In Illinois, Politico reports that Chicago’s mayoral race threatens to “suck the oxygen” from failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias’ struggling Senate bid:

The wide open Chicago mayor’s race could have some unintended consequences for the Illinois Senate contest — most of them negative for Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias.  Although the mayoral election is not until Feb. 22 — nearly three months after the November midterm elections — the excitement and speculation over who will fill Mayor Richard M. Daley’s shoes is already sucking oxygen from the highly competitive Senate race, which has been in a statistical dead heat for months. And aside from stealing attention, it stands to siphon precious Democratic dollars.