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* Looks like the state GOP may have set the bar pretty high for November 8th…

“If voters like the way things are going in the state of Illinois, if they like what the state Legislature has done, they should vote for Democrats, they should vote for … Mike Madigan’s candidates,” said Nick Klitzing, executive director of the state Republican Party. “If they want a new direction, if they believe that reform is possible in Illinois, then they should give Republicans a shot.”

So, by that logic, if the Democrats manage to hold their losses to a minimum on Tuesday, then it shows voters like the way things have been going?

I kinda think that won’t be the GOP’s argument.

* Sun-Times…

Democratic challenger for comptroller, Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, has nearly $2.7 million in her campaign fund. Her largest donation received was $650,000 from the Democratic Party of Illinois on Oct. 31, according to records.

There were large numbers of transfers in the final week before the election, including, $500,000 transferred from Citizens for Durkin to the House Republican Organization. The Democratic Majority also transferred $400,000 to Friends of Kate Cloonen whose race in the 79th District is now the second most expensive in the state.

Democrats are focusing on Sam Yingling’s race as well in the 62nd District, transferring more than $500,000 to support his campaign. And the Democratic Party of Illinois also transferred $250,000 to Mendoza’s campaign in the final days of the campaign, records show.

Here are the top 10 contested state races and total money raised so far, via the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Incumbents are listed first:

1) Comptroller, Leslie Munger (R), Susana Mendoza (D): $10.7 million
2) House, Kate Cloonen (D), Lindsay Parkhurst (R): $4.1 million
3) House, Daniel Beiser (D), Michael Babcock (R): $3.86 million
4) Senate, Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D), Michelle Smith (R): $3.76 million
5) Senate, Thomas Cullerton (D), Seth Lewis (R): 3.37 million
6) House, Sam Yingling (D), Rod Drobinski (R): $2.97 million
7) House, Dwight Kay (R), Katie Stuart (D): $2.93 million
8) House, Michael McAuliffe (R), Merry Marwig (D), $2.75 million
9) House, Andy Skoog (D), Jerry Long (R), $2.63 million
10) House, John Bradley (D), Dave Severin (R), $2.43 million

OK, but Rep. Cloonen transferred $310,100 from her committee to other committees (including Speaker Madigan’s) since late September. So, her position on that list when it comes to spending money on her own campaign won’t turn out to be as high.

* Also, not all of those folks on the above list are among the 26 races where the contribution caps have been busted. Rep. Bradley’s race is still capped.

Independent expenditures have been huge this year, totaling over $9 million since the beginning of July. Four years ago, they were less than $2 million.

Click here to keep up with all the last-minute money.

* These numbers are almost quaint…

Democrat Corinne Pierog’s bid to unseat Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis received a good-sized boost Tuesday from a statewide fund dedicated to electing Democrats.

The Senate Democratic Victory Fund has paid $31,838 for “production and postage” to the Palladin Political Group, according to a financial disclosure statement the campaign filed Tuesday.

That brings to $42,754 the amount of aid the Victory Fund has supplied to Pierog. It has paid for a campaign manager and research, state records show.

* In other news, this mailer started hitting the not-so-Latino areas of Park Ridge and the 41st Ward over the weekend…

According to the pal who sent it to me, it’s paid for by a group called Hispanic Democrats United, which appears to be based in Cicero and is funded by a local concrete company and a Berwyn law firm which has a Democratic-leaning, but still bipartisan contribution history.

The mailer appears to be going to independents and Republicans, by the way. And the law firm has ties to Speaker Madigan.

* I have a funny screen capture of this TV ad against Republican House candidate Mike Babcock that I’ve been sharing with friends today, but it’s not appropriate for the blog. So, here’s a short video clip. Watch what Babcock’s head does to the background text…

I’m sure that was unintentional. /s

* Speaking of profanity…

There’s no greater supporter of First Amendment rights than this newspaper, but there’s a line between political expression and hate speech that must not be crossed. The filth spewed by two-time felon Bob Romanik, a radio host and candidate for the Illinois state House, has no place on the public airwaves.

In recorded ads played this week on AM station KZQZ, sandwiched between ads for local St. Clair County “Freedom Coalition” politicians, Romanik referred repeatedly to County Board Chairman Mark Kern as a cross-dresser and “f****t.”

Listeners must not allow this abuse of the public airwaves to stand. The Federal Communications Commission needs to hear from anyone who believes Romanik’s hate speech deserves sanction. Romanik makes GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump seem like a model of good manners and decorum.

Oof.

* And, finally, from a friend of a friend who saw this in Grayslake today…

Heh.

* More stuff…

* As in Willis Tower climb, Kirk has uphill fight against Duckworth

* Kirk on questioning Duckworth’s American heritage: ‘I’m absolutely not a racist’

* Sen. Kirk at final debate with Rep. Duckworth: ‘I am not a racist’

* Trump, pot, Supreme Court at issue in final Duckworth-Kirk debate

* Sen. Kirk and Rep. Duckworth square off in final debate

* Kirk, Duckworth face off in final Senate debate: Kirk spoke in both Spanish and English, nodding toward Duckworth at one point and saying “She does not speak Spanish.”

* Illinois’ topsy-turvy campaign hits final weekend

* Realtor PAC apologizes for goof in McHenry County Board chairman race Jack Franks mailer: A political action committee representing Realtors is apologizing for mistakenly identifying McHenry County Board chairman candidate Jack Franks as a Republican in its mailing to voters.

* TV-6 Investigates: Illinois election spending