* I’m not sure if the GOP base is gonna be happy with this statement by Republican US Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg…

“We do need change, I just don’t think John McCain is the change needed.”

Oof.

* Incumbent US Sen. Dick Durbin responded…

“Dr. Sauerberg would be a change in Washington,” Durbin said. “At least a change in face, but he would bring the same politics. It’s sad for students who are here because this is a debt that you will pay for.”

* Durbin supports Barack Obama, of course, but he lit into his fellow Illinois Democrats yesterday during a newspaper editorial board meeting…

Durbin calls the gridlock among his fellow Democrats at the state Capitol embarrassing. […]

“This mess is our creation, Democratic creation, and there are no excuses for what has happened,” [said Durbin]…

Durbin said he’s tried to work more closely with Blagojevich on key issues, but doesn’t get his phone calls returned regularly. He said he doesn’t know what it will take to fix the problems or whether he or anyone else in Washington could help cut through the morass.

“I don’t know that I could ride to the rescue of our state government,” Durbin said. “They have to own up to their own responsibility.”

That may end up in a GOP mailer or two.

* On another front, here’s a quote from Sauerberg during the Tribune editorial board “debate” with Sen. Dick Durbin earlier this week…

Sauerberg acknowledged that Durbin has “done a great job on some of these issues” dealing with veterans.

* Sauerberg during last night’s Illinois Radio Network debate…

Only days after backtracking on questioning Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s patriotism, Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg reheated the issue Thursday by accusing him of actions that “embolden the enemy” and “put our soldiers in danger” in Iraq.

* Sauerberg at the Tribune Tower…

“I do applaud your efforts on behalf of the troops,” Sauerberg said.

* Sauerberg last night…

The facts are I go around the state and people question Dick Durbin’s patriotism. These behaviors are unpatriotic. I see the ramifications of his poor judgment.”

* Durbin responds…

‘I don’t know where the bottom is anymore in your campaign. Why don’t you debate the issues?'’ Durbin said. ‘’Common decency still works.'’

‘’It does still work,'’ Sauerberg shot back, ‘’and you should have shown it in your remarks about our troops.'’

* More from the debate…

Sauerberg also supported his plan to eliminate Medicare and instead allow citizens to buy individual health care from private venues. He said this plan will give all citizens health care, regardless of preexisting conditions or health care benefits through employers.

* And a bit more on that health care proposal…

On health care, Sauerberg proposed dismantling employer-provided health care in favor of an open market system that eliminates pre-existing condition restrictions and tightens a patient’s ability to sue their doctors.

But he offered no specifics on the size of the tax breaks and vouchers he backs to help the uninsured.

“It is conceptual,” Sauerberg said of his plan.

You can listen to the entire debate by clicking here.