Mark Kirk still leads Giannoulias

Another poll has come out showing Mark Kirk still leading against Alexi Giannoulias in a General Election match up. Curiously, the poll was conducted by the David Hoffman campaign, who is running against Giannoulias in the Democratic Primary. Also curious... Hoffman's own numbers show him losing to Kirk by an even larger margin than Giannoulias. But of more potential bad news for Giannoulias, the poll also shows that his family banking connections and their legal troubles might be a major stumbling point for him, especially in this campaign season where the entire financial system is being viewed with massive distrust.

Hoffman will probably start hitting Giannoulias on those banking connections. He's got nothing to lose between now and February 2, after all. While I doubt that will change the outcome -- lets be real, Giannoulias is the candidate hand picked by President Obama himself -- it may damage Giannoulias enough that he will enter the general contest wounded. At the very least, the seeds of doubt will have been laid in the minds of the general public. All Mark Kirk has to do right now is to sit back and let the Democrats sling the mud at each other.

By the way, I've got to say this: I think Mark Kirk's stand on the Thomson Correctional Facility is just... stupid. Its an unused, brand new facility that otherwise isn't being utilized. Why shouldn't we sell it to the Feds if they want to make it Great Lakes Gitmo? The idea that it would make Illinois a terrorist target any more than it already is is just idiotic, a knee jerk reaction opposing something merely because it was proposed by a Democratic administration. Chicago's prominence already guarantees that its on the Terrorist Target Top Ten list, and I highly doubt this will make it any more or less likely to be a target. On the other hand, using Thomson would mean jobs for that area of rural Illinois, not to mention an extra infusion of cash in a state that badly needs it. So far as I'm concerned, this is a win-win situation for Illinois and the Federal Government.

I respect Mark Kirk and still think he's the best man for the job. But on this one issue, I'm going to have to vehemently disagree.

Heck, maybe I'll even show up at Thomson when the Gitmo guys arrive, holding a noose and a sign that says "Welcome Terrorists".