other troubled lending that contributed to the bank’s collapse early this year… 

Kirk held a 44 percent to 41 percent advantage over Giannoulias… Despite the statistical tightness of the race, the survey revealed several encouraging trends for Kirk and some troubling concerns for Giannoulias. Independents, suburban voters and Republicans are all moving toward Kirk… In the Republican-leaning collar counties, Kirk now holds a 55 percent to 30 percent edge over Giannoulias. That's up from Kirk's 43 percent to 36 percent edge in late September.

And WLS-AM reports that the federal report on Giannoulias’ failed mob bank has been suspiciously delayed until after Election Day:

According to the Tribune's Clout Street reporter Ray Gibson, an FDIC report on the failed Broadway Bank, owned by the family of Alexi Giannoulias, will not be issued until after the November election… According to Clout Street: The release of the report before the election could have been another political headache for Giannoulias in the close contest with Republican Mark Kirk. Giannoulias has been on the defensive over his role in loans Broadway Bank made to convicted felons while he was a senior loan officer, as well as other troubled lending that contributed to the bank’s collapse early this year…