* Bill Brady scored the Chicago Tribune’s endorsement…

We know that reviving this moribund state is a challenge greater than any Brady, a Bloomington homebuilder and Republican, has surmounted. By the most important measure of the next few years, though, Brady is the candidate for the job: We believe he will say No to the power-clutching elites — House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, that means you and your cronies — whose insider politics doomed this state to its own private tailspin.

Pat Quinn, by contrast, cannot say No to anyone, let alone the power brokers who bully him. He cannot enforce consequences. He can’t even deliver bad news.

Not one mention of Jason Plummer’s name.

* Gov. Pat Quinn was endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers the other day and just reported receiving a $350,000 contribution from the union.

As I’ve already told subscribers, Quinn received $500,000 from SEIU earllier in the week, while Brady got a matching $500,000 check from the Republican Governors Association. Each has also received $100,000 checks this week, and Quinn got a $150,000 contribution as well, from SEIU HealthCare.

* Brady taking credit where it’s not due? Looks that way…

Did Sen. Bill Brady help “expose the scandal” that led to Rod Blagojevich’s political downfall and criminal indictment?

On Brady’s campaign website, the GOP gubernatorial nominee insists that was the case, but Gov. Quinn, Democrats and even a top legal scholar who has followed Blagojevich’s criminal trial closely say Brady is exaggerating his record when it comes to Illinois’ impeached ex-governor. […]

A Republican lawmaker who voted to impeach Blagojevich chuckled upon reading Brady’s characterization of his role in exposing the Blagojevich scandal.

“I thought the U.S. attorney and the FBI did that,” said the lawmaker, who didn’t want to be named because he supports Brady. “That’s a bit of a stretch.”.

Law professor Richard Kling, who sat in on the Blagojevich trial and teaches at Kent College of Law, similarly minimized Brady’s role. “I don’t remember a shred of paper generated that he was ever instrumental in anything having to do with the governor,” Kling said. “It’s bizarre these guys make these claims that they have no basis for.”

* National Democrats are dumping candidates in order to help endangered incumbents like Phil Hare and boost open seat races like Dan Seals’…

Struggling to build a firewall against a Republican takeover, congressional Democrats are pouring money into roughly two dozen tight races around the country in the campaign’s closing weeks while pulling it back from others where their chances seem slimmer. […]

Democrats said they were focusing on stopping the bleeding where possible, including trying to salvage the seats of several threatened lawmakers who earlier this year looked like safe re-election bets. They include Colorado Rep. John Salazar, Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop, Illinois Rep. Phil Hare, and Indiana Rep. Joe Donnelly, and Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri. […]

The party also is fighting to keep Democratic-held open seats in Arkansas, Washington and Wisconsin, and to claim two now held by the GOP in Illinois and in Miami, Fla.

* Another new ad by the DSCC whacking Mark Kirk…

* Roundup…

* Giannoulias, Kirk debate Sunday on “Meet the Press,” first of three

* Bill Brady on Roeser’s Political Shootout Sunday night

* Hare, Schilling spar over tax bills: He also dismissed the Schilling campaign’s explanation that an accountant failed to file the paperwork. “When is Bobby Schilling going to be accountable for his own actions,” Schlittner said.

* Kirk comments secretly recorded, made public: “For him to insinuate that there is some vote fraud going on in these communities is just an insult to the hundreds and hundreds of people who serve as election judges on elections. I find it disgraceful and insulting,” said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle.

* Union official scores hit with ‘Matt the Welder’ ad for Quinn: Readers of Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax blog gave the spot near-unanimous approval after Miller posted it Thursday.

* Quinn: I’m Not “Worst Governor Ever”

* Can Gov. Quinn manage establishment he built his career assailing?: “To Pat, delegating is like asking someone else to do your homework,” one former aide said. “It’s noble — like Gandhi cleaning the latrines. But Gandhi was not leading a $54 billion enterprise.”… “It’s not that he’s some wild-eyed populist who wants to burn down every factory,” his brother John said. “I think he has to learn how to delegate more. He’s been used to fighting every fight. … He just has to learn that he can pick and choose the battles that he can win.”

* Sun-Times: Illinois needs another dose of Topinka now: Illinois would be better off with a dose of Topinka’s trademark brand of smarts, savvy and chutzpah.

* Brady: Indiana should be our model

* Dold With a D