Giannoulias Hits Kirk for Voter Suppression Efforts

I certainly didn't watch the Giannoulias vs. Kirk debate last night (MLB playoffs!) and because of that missed a good exchange. As TPM reports, Giannoulias went after Kirk on his "voter integrity" efforts, directly accusing Kirk of trying to suppress the African American vote. In case you missed it, Kirk was caught on tape talking about sending lawyers to predominantly black areas to watch for that Repub bugaboo, voter fraud. Never mind that instances of voter fraud are extraordinarily rare. Kirk's going after it!

This race is extremely close right now, with Kirk holding a tiny, tiny lead. Imagine how it would be if the Dems weren't running a shady candidate.

Possible Third Candidate in IL Senate Race

Crain's reports that mortgage broker Mike Niecestro may enter the Illinois race for the Senate. He's apparently a "disgusted Republican" who sees no difference between Giannoulias and Kirk. I, for one, welcome an ultra-conservative candidate to the race to steal votes from Kirk. Our slightly sleazy candidate might make it after all.

Primaries!

It's gubernatorial primary day in Texas! I guess the Dems are having a primary, but it doesn't really matter. The GOP primary promises to be a corker, though. Incumbent Governor Rick Perry has skewed way right--secession talk right--in response to a challenge from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Perry's favored but might not get the 50 percent needed for an outright win because of the surprisingly strong Tea Party candidate, Debra Medina. Medina was actually possibly going to beat Hutchison (despite sharing a name with the second holiest city for Muslims) but lost momentum when she actually made Glenn Beck scoff by not flatly denying 9/11 "truther" conspiracy theories. Anyhow, the race could be tight.

Meanwhile, in our great state, our great party is scrambling to find a viable lieutenant governor nominee. Via Politico, the Illinois Democratic Party is literally asking people to apply online. I need to go update my resume!

Thankfully, Cohen's Dropping Out

Phew! Embattled Democratic lieutenant governor nominee and overall scumbag, Scott Lee Cohen has agreed to leave the ticket. The bad news: now our lieutenant governor candidate will be chosen by a 38-member committee. Democracy in action! Please, oh please, do a background check!

Preview of Coming Attractions

This is the kind of thing we'll get to watch on TV for the next 7 months:



Promises to be fun.