It's primary day in Illinois

The primary season gets underway today. First up is Illinois where there are races on both sides for the Governor's office and the Senate seat. And, while the President is from Illinois and the Senate race fills his vacated seat, the biggest figure looming over these races isn't Obama. It's Rod Blagojevich, the impeached Governor.

The Chicago Breaking News Center reports there's been a "raucous primary campaign sprint." Here's the background on the Senate side:

Democrats Alexi Giannoulias, the state treasurer, and David Hoffman, the former Chicago inspector general, have waged a constant battle over who best would represent the party for the Senate on the November ballot. Cheryle Jackson, a former Chicago Urban League president and former Blagojevich spokeswoman, has largely stayed out of the fray.

Blagojevich's scandal-filled tenure and ouster are expected to be issues in the fall races. He faces a corruption trial in the middle of the election season that includes charges he tried to sell Obama's former Senate seat for personal gain. Democrats were further embarrassed when Blagojevich defied them and selected Roland Burris to fill the Senate vacancy -- setting off a scramble to find a viable candidate for 2010.

On the Republican side in the Senate race, five-term U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a social moderate, took a decided turn to the right in his first statewide campaign, attempting to counter a host of challengers trying to be the conservative alternative.

Kirk has moved to the right. That's what Republicans do these days. Kirk is opposed to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which will become an issue in the campaign if he gets the GOP nomination. Giannoulias, who has been ahead in recent polls, is a strong progressive, who supports marriage equality. According to recent polls, Giannoulias has the best chance to win in November.

In the Governor's race, there are six Republicans in the primary, while Blago's successor, Pat Quinn is facing Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary.

So, there are going to be very competitive statewide races in Illinois this fall. I bet an extra $500,000 from the DNC would be well-received. But, Nebraska got the money for Ben Nelson.