* I was told not to use this by the Sara Feigenholtz for Congress campaign, but the story about how they got it appears to be false, so I’m gonna use it anyway.

As I told you yesterday, Feigenholtz was slammed in a Fox Chicago report for running a poll that made some false and/or outrageous assertions about two of her opponents in the special election to succeed Rahm Emanuel, Rep. John Fritchey and Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley.

Feigenholtz’s poll claimed, among other things, that Fritchey took money from a mob connected source. The Feigenholtz campaign will not confirm on or even off the record that they ran the poll in question, but from what I can tell it’s obviously theirs.

I asked about what “mob” money Fritchey could’ve taken and was eventually e-mailed this story which they claimed came from a simple Google search…

Fritchey Was One Of Several Politicians To Receive Contributions From PAC Run By Family With Mob Ties And Under Federal Investigation:

In 2005 the Chicago Sun-Times noted that the political action committee of Liquor & Wine Sales Representatives Local 3 had contributed to three Chicago aldermen and three members of the state Legislature, including Fritchey. Local 3 represents around 1,700 liquor distribution workers and others and is run by Patrick Duff and his elder brother, John “Jack” Duff III… [Chicago Sun-Times, 1/31/05]

Trouble is, the above narrative isn’t available on Google. I looked. I also checked Google using various keywords without success. The Sun-Times story likely ran, but it has since apparently disappeared behind the paper’s firewall.

Also, Fritchey accepted a measly $500 contribution from the union in 1995. One of the local’s favorite campaign recipients? Grand reformer and governor-to-be Pat Quinn, who has banked $1,400 since 2002.

You don’t run poll questions unless you’re thinking about using the information in your campaign. Now, there’s nothing wrong with being a bare-knuckled candidate. I quite like them, in fact. But please spare me the rhetoric from now on about how Rep. Feigenholtz is floating above the fray. She’s right down there in the mud.

…Adding… Quigley is attempting to raise some cash off the Feigenholtz flap. From a campaign e-mail…

Yesterday we watched with great pride as our friend Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. It was a reminder that a campaign based on hope and new ideas can truly change things for the better.

Sadly, at nearly the same time, one of Mike’s opponents, Sara Feigenholtz, launched the first negative attack of the campaign. On Monday night, Fox News reported that her campaign put out a poll attacking Mike and accusing State Representative John Fritchey of having connections to organized crime. Outrageous!

I know, my reaction was the same as yours. I thought that was the politics of the past we were all hoping to put behind us.

That’s why we need your help. A contribution of $35, $50, $100, $250 or more will help the campaign tell voters about Mike’s message of reforming government and getting this economy moving again.

Since we spoke last, you helped us get more than half-way to our goal of $5,000, but we still have $1,500 to go.

Let’s show Sara’s campaign that old-school politics are behind us, and blow past that goal this week.

* Meanwhile, this seems a bit early, but the early bird gets the worm, I suppose…

A Republican Air National Guard pilot already is considering a run for Congress against newly elected Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson in 2010.

Bloomington Republican Adam Kinzinger, 30, said he’ll make a final decision about entering the 11th Congressional District race in April after returning from a two-month stint in Iraq.

’’I’m taking a look,’’ said Kinzinger, a former McLean County board member. ’’Exploring.’’

Kinzinger explored taking on U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, in 2007 but eventually decided against it. Now, he says he’s interested in Halvorson’s seat.