Chicago mayoral announcement
(CNN) - Rahm Emanuel will face one less challenger in his bid to become Chicago's next mayor.
Two days after reports that former Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias was asked to consider challenging Emanuel, his spokesman set the record straight.
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Bitter campaign ends in beer summit
(CNN) - As President Obama prepares for a post-election "Slurpee summit," the candidates for his old Senate seat in Illinois followed his previous example with a beer summit of their own.
Senator-elect, Republican Mark Kirk, and vanquished rival, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, met in downtown Chicago at the famous political staple Billy Goat Tavern.
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In Illinois: CNN projects Republican Sen. win
(CNN) - Republican Rep. Mark Kirk has won the Illinois Senate race, CNN projects, defeating Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias for President Barack Obama's seat. Democratic Sen. Roland Burris, who replaced Obama, is retiring. Projections are based on CNN analysis of exit poll data.
Mobsters, crooks and bailouts, oh my!
(CNN) - Mobster and crook references aside, the Illinois Senate debate between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk covered substantive policy issues, from their positions on the bank bailouts to the effectiveness of the stimulus bill.
The war in Afghanistan and the events leading up to the Iraq war were also a key issue in the debate, which was held at the Chicago Club in downtown Chicago.
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Candidates for Obama's former Senate seat spar in televised debate
Washingtn (CNN) - The two candidates vying for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat sat side-by-side and calmly accused each other of lying and other improprieties in a televised debate Sunday.
"We shouldn't be surprised the congressman is lying again," Democrat Alexi Giannoulias said to a claim of fiscal conservatism by his opponent, Republican Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois.
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Obama Desperately Trying to Save His Own Senate Seat
(CNN) - Eager to prevent an embarrassing loss of his old Senate seat, President Obama is heading to Chicago Thursday for two fundraisers on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias, and CNN has learned Obama will be returning home yet again in the final days of the midterm election to try and help Giannoulias win a race that could determine who controls the chamber next year.
Two senior Democratic officials told CNN to expect Obama to return to Illinois at least one more time in the final few weeks of the campaign in order to go to bat for Giannoulias, who is locked in a virtual dead heat with Republican nominee Mark Kirk.
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Giannoulias facing new questions about role in family bank
(CNN) - Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is maintaining he did not mislead voters about the duration of his tenure at his family's now-defunct Chicago bank, following a report that the Democrat worked for the troubled financial institution longer than he has claimed.
Giannoulias has long insisted that in 2005 he left his senior position at Broadway Bank, which collapsed earlier this year as a result of its troubled loan business. Giannoulias, himself a former loan officer there, has largely sought to avoid culpability for the firm's collapse by arguing he left the bank before its troubled deals were struck.
But, according to Wednesday's Chicago Tribune, Giannoulias' IRS returns last year show the Democrat was permitted to take a $2.7 million deduction as a result of working at least 500 hours for the bank in 2006 – contradicting his repeated claim he had washed his hands of the troubled family business months earlier.
Giannoulias features Obama in new ad: 'Alexi's my friend'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/09/08/art.giannouliasad.0908.youtube.jpg caption =" Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias showcases his friendship with President Obama in a new ad."](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.
Obama to help raise bucks to keep old seat in party hands
(CNN) - President Barack Obama is helping out the man who's hoping to keep Obama's old Senate seat in Democratic hands.
The president headlines a fundraiser Thursday afternoon in Chicago for Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee for Senate. Giannoulias faces off in November against five-term Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, in a race that recent polls indicate is all tied up.
Giannoulias has seen his bid for the Senate rocked by the controversy over his family's bank, which was taken over by federal regulators earlier this year. Prior to his statewide election victory in 2006, Giannoulias worked at his family's Broadway Bank. Republicans have had a field day attacking the Democratic nominee over the bank, including questioning what they call loans to "unsavory characters and convicted felons."
Kirk had his own problems. This spring he apologized for mischaracterizing portions of his 21-year military career, and the Pentagon confirmed that the candidate was counseled by the military twice in the last two years for violating rules that bar members of the armed services from partisan political activities. He also ran into trouble for embellishing his experience as a teacher.
Strong 2nd quarter for Kirk despite controversies
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/01/art.kirk.file.gi.jpg caption="Mark Kirk's campaign reported 2nd quarter fundraising numbers on Thursday."]Washington (CNN) – Rep. Mark Kirk, the Republican hoping to capture President Obama's old Senate seat, raised $2.3 million dollars in the 2nd quarter, his campaign said Thursday.
It is the most successful quarter to date for the five-term congressman who apologized recently for mischaracterizing his military record.
The 2nd quarter totals include a more than $1 million haul in month of June, brought in as the controversy over the candidate's military record was unfolding.
"We are humbled by the outpouring of support from families across Illinois," Kirk campaign spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski said in a statement. "With unemployment in Illinois higher than the national average, we need leaders who will turn our economy around and put Illinois back to work."
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