Alexi Giannoulias: Giannoulias v. Mark Kirk For Illinois Senate

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Alexi Giannoulias

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Now that Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has captured the Democratic Senate ticket for the next election all eyes will focus on the Illinois Senate Race as Giannuolias has President Obama's old vacated Senate seat. He will take on Republican Mark Kirk to see who gets to be the next Senator from Illinois.

For Alexi Giannoulias, a basketball buddy of Obama's,  losing the Senate seat is not an option. Giannoulias beat David Hoffman in a grueling primary with Giannoulias capturing 39% to Hoffman's 33.8%. That primary race should give ammunition for the Republicans in the Senate race later this year as Hoffman slammed Giannoulias' background.

"Complicating things for the president in Illinois is that Giannoulias was battered by primary opponent David Hoffman, who used the Giannoulias family's Broadway Bank — and its loans to mob figures and a convicted influence peddler — in a series of devastating TV spots. That influence peddler is none other than Obama's own real estate fairy, Tony Rezko

The national Republicans are eager to take Obama's old Senate seat with liberal Republican Mark Kirk. And they're hoping to tie the president to the seamy politics of the state and to Obama's old friend Rezko.

So how far will Barack be willing to go and risk getting bruised badly?" (source: Chicago Tribune)

Alexi Giannoulias will likely point to his record as Illinois State Treasurer where he launched ethics reform legislation

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Alexi Giannoulias Post Election Interview

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"As Treasurer, Giannoulias "signed his own executive order to enact the most comprehensive, widest-ranging ethics package of any elected official in the state. The order prohibits him from accepting contributions from banks, Treasurer’s Office employees and contractors who do business with the office." He also moved to foreclose on two debt-ridden hotels built in the 1980s by politically connected insiders in Springfield and Collinsville " (source: Wikipedia)

Giannoulias also oversaw the Bright Start College savings program and lauched a Green Rewards program that gave Illinois car buyers a $1,000 for the purchase of a Hyrbrid or fuel efficient vehicle.

Giannoulias, became the youngest treasurer in the United States and a politician to watch. He was 30 years old when we was elected in November 2006.