(CNN) - As more and more congressional Democrats avoid tying themselves to President Obama, Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is painting himself as a friend of the president, and showcasing his ties to him in a new ad.
"Alexi's my friend," Obama says in the 30-second spot. "I know his character. You can trust him. You can count on him."
The commercial uses clips of Obama speaking at a fundraiser for Giannoulias on August 5, when the president traveled to Illinois to campaign for the state treasurer. Vice President Joe Biden, White House senior adviser David Axelrod and Obama 2008 campaign manager and Democratic strategist David Plouffe have also campaigned for Giannoulias.
Giannoulias is looking to fill the Senate seat once held by Obama and now held by Sen. Roland Burris, who was appointed to fill the seat after Obama was elected and is not running for re-election.
Giannoulias' campaign said the ad would begin airing statewide on Thursday.
The race is dead even, according to a Chicago Tribune/WGN poll conducted August 28 to September 1. Both Giannoulias and his opponent, Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, have the support of 34 percent of registered voters. A whopping 22 percent remain undecided.
Updated 1:15 p.m.:
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is slamming the new commercial.
"How are Illinois voters supposed to 'trust' Giannoulias with their pocketbooks after he squandered millions of taxpayer dollars set aside for the state's college fund?" asks NRSC Press Secretary Amber Marchand. "How does the President propose that Illinois voters 'count on' Giannoulias after he drove his own family's business into the ground, forcing the government to pay for his risky loans and reckless behavior?"
From CNN Politics
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Obama's friends are not likely to fare well in November.
Watch it Obozos hand is in your back pocket. Oh I see your hand is in his too.
Obama says in the 30-second spot. "I know his character. You can trust him. You can count on him."
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Does Obozo know and support ANYBODY that isn't a radical or corrupt slimeball? I wish the people of Illinois would stop electing corrupt politicians. Lincoln must be rolling over in his grave.
The desperate ones will embrace Obama. The ones who aren't will run as far away as possible. The Obama Recession, Unemployment at 9.6%, Obama Health Care Law, running up the largest deficit in history which a large part went to his union bosses, these are just a few of the reasons why sane candidates won't want to be on stage with Obama. The only person truly happy with Obama's lack of progress so far is Jimmy Carter. He now goes to second worst. Obowow took biggest loser.
It's about time you stand with your leader! Now, I will vote for you.
The Democrats have done alot for us. Stand-up and tell it!
The American people knows this mess can't be fix in 2yrs when it took 8yrs to get us in it.
Good – its about time a Dem got a backbone and stands up with our President. Quit running from the scary repubs and teapartiers, get some backbone, and STAND UP TO THEM!
Democrats are thier own worst enemies for not standing strong with our President. This disheartens democrats. I have to give the Republicans credit, no matter what, they all stand together; too bad their policies crippled our country in every way possible and continue to do so even though we voted them out; with thier relentless NO to every thing that could have helped our economy.
Forget Kirk, vote Constitution Party! Hopefully even though Kirk has tried his best to stop us we can get Randy Stufflebeam on the ballot and give Illinois a real choice in this election instead of just two liberals.
Is that the guy who's family bank was making loans to the mob?
Stick a fork in him – he's done. Buh-bye.
Most of Illinois votes come from Chicago, where they like Obama's type of politics. The rest of Illinois doesn't.
Ready or NOT – here we Come!!
DEMOCRATS unite and fight for what the Democrats were elected for!! Don't allow the fear-mongering coming from the RepubliCAN'Ts stop our show!!!
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE in November!!!!
"Yep I know Alexi... and he's savin' and creatin' jobs just like I am! Just look around you!"
So long, Mr Giannoulias, whoever you were. You've just gotten the Kiss of Political Death from Obama.
I can't see why anyone would tie themselves to Obama unless they are part of his agenda to create a "socialist utopia".
Illinois has always been good at electing corrupt politicians.
Our nation has many issues to address, and Both National, and local politicians provide a path with their actions or inaction to either help or hinder the nation.
The choice is clear, the problems didn't occur overnight, and they won't go away fast, but I preffer a party that strives to make a difference[ Democrats] instead of a party that wants their way or no way[Republican]. Republicans do not give to much credit to the educated middle class America. coming November they will see that our nation is willing to continue to support pragmatic policies by the Democrats because we are getting out of the hole the Republican got us into. Americans are smart, and know what works, and what doesn't. If i saw republican initiatives trying to level the plainfield for all American, I would vote for them, but because they seem to ally with corporate America, they won't get my vote. I do not ask for handouts, and the alike, but rather oportunities for all to pursue. The hole was a big one, and I understand it takes time, but we are definitely heading in the right direction.
couple of Illinois Crooks
Good for this candidate. It would be impressive more candidates and/or present officials would not run away from the President. They can disagree with him and maybe even advise him. But to run away is cowardly and shows they have no real convictions.
But what if you can't trust Obama?
Alexi is a smart guy!. He is not scared of the tantrums from the far right!!
"You can trust him" – Just who is he trying to convince? What Obama is trying to do just gets scarier by the day. All those "whooping" it up must be enjoying all the "Entitlement Programs". Government has overstepped too many times in this Administration. I would prefer a job washing cars than take one dime I did not earn. Too bad there are so many who just keep holding out their hands.
Yep you can count on alexi, his families bank had to close due to faulty loans under his leadership and now he wants access to Americans tax payers monies. Him and obama, two peas in a pod.