As a true blue state that is the proud home of Barack Obama, Illinois is easily the least in-play state in the national election, even more so than John McCain's Arizona. But congressional races here are still getting national attention as Democrats dream of a veto-proof Congress.
Two Democrats just got a little dinged, though, in a couple of lists compiled by the influential Politico website that could show up in last-minute advertising or mailers.
Colleen Callahan, for example, running against Aaron Schock in the 18th District, came in second in Politico's look at the 10 worst campaign ads run anywhere in the country this year for Daisy.
"LBJ had the good sense to run his infamous 'Daisy' ad - the one where a little girl picking petals off a flower is annihilated by a nuclear explosion - once," Politico says. "Here’s Democrat Colleen Callahan suggesting Daisy could get wiped out by her opponent’s support of nuke sales to Taiwan. Added bonus: her easy-listening campaign jingle."
Meanwhile, Republican Mark Kirk, engaged in a close battle with challenger Dan Seals in the 10th District, was named by Politico as one of 2008's "stand-out centrists."
Seals has been trying to tie Kirk to George W. Bush, but Politico sees it differently.
"A military man and leader of the Republican Main Street Partnership, this congressman from the suburbs of Chicago has the unenviable task this year of running against a charismatic African-American challenger. But Kirk has shown the mettle to stand up to Bush and Tom DeLay and the vision to set out a 'suburban agenda' that is 'pro-defense, pro-personal responsibility, pro-environment and pro-science'."
