Rep. Mark Kirk and Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias share a laugh as they prepare for a televised debate in Chicago on October 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Frank Polich)
–Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk made sure each others’ flaws were on full display in last night’s Illinois Senate debate.
—Two new polls suggest Joe Sestak may be drawing even with Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania.
–The NRSC, getting a little worried about Alaska’s Senate race, will run some ads in the Last Frontier.
–Barney Frank, shockingly, seems a bit concerned about re-election and digs $200k out of his own pocket.
–Grim tales of an endangered Democratic incumbent:
[Rep. Betsy] Markey defended her votes in favor of the stimulus and the health care overhaul, though her answers were at times inaudible over boos at the debate sponsored by Northern Colorado 5, a Fort Collins-based CBS affiliate.
–Reid Wilson looks at the DCCC’s spending and concludes they’ve cut Markey and a handful of other Dems adrift.
–Carl Paladino wants a crack at another debate, sans sideshow. Andrew Cuomo has little incentive to give him one.
–The L.A. Times thinks Meg Whitman is eating her chili dogs wrong:
These visits are intended to show the former EBay chief and billionaire relating to everyday voters and their concerns. The results are mixed: At Philliedog in Bakersfield, she cut a chili dog into quarters with a plastic knife and took a bite, pinky finger extended.
–Virginia Thomas dials Anita Hill.
–And Obama is wary of hats.
What did I miss?