In Illinois, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that voters are learning more about embattled Democrat nominee Alexi Giannoulias’ questionable relationships and past business practices.  U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk said the arrest last week of a Giannoulias family friend and bank customer brings the amount of money Broadway Bank has lent to criminals to $52 million. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Kirk’s Democratic opponent for U.S. Senate, has said that as chief loan officer of his family’s bank from 2002 to 2006, he did not check loan applicants’ arrest records.  Kirk, a North Shore Republican, calls that “reckless.”…. Giannis was arrested at the U.S.-Canadian border with his Greek passport Thursday, apparently trying to flee the country as he was being indicted in a check-kiting scheme in Cook County….The elder Giannis has contributed about $120,000 to Giannoulias’ political campaigns. Giannoulias plans to donate $120,000 from his campaign to charity.

Setting up a clear contrast with the ethically-challenged Giannoulias, Republican Mark Kirk is up with his first statewide TV ad of the general election today. Click here to watch.